I think in total with the climbing and talking between levels along with the pit work and ice stairs by Phillip, you'll be coming up on the 1 hr mark basically right after you get to the second level.

oh good point yep lets remember also about the darkvision. Eyes of the night, correct? 1hr? Evo do you only get the one cast?

I think after this encounter with the stirges and before the ascent to level 3 of the tower, another vision solution will have to be figured out for the ones who can't see. 

I think the stirges will notice Gotur and his spell and how he has described it, although they will most definitely be surprised for the first round of combat.

Gotur and Evo move ahead, and the beam of pale light swirls upwards towards the ceiling from the specified spot as intricately described by Spider. The stirges who are starting their turns in that beam are going to have a bad night. 

I'll roll initiative for everyone to speed this bit up (usually I will not do this though.). Gotur is the 20. 

So the spell occurred the moment before combat, and the stirges are surprised at this action as the beam of light is created. They weren't necessarily going to attack as they might've been already full of blood. This is why they are surprised. Once they realize what happens to the ones in the light on their turn, they'll attack. 

Round 1: Eku, Alton, Gotur, Stirges (surprised), Evo, Azaka, Phillip

Eku hears of the plan from Evo and flies around to the exit of the cave and watches the upcoming massacre of the little bug/bats and also keeps an eye out to ensure no pterafolk come in.

Alton is up, and then Gotur! Map is updated.

Gotur, while concentrating on the column of moonlight, extends his staff, a thorny tendril extending and darting at one of the stirges on the far side of the light, tugging the body through the light if it hits.

Attack: 22 Damage: 4

((Evo would have recast eyes of the night, he can do it once for free and after that burn a spell slot of any level to restore it. He burns a level 3 slot, of course :P.

Also Evo has advantage on the initiative rolls but it doesn't really matter for this fight.))

He'll sacred flame one of the far side stirges (DC 15 dex save for no damage): 9

Alton takes a crossbow shot at one of the stirges that is still standing. (If they are surprised, he should get sneak attack, right? And assassinate would trigger?)

Attack: 16 Damage: 6

Extra damage for assassinate: 5

Sneak Attack (doubled for assassinate): 18

(Well crap... I messed up by putting the extra damage between the sneak attack and attack roll. Honestly though, it isn’t all necessary anyway, right? The stirge has almost no health... so just the basic attack would take it out. Alton can only target one anyway...)

Alton... exactly :) your crossbows' bolt sticks and kills one of the farther back stirges. 

Gotur, the tendril explodes the bat/bug right when it connects!

The 4 stirges that start their turn in Gotur's pale light just get fried. They burn up in the light and drop to the ground dead. 

This leaves 6. These creatures are not very bright, and don't realize what is going on. They are annoyed and angered that you have disturbed them in their comfy lair. They all dart forward towards their attackers, not realizing the power of the pale light. I will use the first 6 damage rolls. (9,18,12,10,8,6) And all of the poor bug bats get roasted as they try to reach you all. 

Combat is over.

Eku says "Well done. I noticed a ladder out here near the southwest corner of this level which seems to go to the next one. From what I scouted earlier, it's pretty high up. Another 80 feet climb up the ladder or so. And there's the pterafolk nest up there. Perhaps I could fly up there and distract them? I might even be able to get a few to chase me away from the nest while you all charge it."

((I think someone actually might've suggested that before. If so, sorry!))

What is next for the party?

Maps are updated.

*Eku also says "be sure to check out that stirge nest. I thought I saw something glimmering over there."

((Evo, thank you for the heads up about initiative! I will almost never roll it for you anyway but thank you. Stirges did not survive for your turn!))

*sigh. I forgot they were surprised!

They would've done that the next round anyhow if the rest of the party didn't kill them.

Sorry about that everyone. They are still all dead!

When his radiant bug zapper stops making noise, Gotur sweeps the area in there with it just to be sure.

((Ladder up to three looking equally rickety?

Were there no pterafolk on the top floor?))

Evo will check out the stirge nest after the scouring is done.

Gotur, you sweep the area with the pale light, and it kills a few small spiders and bugs. 

Evo, you head into the nest after the scouring. You see a desiccated corpse slumped along the northern wall of the stirges’ chamber. This is where the glint of gold was coming from as per Eku.

Evo, on the corpse you find 15 gp, a gold and carnelian ring, and two onyx figurines representing tiny fairies or something of the like. 

The ladder up to the third level actually seems more sturdy than the other ones. However, you notice that it is significantly more windy at this height. Some different rolls will need to be made which I will ask for once a final plan is set. 

The third floor is the highest that Eku flied up to. There is a pterafolk nest up there, Eku thinks. There is a 4th level which is the summit, and you don't know what is up there yet. 

Map is updated!

Evo puts what he found away for the time being then after repeating what Eku said, asks,

"What are we doing? Aye'm up for giving the ladder a go. Not sure we can get a rope in place without being noticed? Climbing the ladder might be the best shot, especially if Eku is distracting them in the other direction. Unless ye got more tricks in yer pockets?"

He looks to his party members.

Gotur studies one of the dead stirges that is mostly intact. He still doesn't have wings down, but he files away his observations for later.

"If we're ready to go up, I can cast that climbing spell on you again Azaka, and I can take my centipede form again. I am probably over the ladder's weight limit as I am... It sounds like we're in for a fight from what Eku said, but I might hang back unless you need me... if I get into a tussle, it probably means that I lose that form, and Azaka loses her ability to climb. If the rest of you are able to clear out this level and we move to the next, we'd have both of those up. Alternately, I can go big on the next level and call up a storm. Won't help for those inside, but if they take flight to circle the tower, I can pop 'em. Still means Azaka loses climbing, and might draw ALL of them down on us, but if we can finish things without having to climb all the way up, then maybe just Eku and Philip can fly and climb up and retrieve whatever's up there?"

"Well, if aye'm okay with being up front.  If aye can get fairly close to them, maybe before they all hop out, aye think aye can dish out a bit of damage. Question is should aye lead on the ladder with the rest of ye right beside meh and Alton bringing up the rear?"

Phillip looks up the ladder and at the surrounding tower surface. If it looks like he’ll be able to scale the tower without the ladder, he’ll suggest that he climbs up beside Evo so they can reach the top together at the same time to support each other.

((if the tower surface looks climbable for Phillip, and if there are no objections, that’s what he’ll do, and take joint lead with Evo))

When we are ready to go, Gotur will magic up Azaka, and shift himself to centipede form. He'll stick with her.

Alton will take the rear and hope that once the others reach the top that he would get some help. 

((Once he gets Azaka up there safely, Got-ipede would return to help Alton as he can, warning of loose rungs, etc. He just can't risk himself while she's in danger of falling.))

((Evo would also re-up eyes of the dark with a first level slot.))

"Okej, aye'm ready when ye are."

He stands ready at the bottom of the ladder whispering a prayer to Selûne for guidance on himself.

Alton Athletics with advantage: 10

Evo athletics roll for the clim, with advantage, if appropriate, plus guidance:

21+3