Qiran leaves the forensic work to Chroma, choosing to pay attention to Krinix's description of the creatures ahead.    He considers their odds, and feeling that that are favorable, begins to consider a plan of attack.  Fearing that and speech would reveal them, he holds himself back, waiting to see that his allies do first.

The six that are closest are within range of thrown items. The ones further away are CONSIDERABLY further away, about the length of a soccer field... which says something about the sheer scope and size of these tunnels. They too, seem to be trying to douse the lights. Because they're right at the edge of Glide's sight, it's  hard to tell exactly how many of them there are, but a safe estimate is about ten.

Krinix will venture to approach the bend, hopefully with his teammates, and see if they can’t take down some of the monsters by surprise, at range.

Qiran prowls alongside Krinix.  Distance might work in their favor.

Faerieth lifts up a hand, ready to make it harder for the creatures to move around should they choose to come charging at them.

((Ready Entangle))

Chroma stows away the documents and anything that could identify the dead travelers, making sure to also scavenge any useful survival equipment as she does so. She relays the connection between the three disruptive humans aboard the ship to the group before following the rest of the party to the end of the tunnel. She communicates that her abilities are mostly restricted to physical contact, but she agrees with the idea of taking some down from range. If Faerieth communicates her abilities of creating a chokepoint, Chroma expresses interest in a plan that could involve drawing the mass towards them and slowing them down in one way or another - that way Chroma can act as a defensive combatant and the rest of the party can attack from range as the creatures are slowed down. 

Krinix suggests that physical contact with these creatures is probably to be avoided, if possible. It looks like the critters they just finished off are somehow able to infect or enslave a host body. Krinix suggests that the group should be prepared to retreat if there are overwhelming numbers.

If a plan is finally in place, Krinix is prepared to kick things off by firing an offensive spell at the monsters while they are distracted.

The creatures are still hissing and flailing at the illusions of butterflies and the stone outcropping that seems to be generating it when one of them stops swinging. Its gnarled facial features crinkling around the nose.

"Meat?" it croaks out, taking another couple of smells of the air. The others notice it sniffing and join in. They seem divided on whether the closest one actually smells anything, but they're starting to wander over to the group, though they haven't seem to have noticed them yet.

(If the group wants to stay undetected, roll stealth with a DC of 10 to stay where you are, or the group will need to move away from around the corner... or attack, and gain surprise.)

Krinix mutters, "Our window of opportunity is closing. It's now or never."

Hoping he had read the intentions of his partners correctly, he takes aim, points his clawed hand at the approaching things and mutters and incantation. Crackling blue flames leap out of his hand and speed towards the monsters. 

Attack: 14 Damage: 10 fire dmg

[cast fire bolt]

How long is the section of tunnel that the party is currently in, before the bend? IE how far can they back up away from the bend?

Chroma steps forward towards the approaching figures and will attempt to target as many as possible within a 15-foot cone, opening her jaw and unleashing a barrage of silvery cold. Each figure caught in the area must make a DC 13 Constitution save or take 3 cold damage, half as much on a success. She then returns back to the party, still staying several paces in front, preparing to dodge any attacks coming her way.

(Everyone gets to act before the monsters even get a chance to react)

(Also, the group had walked some 100 feet before they heard the scuffle. There's the rotting hatch on the left that they came in through, and the tunnel continues down that way. Debris seems to have fallen which doesn't entirely block the way some 50 feet beyond the hatch, but would make it hard for more than one person at a time to make it through. In total, they have 150 feet worth of fall back space.)

The 'infested orcs' saves: 13   8    10    16    2    10

Two of the infested orcs start squealing as the grub in their head bursts from the cold AND fire damage, leaving a massive cavity in their skull. Their bodies just stand there, completely still while they burn.

((Sorry, I was a little under the weather yesterday.  Only awake for five hours so didn't manage to clamber online.))

"These wretches have some lingering awareness," Qiran notes.  That doesn't stop him from casting a spell, targetting one of the ones that was damaged by Chroma's breath.  There is a disembodied bell, a dirge from the astral plane as he casts toll the dead.

(Wisdom DC 14 or take 6 necrotic damage.)

Once Krinix gets a chance, he's going to shoot another crackling blue-flame fire bolt at whichever one seems to be getting closest, and depending on the situation, may want to use his move to back away.

Attack: 11 Damage: 2

Monsters: 4   (whoops! Thought it was an AOE)

yet another one of the creatures has the grubs embedded in its body burst, leaving the body to crumple over, still breathing, but not able to stand on its own power.

(Faerieth, you gonna do anything? Free turn!)

((Oh woops that's what i was using my entangle for XD))

(Ahh, okay!)

Monster saving throws vs. entangle: 2     14    8

All but one of the remaining infested orcs are held fast by the vines. It's already badly wounded but charges anyway with the single-minded instinct to feed. As it advances, it screams in a shrill way, echoing through the tunnel. The others that were visible down the way are well out of range to do anything, but they are alerted.

It lunges with surprising strength and tries to take a swipe at Chroma with its crude club.

It attacks: 10 but Chroma's reflexes are far too swift.

Krinix says “Can you keep that spell going? Because it looks like more of them will come, and if we can slow them down it would he good.”

Krinix’s next attack is locked and loaded in a previous post.

((Dont forget that its still difficult terrain everyone!))

Chroma calmly deflects the club before retaliating with two jabs at the zombified orc.

Unarmed Stike 1 - 22 dealing 9 bludgeoning damage.
Unarmed Stike 2 - 21 dealing 9 bludgeoning damage.

With a sickening crunch, Chroma cracks the neck of the infested orc and it just stands there, its head hanging limply from its shoulders. it paws at the air in front of Chroma for a few moments before it finally crumples when its heart stops. The grubs seem to be attempting to abandon the dead body, abdomens wiggling about in an attempt to unburrow from the unfortunate host.

The remaining 3 are still entangled, unable to close the distance.