"Well I could help moving stuff along but a bag of holding in water, I wouldn't recommend it. However I have a spare sack of non-magicalness." Since we're waiting for things to happen, will move any noticed rings, gems, weapons, armor, shields into nearby piles so we can put them in the sack once identified as magical. Using magic hands so not touching. I do not touch the amulet.

Nuzej conveys what the results of his detect magic spell found to the group over the link. "I assume it's that amulet, but let's just make sure." He casts [Tooltip Not Found] to confirm which is the phylactery. Assuming he finds it, he says, "Now Toc, you said we needed an expensive pearl, and an owl feather. Anyone have one?" he says over the link. Assuming someone has one, he'll start to cast [Tooltip Not Found].

First: [Tooltip Not Found]  (Locate Phylactery)
Second: [Tooltip Not Found] (Analyze Phylactery)

After having said what he needed to say and seeing Toc lower his guard, if only slightly(not that the mage needed a blade to do serious harm anyhow), Xemnez hardly seemed to acknowledge the man further once his attention drifted towards the bone pile. Once more, by all appearances at least, the Leonin had become lost in contemplation of something. Though Toc would be able to read easily enough where the lion man's thoughts lay, seeing how determined he'd been before about adhering to the letter of his deal.

"... Nothing you have and are willing to part with, as far as I'm aware." He finally speaks, but with eyes still glued on the pit. "And if you ask simply to satisfy idle curiosity or distract me... then no. Such knowledge will do both you and others little good. Not at the moment, at least." He states plainly.

Mirica's words in his mind, Thyrius lets himself drift a few feet away from the rest of the group as they work on identifying and studying the proper phylactery or smashing growing bone.

Thyrius closes his eye and speaks mentally to himself.

Toc nods respectfully to Xemnez, "My apologies, I only wanted to make you more comfortable while we wait. I can update you on the others, but until we're all in one place, renewing the mental connection is not possible.  They are currently investigating for magical traps, and Nuzej is ritually casting detect magic and the phylactery rituals Zendrak taught us to confirm what is what. The rest of them are gathering the coins, gems, treasure and so on.  There seemed to be quite a bit, so it is likely to take them quite some time."

Meanwhile, Nuzej, underwater, pulls out the necessary components.  The owl feather bobs in his hand under the water, soaked and moving with the waters movement.  He casts the locate spell first. Sure enough, the spell draws him directly to the steel amulet. It would seem there is no deception at this point.  Then he begins the longer ritual of identifying it which will take ten minutes. Ultimately deciding it's necessary to as part of the spell, he reaches down and touches the thing. It's during this time that the mental link with Toc is about to expire, and he says to everyone, "I will be coming down with Xemnez in about 10 minutes. If you're going to act before we arrive, then do so."  Then the spell ends, severing the ability for the two groups to talk. 

At the same time, Simaal, with his particularly unmagical sacks, begins collecting the treasure. His warning against opening up your bag of holding down here is a good one.  Letting a flood of water in would likely overload it within moments and result in them exploding.  As for picking things up, though the preference would be not to touch anything, you realize, with the thousands of coins and numerous items, that it will take the whole group quite a bit of time to gather everything up. Using a magical hand would be very slow.  Besides, you command the most powerful magic and are potent heroes, you have likely little to fear.  

Back above the water Toc sighs heavily and informs Xemnez that the collecting is going well, and that his mental connection is gone. "I will ritually cast the water breathing spell on you so we can go join them. It will take me 10 minutes." 

Nuzej completes his ritual. The amulet is indeed a phylactery. The accursed item must be destroyed in a certain way. First, a strong blast of fire must strike it. Then, a strong blast of cold. Finally, a powerful amount of holy energy (radiant)...and the thing will shatter.  (20hps of each in a single 'blast')  The magical items have all been picked through and collected, as well as gems, but there are tens of thousands of coins and the collection is taking quite some time.  You figure you've collected a third of them. It'll take another half hour to collect the rest. 

Xemnez huffed a bit at the mention of the word 'comfortable'; but, he had otherwise listened respectively to the end of Toc's explanation and simply nodded in understanding. And yet despite this agreeable demeanor in the onset, the minutes ticked by with the Leonin growing increasingly agitated at something, as throaty grumbling and flicks of the tail/ears became more frequent during the interim.

Things finally seemed to boil over for a moment, as he said sharply to Toc, "Let it be done, then", before then curtly turning his gaze again back to the pit. If asked after what was wrong, he state rather plainly:

 But without the proverbial lion being poked, the Leonin regardless held back his words, and focused instead on staying relatively ready to dive into the pit just as soon as he felt Toc's magic wash over him.

