Jorin spits in his hands, rubs them together, and applies (hopefully) all of his considerable might into letting the gate open....

Athletics: 16

As Jorin is attempting to open the gate, Hildi looks all around.

Perception: 11

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin spits in his hands, rubs them together, and applies (hopefully) all of his considerable might into letting the gate open....

(OOC: Does he mention that to the rest of the group, before taking action? Or does anyone ask Jorin to hold back?

You can take the 16... Otherwise, he could have gotten Guidance from Drusk, and/or had Pascal or Hildigrim do some Investigating of the gate to see if there is a latch or convenient leverage point.)

Who is holding/supporting/dragging Quillary-drow?

I mean....just going and lifting a heavy thing without asking anyone is kind of Jorin's jam, but as a player i'm happy to retcon asking the table for some help lol

(OOC: I assume that Quillary is surrounded by the other 4, with ropes that look like they are tied around her wrists and arms.

Let's go with Jorin's action. This encounter is for flavor. So this will determine if you get laughed at, or do the laughing.)

Jorin give the gate a mighty heave (16 for check roll), and almost throws out his back. The gate barely vibrates. While Jorin looks at the gate with surprise and annoyance, the guards snicker. "You want us to ask the little woman to come over and open the door for you? If you can't uncork your waterskin, maybe we find a small child to help you with that, too."

Quillary has been working really hard to not ham up her role, but this is too much.

"Hit me," she whispers to her captors, then she chuckles throatily. "I win bet at home, all Xanathars are little girls, even they say so themselves, yes?"

I imagine Quillary is speaking to one of the two beefier members of the party, so when Hildigrim sees Jorin having trouble, he focuses on the gate to attempt to help out the human.

D20: 7 +8 for perception, +9 for investigation

Welp, i'm embarrassed.  

Hildigrim's investigation (16) isn't enough to figure out the gate mechanism, but it is enough for him to point to a spot on the gate. "Try there, Jorin. Better leverage."

Drusk will sneak in some Guidance. In a low voice so the bugbears don't overhear: "Someone is going to be laughing after another attempt. Goddess willing, we will laugh last and best."

(One more roll for Jorin if he wants. Gets to add a +d4 to the roll. Make it a good one!)

Jorin experiences the taste of defeat, and finds it bitter.  Cue 80's action music!

He runs over to the spot Hildigrim pointed at and, with a roar of effort, throws all his might into the gate! Athletics: 28 + 4

(OOC: It was DC 25 for strength-athletics. So only Jorin had a real chance at opening it.)

The bugbears are rolling around laughing at Jorin and the party.

Bruldryn walks out of the hut, taps Jorin on the hip to get him to step aside, then cracks her knuckles. She is very strong for her size (like a lot of dwarf-kin), but also grows to ogre size for better lifting. (Drusk starts to say, "that's cheating", but stifles himself.) Slowly, she lifts the gate from the holding grooves in the ground, and swings it open. After placing it back down, she makes a grand gesture for the party to walk through the (now open) gate.

Pascal will give a curt bow and a tip of his non-existent hat, “Much obliged.”

Quillary does not struggle too much.

Hildigrim examines the gate, especially the holding grooves as they pass through. "Interesting," he says aloud, but to himself. After Pascal's thankful acknowledgement, the halfling can't help but smile at the duergar over his shoulder and cheerfully call, "Yes, thank you!" Then, remembering he's supposed to be a rough-and-tough Xanathar, immediately scowls at her. "I mean ... " and then hums some kind of growl before turning and hurrying toward the front of the party.

Once across the bridge, he keeps his eyes open for where they're supposed to go now and afterward.

Jorin merrily claps the duergar on her back and says, "Aye, you are strong, well done!" and passes through the gate.

Quillary thinks better of insulting the duergar as she is led through the gate.

As the group crosses the bridge over troubled waters, Drusk adds, "Lliira's gift is laughter. Sometimes it is to remind us to not take ourselves too seriously. Those bugbears were annoying, but their day will get worse after we blow that whistle later."

The area by the gate was covered, but the 50' walk towards the fortress is exposed. The darkness of the cavern is discomforting, as there is just enough light to see multiple arrow slits in the fortress wall that could be used on anyone using the bridge.

At the fortress gate, you barely say the word "prisoner" and show your badge, when the gate is opened. These guards are bored, and treating your entrance like a routine task to be done as quick as possible.

(Looking at the map in post 4063, you are now at #2 on the north end of the island.) As you continue walking south, you are relieved to see that the dozens of thugs are more concerned with doing their own tasks, instead of questioning your group. After all, you must belong if you’ve gotten this far...

Quillary will stumble along with her “captors.” She is very impressed with Hildi’s disguise job. 

Hildigrim's pretty sure they are being watched closely, but he doesn't look around, thinking it might give away the ruse. He curls his lip in a look of permanent malcontent. He knows from the map that the tower is furthest away from the bridge.