Boona nods happily then turned towards Quinn and nodded at the lockbox, " You want me to smash?"

“Let’s try opening it. If that doesn’t work, maybe you can smash it. ”

Quinn inspects the box, doing his best to see if it’s trapped. Perception check: 16

If it’s unlocked he’ll open it up. If it’s locked, he’ll ask around if anyone can try picking the lock. 

The iron strongbox does not appear to be trapped, but it does appear to be tightly locked.

Jurgen will attempt to open with his thieves tools. 

5 to open the box. "It's been a while since I had to open a lock." 

Quinn is considering taking Boona up on her offer. But first he’ll ask Bryony to give it a try. 

“Ya, the lock is probably gunked up with dirt and grit after all these years. 

Bryony, would you like to give it a try?”

Ruven strides into the room like he owns the place, wrinkling his nose at the stench coming from the body that Bryony tried to burn, and visibly wincing at the papers that Quinn turns to dust. He looks curiously at the strong box, however, and motions for Bryony to give it a try.

Bryony approaches the strongbox and takes out her thieves' tools. She hasn't gotten to pick a lock in a while, and she is excited to see if she can open this one. It looks pretty tough.

Dexterity w/ Thieves' Tools Proficiency - 12

It is indeed pretty tough. The old iron box remains well-locked, despite the efforts of both Jurgen and Bryony.

What next?

Bryony makes a frustrated sound. She turns to Boona. "Maybe try smashing? It could break whatever is inside though."

Anyone who wants to smash it should make a Strength check (with advantage if you use a metal bludgeoning weapon, mining pick, crowbar, or the like.)
It may be old, but it appears to be quite solid... (Also, trying to smash it may also risk a bit of noise.)

Quinn digs into his pack and fishes out his crowbar. 

“Alright, Boona. You’re up.”

He offers up the crowbar to Boona to help her with the task at hand. 

Boona wedges the crowbar in and tries to force the lid open by sheer muscle...

18

...It still doesn't open. The dwarven miners of Wave Echo Cave didn't do a good job of staying alive, but they evidently did know how to make an effective iron strongbox.

What next?

Boona simply stared at the Dropbox dumbfounded she had never in her life before met a door, chest, wall etc. she could not simply force to open........this was completely outside her worldview......she was flummoxed.....

She sat on the ground and stared at the metal container as it reshaped the world around her......

Quinn is equally shocked that Boona couldn’t but it open. He takes back the crowbar and inspects it. 

“Don’t take it too hard, Boona. They call ‘em strongboxes for a reason. We’ll keep an eye out for a key.

We best get movin’. All that grunting, groaning and noise we made is bound to draw some attention.”

Quinn secures his axe and bow and heads towards the exit with his shield and torch. 

Quinn will lead the way toward the first junction (W3) and listen for a bit to see if he hears anyone or anything skulking about down here. He’ll allow the others time to catch up and then he’ll slowly move east. 

Perception check: 8

(OOC: any more booming noises coming from any direction in particular?)

Boona stands and seems to come to a decision of sorts, " Stupid Box."

She wanders after Quinn...

The party, led by Quinn and Boona, abandons the strongbox and begins to explore the eastern tunnel. Ahead, you see a subtle green glow, as the natural passage widens into a large cavern. Dense carpets of weird fungi cover large sections of the floor ahead. The growth includes puffballs a foot across, weird shelf fungus growing on stalagmites, and large stalks and caps a good five feet tall. Some of the puffballs glow with an eerie green phosphorescence.

The booming waves continue every two minutes or so. They seem to be a little stronger in this direction, but it's hard to tell. 

Quinn strains his eyes from a distance to try and identify the various fungi up ahead, but he doesn’t recognize any of them. He stops and indicates for the others to hold back. He pulls up his fancy new cloak and uses it to shield his mouth.

In a low voice he advises the others to move with caution. “Careful, some shrooms emit harmful spores. I’ve never seen anything like this before so I dunno if they’re harmful.”

Nature check: 1 (2-1)

Bryony couldn't believe Boona couldn't open the box either. She pats Boona's leg (the only part she can reach) as they move down the next passageway. She nods at Quinn as he urges caution moving into the next cave with all the fungi. The halfling has never seen glowing puffballs like this before.

"Let me scout ahead," she whispers. "I'll be right back and let you know what I find."

Bryony will then sneak foward about 25 feet or so into the cavern, trying to see if there are any enemies or traps ahead.

Stealth - 17

Perception - 15