Jirandiel turns and looks as Jaksen, Helata, and Dorgath.
"It's the rock this pillar is comprised of... We've no idea what it is, but whatever this place is made of, the ruins are too, and it's even harder and more durable than Ebonwood... As for the lifeless-ness, I've no idea why either."
Sceorio keeps walking and moves up to what looks like a large rock in the middle of the area, flickers his fingers slightly, and a few orbs of light start to spin around him.
"We've almost reached the gateway in... My magic had no effect on the lock and Jiran's training at dungeon delving didn't even phase it, but it's made of the same rock as the rest of the pillar and as such is harder than Jiran's head..."
"And thicker than Sceorio's ego..." Jirandiel adds, smirking.
"Tuiché... Anyway, we've tried what we can, and our dear lady couldn't even come close due to that." He points up to the top of the gate frame where a single dark-gray flower with a pure black center and 3 golden leaves hangs above; blood-red vines protrude from the base of it's stem and seem to weave around the little rocky bumps and down onto the upper reaches of the gate itself. "Bane-Fel... an extremely rare flower who's scent causes any of dragon-blood to instantly fall comatose into a hellish dreamscape. Soon as she saw it the first time, she immediately took off, screaming... she returned about 2 days later to take us home... She brought us back here 3 weeks ago and we tried to remove it... Jirandiel dulled one of his knives and my magic didn't even singe it. So far as we've seen, it's also the only plant up here..."