Bellamy comes out at the sound of the captain's footsteps. When the captain agreed to open the cargo he has a big smile on his face. "Yes, lets open it"

He then peruses his spellbook occasionally muttering to himself. After a few minutes he shakes his head "Sorry I don't have any spells that can assist in opening the crate without leaving any evidence."

Rel summons her Mage Hand and uses it to knock on the door to Bellamy's cabin, rousing the tabaxi wizard.  Ready to say:  "We may be opening Lord Agustin's crate now after all, and I thought perhaps we should all be on alert and present in case of any danger..." - but then she notices that Bellamy has already come out of his cabin.

She turns to the others.  "I believe Vale - it is plausible there is a body in that crate and I will not be complicit in slavery or necromancy."  She looks around at everyone, especially Zane and Thren to see if they are going to argue back.

If not, she continues, "Tex had a few ideas on how best to open it while maintaining deniability.  For example, we could pretend a hole opened as it crashed against the walls during the storm.  Or we could just open it as the Captain says.  If we just open it, I keep thinking of Lord Agustin suggesting that we adventurers especially should not be the ones to open it.  I wonder if Vale should be the one so her brother sees a familiar face first."

Zane puts away his flute as the people come downstairs.

Listening carefully he holds for his turn in the conversation.

"Wait, I understand all the motivation, but what do you think is going on inside that crate? Do you think it's a guy holding his breath, waiting to eat and pee and tell us of his story when we open the box?"

He looks at Bellamy, "You saw magic emanating from it. Do you know what to do about it? Have a way to dispel it?"

Zane turns to Vale, "If your brother is indeed in there and somehow we can break or remove some magic holding him, we have no way of knowing what his medical condition is."

Finally, he turns to the captain, "How far away are we from Port Damali? Should we open it and instead of Vales brother something bad jumps out and starts murdering us, none of us can swim to the shore."

He turns to everyone, "Lets be sensible here. We have literally nothing to gain by opening it, at least not right now."

Tex reflects on Zane's words, "Zane has a point there," he comes to agree. "It is obvious that whoever or whatever is inside that crate is not in distress. There are no signs of them in need of immediate rescue. We could just wait until we are at Port Damali and let the officials open the crate. That would also put us out of the Lord's line of fire."

"No I cannot dispel the magic in the cargo, but I am willing to still open it. Just to see what we are dealing with" says Bellamy

Vale stands near the crate once more "I agree that if we open it it should be me. It is my brother after all. Whatever happens once it's open, well, I am willing to risk anything to see him and get some answers."

The captain walks over to Zane, "How would you feel if this individual can be helped and we do nothing? What if they get sent to a life of slavery. Working and working, hours upon hours and being given nothing other than the minimum amounts of food and water to survive. An uncomfortable blanket to sleep upon a hard dirt ground. Shackles at the wrists and neck leaving scars that last forever. Would that be something you can live with if it leads to that? Knowing you could have done something but did not act. I know I can't, money be damned I will not sacrifice a persons life for coin, no matter how much. I understand your concerns for doing this in the middle of the open water though. We are quite far from Port Damali yet. Perhaps we wait until we are closer to Damali?"

Zane looks between Vale and the captain. "That's all I'm asking for - do what you believe is right, but be sensible about the time and place."

He steps away from the crate. "Are we all agreed then? We wait until we are within rescue or swimming distance from Port Damali?"

(and he is going to Insight check Vale, whatever her answer is. Rolled 24 in game log)

Rel sighs but agrees to the sensible compromise.

"All right.  Perhaps better to rest and recover first as well.  Still, let us open it before we are so close to Port Damali that they can see activity on the Dragonfly with the naked eye from land.  Perhaps two miles out, and ready any rowboats or dinghy available to prepare for the worst case?"

She too glances around at the cluster of people, especially Vale, to make sure everyone is at peace with this decision.

"Drat thwarted again by caution. Fine I will wait." says Bellamy

“fine by me, captain how long do you say we are from port damail “ 

The captain ponders for a moment, "I'll know more at dawn how far off course the sea serpent pushed us. I did get us back to traveling in the correct direction. I would think early to late afternoon we will be near."

Vale shrugs and says, "I can be patient as long as we are all in agreement that we are opening it before docking at Port Damali."

Zane

Zane nods. "Deal."

He looks at the others, "I will take the first watch here so that we can all get proper rest before whatever happens tomorrow."

Bellamy goes to the dining hall and has some rations and water as he was feeling peckish. Afterwards he takes his turn at watch yawing to himself.

Rel is happy to take a latter watch.  This allows her at least a shorter rest first so she can recover the part of her magic that comes from her black earrings and warhammer by the time it is her turn.  (Recovering warlock pact slots).

Before turning in for the night until her shift, she thanks Captain Flame on Water privately and sincerely for his conviction in opposing slavery.  She also personally introduces herself to and thanks each of the crew members individually, remembering the team effort it took to defeat the sea serpent.