Underwater, Thyrius finishes talking to himself and re-approaches the others. He notices the collecting of non-monetary valuables has been accomplished by then and ventures a few bubbly words: "That's probably enough coin, no? I certainly do not have a need for that much."

If those words cannot be said underwater, then he'll try his best to pantomime the message.

(It seems that words, though distorted, can be exchanged under water. The water is shallow enough, and the water breathing spell lets you speak directly into the water.)

"The coins we collect are used for things like returning fallen to life - not the cheapest of endeavours. It was taken from those the lich murdered. Do not see shame in using this gold to destroy the lich in response." The "mage hand" was used for the magical items, of course, that were pointed by Nuzej. Simple coins could be scooped by the shields, for example, to speed up the process. The idea is to take as much as possible.

Mentally to non-feline folks.

Thyrius nods at Mirica in understanding and begins using his shovel to help scoop the coins.

Nuzej relays what he's found out about the phylactery's mode of destruction to the others, though not over the link, which disappeared. He says, "hmm, this may be helpful..." and he begins to ritually cast leomund's tiny hut around himself and the group, centered on the treasure pile. He tells the others to step outside just before it takes effect (he will signal when there are 30 seconds left), so just in case this goes wrong, he alone suffers the consequences. 

(The spell says "The atmosphere inside the space is comfortable and dry, regardless of the weather outside." which... the weather outside is very watery, and it says the atmosphere is comfortable and dry, so this should passively create a bubble of comfortable, dry air on the cavern bottom around the treasure pile, thus allowing easier fund collection and also a chance to use fire damage should we want to destroy it right there instead of transporting it outside.)

Treasure picking only occupies hands, allowing to talk in the process. "So, Thyrius. With that book of yours or skills of yours, how do you plan to catch the soul of lich once his phylactery is destroyed? Can you communicate with it now?" The priestess considered that to be the answer to Simaal as well.

With everyone already by the treasure pile, Nuzej informs them of what he's doing and begins casting yet another ritual spell.  While he's casting, treasure continues to get scooped into bags, as Simaal, Thyrius, and Mirica have a discussion about next steps, in the presence of Thyrius. 

Up above, Toc completes his ritual spell. He looks to Xemnez, "We are safe to descend into the water now."  

"I cannot communicate with the lich, no." Thyrius responds. "But is sounds like he can reach out to those who die within his confines, as exemplified by my brother." He shovels some more, his atrophied muscles starting to ache. "As for your other question, it is probably best to wait until our mental link is reestablished. Who knows what the lich can hear down here."

"Let's hope your brother do can talk to the thing."

Simaal moves over to the skinny-not-dead-feline and asks them "you look like you need some assistance may I?" Simaal moves his hand towards their shoulder and
if permitted to touch

If not permitted

Having seen what Simaal did for his brother, Thyrius welcomes a similar revitalizing treatment. Once Simaal is done, the black cat closes his eye and begins talking to himself again.

Simaal's strange powers seep into Thyrius' body and he feels his body rejuvenated with much needed strength. 

A few moments later Xemnez and Toc come falling through the bone ceiling and splash into the cool depths of the water. Xemnez's eyes take everything in.  Nuzej near the remaining coins casting a ritual spell slowly, while Mirica and Thyrius are busy shoveling coins into bags that Simaal holds open.  Clear of any coins, and sitting amidst the silty floor is a steel locket that Nuzej seems to be sticking close to. Otherwise several bags full of various treasure seem to be set aside and ready to be taken away.  There is no sign of any forming skeleton at this time. 

Toc says, his voice distorted and garbly thanks to the water, "Let us gather close, so that we may reform our mental bond." 

While the others continuing scooping up as much treasure as can be gotten, Nuzej and Toc complete their spells nearly together.  A hemisphere free of water seems to grow into place around the place where the bags of treasure are sitting and near the locket. The water slowly drains from the space. Nuzej stands in the dry space without any ill effects.  The others join him moments later, getting out of the sluggish water.  At the same time. Toc's spell is done and the group's mental connection suddenly can be felt, a strangely comforting connection. 

Toc says mentally, "There, we're here, we're dry...ish.....and we can converse in the privacy of our minds. What next?"  As he speaks, his eyes look at the steel locket on the ground, "That is the Phylactery I presume?" 

Everyone stands about, their clothing waterlogged.....dripping, soaked, with squelching boots, and damp hair.