Toc looks to the group, “The ethereal spell does not allow one to go back and forth. Once you return from ethereal you are back unless another spell is cast. I’m unsure if Nuzej can cast it twice.”

"Sounds as if we'd be better to all go together than if this going ethereal won't wholly end the tracking spell." Xemnez said, finally deeming it time to speak after staring at the crystal skull(or back where it had been) for some time. But after saying as much, he'd look to the rest of the room with a frown. "A... apologies if this was already addressed, but... there was no magic coming off those bones was there? Or any hints of, uhm... I believe you would call it wards near them or the other side?"

"Maybe those symbols around the shine are the wards. More reasons for our arcane specialists to go first. Not to mention, between Toc and Nuzej there might be a possibility of using Etherial spell twice?"

Toc shakes his head, “im afraid not today.”

"If this is magical we maybe able to manipulated once we identify it. It could be some kind of floating barge or the like."

"There is always an option to rest, thoroughly prepare and then go. (We still have time until full regeneration, don't we?) Or pick up everything and shift to "my place". But if there are other options, let's use them."

Toc's eyes flash and he looks down at the bones. "Hmmm, either there is no magical wards within the bones, or...perhaps the spell won't penetrate ten feet of bones. The crystal skull also does not appear to be magical. We could try to dig them up and take another look I suppose. As for Ethereal, yes, we could potentially rest for another day to regain our most potent spells so that we can Ethereal down there....then...Ethereal back using two spells. We do indeed have...I think another 5 days before he reforms. But...there are two other Lichs we hope to chase. If we can defeat this one quickly enough, hopefully we can pursue and destroy the other, depending on how that other group is doing. Not to mention we've not yet figured out how to destroy his Phylactery, so...it's possible that may take some doing." 

Thinking back on some of the powers displayed by the party in recent fights, Thyrius ponders if there are other magical avenues to pursue when it comes to making their way through the pile of bone: "Could you disintegrate part of the bones, hopefully creating a hole/tunnel for us to dive through? Could anyone use telekinesis to remove the bones to a corner? How about manipulating the water beneath them, so that it "swallows" the bones?"

Xemnez bristled at the mention of 'more' rest, but held his tongue knowing better the price of haste and his own limitations. Even so, he couldn't help shaking his head before long, prior to then saying, "If a mundane means even /if/ time consuming can work just as well, better to preserve such limited magics or powers or what-have-you to make the most of the day in utilizing more mundane efforts." He said while seeming absently examining the space to lay out his portable hole. "So unless there's any objections, I say we get to work removing the bones by hand and by tool. I should have a spare shovel or two, and we can toss the bones outside unless any of you have a particular... mn... thing about preserving them."

Toc glances at Thyrius with mischievous eyes and a bit of a smirk, "Now you're thinking like a wizard. Great stuff...." 

And with that a spectral hand appears and picks up a bone, and then tosses is back at the party where it goes tumbling down the cave.  It grabs another and flings it, then another.  Bones are clattering in the cave behind the group as the hand begins digging....  

He turns to Xemnez, "Yes, perhaps grab a shovel and we can hurry this up a bit."  However, before Xemnez can....the room lights up with green and red light.

The crystal skulls eyes burst into bright red flame and a coating of green flame comes to life around the rest of the skull. Likewise, at least a half dozen other skulls situated around the room light up with green and red flame...and they each lift up into the air to face the group. 

Everyone roll initiative.

"Everyone stand back in the tunnel, going to try something that may disturb the bones and probably flood this tunnel and something or other." Simaal concentrates for a few secs then....
At 4 Simaal assesses the front skull and let's the group know what he finds out, and then throws a javelin Attack: 11 Damage: 4.

"The ethereal spell can take myself and three others, so that will not take all of us. I meant it more to scout around," Nuzej says. "We could test the defenses with a summoned creature. Have it walk onto the bones, sink down, and see what attacks it, and how. Can anyone else do that?"

(Missed the last two posts somehow!)

Nuzej initiative: 20

Thyrius was also reaching for his own shovel, recently acquired in Toc's HQ storage, when a more clear threat made itself know. "More demi-liches?" 

