The eye shifts about as it looks at each of you.  It focuses on Stan as he greets it, but it doesn't respond.  The group stands there for a moment, as if waiting for direction from their demonic host.  But Demios only shrugs.
"Sometimes they come with mouths," he says, "and sometimes not.  Looks like we'll have to figure it out ourselves.  Nothing lost though," he quickly adds.  "Generally the ones with mouths like to speak in riddles—or are straight up liars.  We are fortunate this one can't talk."

Thinking that the eye is connected to the gate, Chubbs evokes a simple cantrip, causing the next thing he touches to emit bright light.  He pokes the eye, which must have anticipated the stoogey harassment, and quickly shuts.  The halfling touches its eye lid, causing it to light up as bright as a torch.  A moment later, the eye re-opens and the light is choked by the folding of the eye lid.

Porto draws his dagger and threatens the eye. You wanna play that game huh, you want to see if your eyelid can block this! Porto says a bit frustrated before putting his dagger away and looking around the frame of the door for any clues.

Stan's next step was to trace the magic from the eye, to try to find a connection to something else in the room. At the very least, he would know to which school of magic the eye's dweomer belonged.

detect magic (40 remaining)

PM

"It's warded against assaults."

Turning to the eye, he says, "Look buddy, I don't know if you can understand me, but I'd really like to get through. Please?" he adds.

The eye does not reply

"Okay, Porto, what's your plan? If we had some kind of dispel this wouldn't be that hard. Unfortunately, I'm quite far behind in my studies."

After pondering for a moment he snaps his fingers. "Why is the gate cold when everything else is ablaze? Demios, can you hit it with some kind of fire spell?"

If Demios has no fire spells, Stan will take the task upon himself. First, he'll try using mundane fire and then, if necessary, he'll cast flaming sphere. Anyway, the spell won't be much use against the fire-resistant demons.

Demois shoots Stan a puzzling glance.
"My lord," he says as he takes a step back from the gate, "it is cold to your touch because it is Cold Iron, something most demons and devils cannot stand to touch.  Although a clever idea, attempting to heat the metal will prove impossible.  We need to find a key.  You can see the magical aura surrounding it, yes?  Look for an item with the corresponding aura."

Search checks

"Ah. I see. Your assistance once again proves most invaluable."

Stan wondered what other strange materials made up this place. Were there things as painful to humans as Cold Iron was to the demons? Or was the entire place designed only with its demonic denizens in mind, so that humans might perish not from malice but from simple neglect?

15:07, Today: Secret Roll: Stan Fetchin rolled 14 using 1d20+12. Arcana.
15:07, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 12 using 1d20+4. Search.

Porto gives a quick glance around before he uses a spell of his own trying to discern what was needed to pass.

Detect Magic
16:35, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 7 using 1d20+2. search.

The four of you turn around as if to spread out and search this level for something that might be the key.  The smoldering library is in ruins, and not simply due to the Mistress of the tower's choice in décor, but due largely to the assault going on above and below you, as well as outside.
It takes each of you a moment to really understand what it is that is taking place in the library presently.  Tiny flames lick the tombs and tables, but nothing really seems to burn much.  More demon magic, perhaps?  Chubbs casts a similar spell to that of Stan's wand, allowing him to see magical auras.  He and Stan both nearly jump from their skin as they realize what was standing just a few feet behind them, patiently waiting for them to turn away from the gate and face it...

Stan recognizes it as a beast known as an Abyssal Eviscerator, and also recalls stories of their reputed savage tenancies.  The monster is tall and heavily muscled.  It has two massive arms that appear able to rip a man apart; and two smaller arms with hands that end in sharp-liking claws.  Around its neck is a chain, from which a small dagger hangs.
It snickers with delight as you finally take note of its presence.  It then issues a loud roar, and rushes at you!

Initiative, plus Round One action(s)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:54, Thu 21 Apr 2011.

Stan quickly draws his dagger and attempts to create an opening for Porto. Unfortunately, the wizard's jab goes wide and he winces in anticipation of the painful repartee.

18:48, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Aid another (Porto).
18:48, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Initiative.

Porto is slow to react, probably because of the grotesque creature that now rushes at them. He quickly breaks into a quick song as he impromptu's without much thought.

Inspire Courage
20:48, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 5 using 1d20+4. init.

OOC: Here's my action( sweet hit fyi), and I would like to see Demios action before I describe my action. I have a plan to initiate if he goes after me. And one for if he goes before me.

18:13, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 22 using 1d12+14 with rolls of 8.  Damage.

18:12, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 24 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 18.  Attack vs Invicerator[PA 4].

21:22, Yesterday: Hennesey Rydell rolled 11 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 4.  Init.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Sat 23 Apr 2011.

Once becoming aware of their newest adversary, Demios rushes forward and attempts to touch the massive demon!  As he does, a spark of necrotic energy flashes between them; but the demon seems unaffected.

