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Since you didn't take a minor action to remove your pack, it tore and all the contents fell out ^-^

Nope, everything is still as I understood it(point and case, I said ”I have a feeling the lever still works..." After moving to C1.)

The only confusion is Two of strategy, why install nice wholly gate, and put the level to such a key defense on the flipping outside? Unless, if it's counter is elsewhere and that one doesn't work to lift it back up... Or idiots... Or they originally intended to keep something in here and the goblins found it...

And why is Alegirr, a military tactician and the only one with a spear, inside the cage with the 3 well-prepared goblin?
That said, no changes for me

I'll say you have to use your standard action to maintain holding it, but you don't need to roll another Strength check; you do, however, have to roll an Endurance check of DC 2, and it'll increase by 2 every round. That said, you have +10 to your roll, so you can actually not bother rolling for another 6 rounds sweatdrop

But as it stands, Aelgeirr would have to drop prone and crawl out (you can't shift-crawl), provoking a trio of opportunity attacks, and these goblins hit hard when they have combat advantage. You can instead use your standard to reroll your Strength check and replace your previous result with your new one.

I'm counting every point for the strength check as 2" (so you're currently holding it 2.5' open). If you can get it to over 1/2 Aelgeirr's height, he can move out without being prone but it'll be "difficult terrain" so no shift either. If you can get it to over 3/4 his height, he can shift out.

Over 1/4 his height is required to be able to wiggle free at all (prone+crawl).

Aelgeirr is 6'1" (73", or DC 37).
1/4 is ~19" (DC 10)
1/2 is ~37" (DC 19)
3/4 is ~55" (DC 28 )

Remember, Aid Another is an action people can do too!

Str... Not Athletics? Posting bothRoll equals $tr 6, Athl. 10

I imagine this is Aelgeirr looking out at the party from the other side of the portcullis:

If the gate was higher, you could pull Aelgeirr out. Alternatively, you can try to lift the gate yourself so he can escape. Mercy also has 2 ranged at-wills, which she could use to attack the Goblins... or use one to give Aelgeirr temp HPs! Whereas an axe is a poor weapon to attack through the portcullis, Mercy does have daggers.

There's a couple options available to you. Unfortunately, not quite as many as you might like, with Aelgeirr locking himself in like that. sweatdrop

Help, ork barbarian trying to answer a question that can't be answer by hitting it or befriending it or out drinking it.

If Mercy can aid Thork, we get Aelgeirr out. If Mercy Aides Aelgeirr, or just starts attacking the goblins, Aelgeirr may be able to live though the 3vs1fight.

Edit: or test that level, that I believe is trapped... With nothing to go on

As it stands, Thork has a slashing weapon(-5 to attack) with Aelgeirr trapped in a tuna can with things that have an easy target.