Well, the oil of vitriol does burn you if you touch it. And the arcane circle works for a spell weaver focus. Using teleport, you can stand on the runes at the four corners, and even get into the water in the middle. I tried putting blackrock into the vitriol, but can't, and setting the blackrock on the arcane circle does nothing. I tried setting it in the water also, but there were other people around, and didn't want to lose it. I may try casting armageddon soon...

Update: By teleporting onto a rune, one can cast teleport again on the Spike in the center and be sent UNDER the machine. A barren pit, it would seem, atm... Interesting...