Belmarniss can now sorta muddle along in the local common thanks to aggressive use of comprehend languages to hand-translate books after roping a local into teaching her the alphabet. Also she hates teleport traps with every fiber of her being. Also she has figured out at this point that she somehow leveled in sorcerer instead of wizard during the business with the pirates and has no idea why that happened or whether it will happen again. And she has sold this stupid arrowhead to two different curio shops and given up as it seems to be cursed. And she just needs to keep doing what she does, she guesses, till she can teleport herself home. The Yawning Portal is a nicely ironic name.
The flames scorch his hide. Garrus fires a few more arrows that clatter against Vix'thra's thick scales. Lavoera casts Cure Serious Wounds, burning a handprint into the dracolich's snout.
Vix'thra, snarling, snaps his teeth shut around the planetar's leg. She shrieks and wrenches her limb free, blood streaming from the wound, and flutters to a safer distance.
She casts Scorching Ray again but doesn't maximize it, still hoping Jojo will get out of there and do his thing and she'll have a good fireball opportunity later.
One of the rays fizzles, but the other strikes true.
Vix'thra is actually acting somewhat oddly; he's making a strange heaving motion with his body every few seconds. In between heaves, he spits acid at Garrus, who takes a sizable gout of it to the face and starts screaming. Lavoera casts Cure Critical Wounds on herself, staunching the blood from her leg.
Belmarniss gets over to Garrus and casts Celestial Healing on him in case Lavoera is busy, then gets out of the way in case Vix'thra hits him again.
Shortly after she does so, Vix'thra lurches forward, and shudders, and collapses to the ground.
After a few seconds, Jojo clambers out the dracolich's maw, soaked in foul-smelling draconic bile. "Is everyone alright out here?" he asks urgently. "I tried to kill him as fast as I could."
"Speak for yourself," Garrus groans. "-thanks for the heal, Belmarniss, you're a pal, but ow."
The half-melted scales split and fall from Garrus's face, revealing shiny new scales beneath. "Thanks. Ugh. I guess we have to find the phylactery now?"
Nope! There's a pile of gold and various other riches over towards that wall, though, maybe they should investigate. That's where Garrus is headed, anyway, checking for traps as he goes.
There are in fact a couple of pretty sophisticated traps in the way, which Garrus makes sure to disable. Once the traps are done with, they're at the riches.
Garrus whistles. "Good thing we've got that Bag of Holding. Wouldn't want to have to haul this out with an oxcart. Wonder which of these gems has the bastard's soul in it?"
...there's a patch of dirt a few dozen feet away from the pile of riches. It doesn't look freshly disturbed, and it isn't radiating magic, but... there's something off about it. Like she doesn't want to look at this particular patch of dirt. Why would she be looking at a patch of dirt, anyway. Objectively, it's ridiculous, when there's a big pile of treasure right there drawing the eye.
Garrus tries to look where she's pointing. "I... don't see anything... but now that you mention it, I definitely don't want to look at something over there, which is a terrible sign."
Deekin comes over and looks at the spot curiously. "Deekin not feeling compulsion... dug-up dirt be pretty suspicious, though, Deekin admit."
"I think that might be our best bet."
Garrus puts some distance between himself and the completely uninteresting patch of dirt.
Once she's gone down about three feet, something shiny comes out with the next pound of dirt. It's a black sapphire the size of a human eyeball, Abyssal runes etched into each facet and filled with gold.
"Well, it's very aesthetic but it's got to go. Anybody got a better idea than shatter? I didn't prep it but I can ring it."
Lavoera shakes her head. "I could probably sunder it with my blade, but I worry it might have a contingent spell woven into the enchantments."
The gem shatters, releasing a blast of blood-red flame. There's an otherworldly scream that fades into nothing.
"Great," Garrus says enthusiastically. "Now, who's up for digging through piles of gold looking for useful magic items? Because I know I am."
Lavoera shakes her head. "I have no need of mortal riches - unless you need my help, I should find the rebel encampment and continue my mission."
"Cool, more treasure for us," Garrus mutters.