Zane and Bellamy take first watch as the crew of the Dragonfly begin to settle in for the night. The captain also takes this time to rest as Zandir is at the wheel, guiding the boat through the dark waters. 

Vale sits back on the wall of the cargo hold, purposefully keeping within eyesight of the crate. After about thirty minutes her head slumps down as she falls asleep. 

Zane, you stay near the crate as well, keeping an eye and ear out for anything that may approach. Your watch goes by without issue.

Bellamy, you keep an eye out on the top deck with the aid of Melby. The skies eventually clear up throughout your watch. The moons are once again shining bright. For a moment, you think you can see Ruidis flickering. You rub your eyes and look back up, perhaps just a tired mind playing tricks on you. Your watch ends.

You go and gather the second watch, consisting of Tex and Rel before heading off for a nights rest.

Tex, you and Lizzy set up once more near the crate and your watch goes on without issue.  

Rel, heading to the top deck to keep an eye out, you can see Zandir still steering the ship through the night. There are no signs of any dangers. Your watch finishes peacefully.

Soon, the moons give way to the bright early morning sun. The warmth is welcome after chilly night at see. Captain Flame walks from his cabin and back to the helm where he switches with Zandir who heads down to get some rest. The captain looks about and says "Alright good, not far off course at all. Should be within sight of Port Damali in the next six hours or so I would think."

Thren responds “good anyone know where a good tavern there is, I’ll will need a drink” 

Despite the beauty of the night and morning on the open ocean, Rel is tense.  As if flinching away from a blow that has not yet fallen.

"I am not one who often frequents taverns, Thren, but should we reach Port Damali safely with our situation with the crate and Vale's brother resolved, I will be right there beside you hoisting a tankard.  But we are a long way yet.  Six hours is an eternity when facing an unknown situation..."  She thinks back to how strangely quiet Menzoberranzan had been just before the rift to The Abyss had opened and the demons had poured out in their myriads.  An incursion without which Rel herself would never have escaped the city.  Escaped her mother.  The irony of that haunts her still.

Rel visits the galley to make herself a simple breakfast.  After eating, she paces the deck, eyes shifting from the horizon to the waters to the cargo hold as she steps partway down the stairs to glance at the crate.  She approaches Captain Flame on Water at one point when he does not look busy.

"It is good to hear we are not far off course, Captain.  You must know these waters well.  I have heard there are reefs and other hazards.  In your judgement, are we safe from these even though we are a bit removed from the typical navigational route between Port Zoon and Port Damali?  Speaking as a landlubber, I remember seeing the Twinward Isles and Mother's Sigh Reef on the map when last I looked.  Are we past them?"

Bellamy hears the captain's words through Melby and steeples his hands in anticipation. He eats a hearty breakfast then he sits heavily on his plump rump near the cargo so that he can be there the moment it is opened. 

While leaning against the hull of the ship he summons an azure feather quill out of thin air and starts jotting down what he experienced so far into his book. 

The captain responds to Rel's questions "Ah, ever curious. The heart of an explorer no doubt. We do not cross the reef on this journey. The reef is quite harsh waters for sailing so the normal route veers down south around the Twinward Isles. He gestures to the starboard side of the ship. You can see them off in the distance there. I am guessing our little detour last night just sent us a bit further down south than what was needed but not much. We should see the Vezdali Peninsula off the Dragonfly's bow shortly."

The captain also responds to Thren's thoughts of ale, "So long as all goes well I did say I owe the lot of you a round. It's easy to find a drink in the harbor, we sailors get mighty thirsty after a voyage."

Quote from Tybard >>

Despite the beauty of the night and morning on the open ocean, Rel is tense.  As if flinching away from a blow that has not yet fallen.

"I am not one who often frequents taverns, Thren, but should we reach Port Damali safely with our situation with the crate and Vale's brother resolved, I will be right there beside you hoisting a tankard.  But we are a long way yet.  Six hours is an eternity when facing an unknown situation..."  She thinks back to how strangely quiet Menzoberranzan had been just before the rift to The Abyss had opened and the demons had poured out in their myriads.  An incursion without which Rel herself would never have escaped the city.  Escaped her mother.  The irony of that haunts her still.

Rel visits the galley to make herself a simple breakfast.  After eating, she paces the deck, eyes shifting from the horizon to the waters to the cargo hold as she steps partway down the stairs to glance at the crate.  She approaches Captain Flame on Water at one point when he does not look busy.

"It is good to hear we are not far off course, Captain.  You must know these waters well.  I have heard there are reefs and other hazards.  In your judgement, are we safe from these even though we are a bit removed from the typical navigational route between Port Zoon and Port Damali?  Speaking as a landlubber, I remember seeing the Twinward Isles and Mother's Sigh Reef on the map when last I looked.  Are we past them?"

 Thren hearing that seems happy and breaks a smile “rel you think Tex can drink as much as us two”