-> Thyrius' initiative: 25

Mirica Initiative: 16.

"I said we had to destroy the skull..." Oh, well. At least now it will be done one way or another.

Xemnez Initiative: 3. 

Xemnez chuffed in mild amusement, and added as he drew his axe. "Noone was stopping you." 

The skull surrounded in green flames to the left side of the room lets out a horrid shrieking cackle and a mote of flames flies from its mouth and directly to the group.....exploding into a ball of fire as it reaches them. 

Everyone: DC 15 Dex save : 39 fire damage. 

Toc: 9.  The elf gives a quick spin of his wrist and mutters an arcane word as the fire engulfs the group.  As the violent heat and fire collapse into smoke...Toc is left with a thin glowing nimbus. 

Thyrius, Nuzej, you're both up!

Initiative:  Skull3: 22 | Thryius: 21 | Nuzej: 20 | Skull2,4: 19 | Toc : 18 | Skull1: 17 | Mirica: 16 | Skull5: 16 | Skull6: 11 | Skull7: 8 | Simaal: 4 | Xemnez: 3

Thyrius tries his best to avoid the incoming flame:

-> DEX saving throw {DC 15}: 20     

Looking at the skulls and bones one more time, and then at his foot wrappings, Thyrius sighs: "Someone was going to have to do it, might as all be me." He activates his magical footwear, launches magical darts at the skull in the center, and steps onto the bonefield to hopefully confirm that they serve as a floor.

-> Bonus Action: Activate Boots of Speed

-> Action: Eldritch Blast at S1
-> First: Attack: 30 Damage: 7 
-> Second: Attack: 31 Damage: 13 
-> Third: Attack: 26 Damage: 10 
-> Fourth: Attack: 25 Damage: 4 

-> Movement: step out onto the bonefield, half-way between Xem and S6.

Nuzej DEX save: 25
He similarly casts absorb elements to cut some of the fire damage as his reaction
Not rolling CON save to maintain phylactery scry, because he's dropping concentration voluntarily.

Nuzej's eyes dart around, and, looking at the bone field, grasps the staff of power and experiments with casting something. A wall of force begins, flat on the ground in front of him, covering the bones, in a flat, wide pathway that first aims straight to just in front of S4, then winds back to the east, toward S5 and S6. His aim is to give the party access to as many of the skulls as possible, without having to step on the bone field, which he theorizes is not stable and will pull them down into the water below.

For his action surge, he drops a fireball of his own, again from the staff, on S2, S3, and S7 for 15 fire damage, trying to watch to see if the skulls seem to be vulnerable to fire damage.

He walks forward with his movement, close to S1, to test out the wall of force floor and spread out a bit

Nuzej reacts quickly...as the flames of the fireball spill around him and then clear...he also is glowing faintly. He eyes examining the battle field, he raises his hands, casting a spell, and then, a moment later another spell.  A fireball whistles through the air and explodes in the room around three of the skulls.  The fire evaporates, leaving the three skulls, shrouded in green flame...seemingly entirely untouched.  Nuzej's fear that they are immune to heat and flame seems to be born out. 

Then Nuzej runs into the room, across his invisible barrier, moving forward towards the center skull.  

Thryius unleashes his own magic, crackling zaps of power that blast across the room and strike one of the skulls over and over, cracking the bone and sending shards of white flying.  The thing is still flying but looks badly damage.  Then he rushes out of the cave towards one of the skulls.  His first few foot pads land on solid force, just above the bones, giving him confidence, but then a few more quick steps and his feet land upon only bone.  As he feared, as soon as his foot lands upon the bones, they just...give way. 

The deep pile of bones shifts beneath the sudden weight, a wave of movement set in motion as the bones slipped away from underneath Thyrius. The bones slipped aside and away allowing his body to fall between them…a rash of clattering as they swallow him whole. Then a moment later he is encased in water as he slips through the layer of bones and into a pitch black water filled chamber beneath.  His hand pushes upwards instinctually, reaching for the bottom bones to find some sort of purchase, but something prevents his hand from reaching them...like a smooth glass ceiling.  

Then it's as if the dark shadows around him in the water come alive.....