Stan leaps to attack the demon first.  His attack is awkward, and meant more to over another cover and perhaps provide them a greater opening.
Demios follows his liege into the battle.  He reaches out, as if to touch the heavily muscled demon.  As he does, he executes a spell, but it doesn't seem to affect his target.
The Abyssal Eviscerator grabs Demios!  However the party's masked abyssal guide responds quickly, lashing out with his free, clawed hand.  He tears a decent wound into the bigger demon's side, but is unable to escape the punishment that is forthcoming.  The Eviscerator's claws sink easily into Demios' flesh and promptly tear a greater wound than that it had just received.
Hennessey charges in and administers a mighty chop to the Eviscerator's midsection!  The wound is grievous, but not enough to drop the monster.  Hennessey does succeed in gaining the demon's attention, however.
Chubbs begins to sing.  His song fills his allies with courage in light of where they are, and what it is they now face.  However, as he sings, they can't help but hear another sound from deeper in the smoldering library…
A group of short, bloated, and grotesque-looking creatures arrive, popping out from behind book shelves and under tables.  They seem rapturous at the sight of the mortals, and quickly move towards them, they mouths dripping with hunger-saliva.  The first two creatures shamble over to Hennessy and bite at him.  The first succeeds and bites a little chunk from his leg, while the other isn't able to get at him.  The second pair rush after Chubbs; however the diminutive combatant proves to be a more elusive target than they had thought.  The last one continues past the others and attacks Stan!  However, it isn't able to get a taste for him, thanks in part to the wizard's mage armor spell.

Hennesey is faced with a difficult decision to make... keep attacking the Invicerator, or change his focus to the pudgy creature biting at his legs. Seeing as how the only other formidable combatant is being held and attacked by the Invicerator, Hennesey decides that loosing Demios would be more costly then taking a few bites from the pint sized terrors at his feet.. he takes a 5ft step to be flanking the beast with Demios once he gets free of the creatures grasp and is able to administer the other end of the flank. He raises his ax high and swings furiously at the demonic beast.

Move: 5ft Step.
Attack: Power Attack[4] vs Invicerator
10:14, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 17 using 1d12+14 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

10:13, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 26 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 18.  Attack[PA4].
This message was last edited by the player at 15:15, Fri 29 Apr 2011.

Porto takes a step back as he pulls out his trusty rope, he flings it at the little creature hoping to tangle it up.

Stan switches his dagger to a backhand grip and slashes at the key-bearer.

17:29, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 3 using 1d4. Damage.
17:28, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Attack.

Ignoring the smaller demon's attack, which Stan is able to identify as a Mane, the wizard moves forward and draws his dagger.  He lunges in brilliantly, but his blade is turned by the sheer thickness of the Eviscerator's skin.
The Eviscerator continues to rake Demios' chest and abdomen.  Thick streams of dark blood pours from his wounds, flowing freely and pooling on the floor.  The damage is too much and Demios slumps limply within the larger monster's grasp.  Finished with his latest play-thing, the Eviscerator drops Demois to the flagstone and turns to face Hennessey, a gleeful sneer upon it's ugly face.
Hennessey, however, has other plans.  He swings his axe once more, appearing as if he were trying to chop down a great tree.  And to each of your amazement, the Eviscerator falls after failing to avoid the powerful blow!!  Its body begins to smoke, bubble, and waste away quickly, leaving only the chain and dagger behind.
Chubbs tosses his magical rope at the nearest Mane, but fails to lasso the surprisingly nimble little creatures.
The Manes press their attacks, despite the larger demon having been felled by Hennessey.  They attack tenaciously, but the party is able to deflect and avoid them, escaping this round unscathed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:57, Wed 04 May 2011.

"Keep me covered!" shouts the wizard. He knows his attacks are next to useless here.

He picks up the key left behind by the Eviscerator. Only once he has touched it does it occur to him that it might be trapped in some infernal way.

Assuming he is able to pick it up, he takes it to the locked gate.

Move: Pick up key
Move (2): Move to gate

Porto gives a curse as he gives a large slash down on one of the nimble creatures, not nimble enough for Porto gets in a large strike, surely ending it's menace on the group.


15:24, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 7 using 1d10+1. damage.=14
15:23, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 21 using 1d20+6. confirm crit.
15:23, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 26 using 1d20+6. to hit.

With the Invicerator destroyed, Hennesey changes his focus to the pudgy little Mane's that have been nipping at his legs. Hennesy hopes to stop them from hitting at him further  and also protect the ,now, lifeless body of Demios, Hennesey's only skilled melee ally in the Abyss.

Full Around Action: Power Attack[4] vs closest Mane

19:28, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 16 using 1d12+14 with rolls of 2.  Damage.
19:27, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 21 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 15.  PA vs nearest Mane.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:06, Tue 03 May 2011.

Stan rushes forward towards the dagger, deftly avoiding another swipe from the Mane engaging him.  He grabs the blade and turns to return to the gate…
Hennessey focuses on the fat little demons mobbing him and Chubbs.  He delivers a massive attack with his axe, which obliterates the smaller creature!  Instantly, however, the Mane's body begins to shift and change.  It seems to melt away and into a cloud of foul vapor. Ref SV from everyone
Chubbs switches tactics and presses the beast in front of him.  He executes a rather nasty swipe of his dagger, cutting a terribly deep gash into the Mane's fat belly.  It too bursts into a cloud of vapor as it dies... Another Ref SV from everybody
The remaining three continue to antagonize the party.  However, with the battlefield more level, the three adventurers can better square-off against the three small demons.  They claw at them savagely, but none can find purchase.  The one by the gate waddles over to box Stan in with the others.

Stan pays little heed to the manes. The image of Clementine's thickly-lashed eyes fills his mind as he struggles to open the gate amidst the demonic assault.

13:37, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 18,14 using d20+2,d20+2. Reflex saves.
Stan will open the gate and then 5-foot-step through it.