Reuniting the Band

New attempts are made using Starker’s suggestions as passwords.

No success.

Starker starts the ritual to Identify the magic on the tower. Cyrus XVIII is seeimgly less adept at assisting and observers get the feeling that he considers it a bit beneath him. 

Starker moves to the tower in order to perform his Identify ritual.  Cyrus XVIII is recalled from his dimension of safety wearing the same, disconcerting grin.  He assists Starker in performing the ritual.  It is clear that Cyrus XVII was more adept at anticipating the nuances of Divination than Cyrus XVIII is.  Starker has to remind him multiple times of which crystal is needed and then how to arrange it in the Lattice of Knowing.

Starker completes his ritual to discover only that a Wall of Force is in place, encapsulating the tower.  Nothing within the effect of that spell can be ascertained.

While Starker is busy, Kragen again notices movement in the ruins and a humanoid figure moving to the middle of the remains of the manor house.

Starker:  “Colleague Erbert, this is odd. Wall of Force usually lasts around the time it takes to stroll half a mile over flat paths. It also covers less area than this instantiation. Something very powerful indeed is keeping this mighty enchantment going seemingly eternally.

”Friends and Colleagues, let us talk to the figure who is wondering around the field of battle where The Company earned early laurels.”

Erbert struts and frets his way around the wall of force, muttering, "This is damned odd.  What could it be...."  Tapping his head, ignoring everyone, he is deep in thought.  "It could be... well, that's the only thing that would make sense..."  He looks up and gathers everyone close into a gnome huddle.  "Perhaps this vile wizard has cast Forbiddance.  That would block our attempts to dimension door in.  I am thinking of options, but this is a tough character." he glances down, with a look of frustration on his face, "Knows more magic than me... so, open to thoughts, discussion of ways to get by.  I can dig, or turn myself into a gas, but I feel that all efforts will be for naught.  We need to get him to lower this, end the spell of his own volition, but how?"  

Tower