Quote Originally Posted by Xoronis View Post
One thing that just came to mind, if you want something that's not just for laughs (not that the just for laughs suggestions aren't great), is that once the party finally opens the hole to check on him, he offers them some sort of deal. In exchange for some sort of assistance against the BBEG, they have to run an errand for him, or some small task like that. If they refuse and try to fight him again, he could simply counterspell and dimension door for a little bit to show how outclassed they actually are, and if they refuse to budge just teleport out with a sigh, perhaps a parting comment about how they had his respect but "adventurers will be adventurers, I guess", and then he goes and does his own lichy things.
I’ve got this picture in my head with the Pcs trekking through some woods and one backpack going “yoohoo, are you ready to talk yet?”