Kexing does the typical rpg player strat...

The Party:

• Kexing - Aasimar - Kineticist (the "slightly" insane face and tank of the group)
• Zhou - Aasimar - Investigator (the rogish know it all that keeps Kexing from temper tantrums that can level cities)
• Gruhk - Orc - Barbarian (the light hearted one of the group with a very big axe off-tank)
• Yalth - Ratfolk - Oracle (likes undead things)
• Memphis - Halfling - Sorcerer (think's he's the sensible one)

Gruhk's player couldn't make it for tonight's session, so he's mysteriously absent for the day's events.

Paraphrased exchange for the latest encounter...

GM: once you cross the drawbridge you see the path blocked by a portcullis. Inside the main gate area are 2 slits on each side.

Yalth: I'll send my skeleton minion forward and see what happens

Memphis: I'm going to walk up behind the skeleton for cover.

(other players at the table): virtually look at each other...

Kexing: sure go ahead (confused why the squishiest one is heading into the obvious trap first)

Yalth: if you're sure that's what you want to do. I mean, I sent Skel out there for a reason.

GM: uhh. ok. As Skel. E. Ton gets to the portcullis, something falls down from above. Memphis or skeleton make a reflex save as a firey pot falls from a murder hole in the ceiling.

Kexing: And this is why we were waiting for the skeleton to go first.

Zhou: I'm going to quietly move foreward to the edge of the portcullis and look around.

GM: there's a gruop of Duergar to the left and right of the portcullis.

Zhou: I'm going to make a quick yet quiet drawing with my foot on the position of the baddies; And mentally curse the gods that, yet AGAIN, I can't poison anyone.

GM: Memphis you're hit repeatedly with arrows from the murder holes along the walls.

Memphis: Wow! It's a good thing I buffed before this or I'd be in trouble right now.

Kexing: So, we need to get out of this murder hallway. I'm going to lift the portcullis with my telekinesis and calmly walk forward to just past the threshold. 

GM: uhhm.. How many pounds can you lift with your ability?

Kexing: If I spend a burn point, 11,000 pounds.

GM: uhm. what's that as a Strength check? (thinking Kexing said 1100 pounds) Uhhm. ok, make a Constitution check. It's probably going to be a bit of a straign.

Kexing: (confused but rolls) 34.

GM: (oh geez) ok, but you have to hold concentration on that right? Like it's a strain? I looked it up and the portcullis weighs 1400 pounds.

Kexing: well yeah, but my max is 11,000 pounds and can maintain it for 11 minutes. 

GM: (sigh) you lift the portcullis up. There's another group of duergar to the right. They're so shocked at what you did, I'm not going to bother adding them to the initiative just yet. 

Memphis: Ok, so now this opens up a lot more things. 

Yalth: Skel is going to use his boulder mace to bole over the duergar on the right.

GM: ok all but one of them make their save. Memphis your go.

Memphis: Can I reach all the enemies on the left and right side with chain lightning?

GM: hmm. no, just out of reach. you have to pick either the left or the right group

Yalth: well, you could target Skel whose standing between them.

Memphis: yeah, but that's one of our guys

Yalth: don't worry, I can make more

Kexing: (shrugs) that seems something you or I would do, but not Memphis.

GM: sorry, they all have to be within 30 feet of each other. you'd hit less if you targeted Skel E Ton.

Memphis: ok, I'll chain lightning the right side.

GM: well, the group on the right is in pretty bad shape, but we have to call it here for the night. until next time!!! I was kind of hoping you guys would go for the front door. The chasm had a lot of ways for you guys to sneak in, and we would have to theater of the mind the passage ways because I haven't mapped those out yet.

Memphis: Yeah with Kexing in the party, we were pretty much going to go through the front door regardless. 

Kexing: Hey, I knocked soundly to kindly announce our presence so that we could enter diplomatic relations. 

GM: Yeah, you announced yourselves to the entire stronghold.

Kexing: Yes, which will have them all rushing into the main area and we can just kill them all in a group.

Yalth: yup. sounds about right for this group.