Tex goes around and hands over each crew member their coins thanking them for their help to rescue the captain and explaining the importance of each one standing up for the group, "There's strength in numbers", he reiterates. [add 1GP, 8SP, 6CP to your inventories, I'll remove the amount now.]

(As described earlier, one hour into the sail, Rel had burned and jettisoned the corpses of the pirates, Bearded Man and raven, so as not to be too close to the abandoned ship, burning them out of a superstitious fear of undead.  Getting help from others if she can to do so safely.)

Continuing to pace the decks, Rel thanks Tex for her share of coin, but her mind is elsewhere.  Finally, she speaks up once Port Damali comes into view, reaching for her father's divine Guidance for Persuasion.

"Captain.  Companions.  I think it is time to give Zandir the helm once more and venture back down to the cargo hold.  We all agreed to open the crate once within sight of our destination, but before it passes out of our hands at port.  We cannot risk being party to transporting a slave, undead or disease agent, and there seems to be a plausible risk of that based on Vale's own description of her brother's circumstance.  Captain, you told me yourself when you warned us to leave you to the pirates.  Your exact words were 'Whatever happens, make sure the lad in the box is safe.'"

Persuasion plus Guidance:  26 + 1 = 27

She walks down the stairs to the cargo hold, hoping the others follow.

Bellamy is soon present. "Well lets get this open and see what we are dealing with" The gleeful curiosity before has been tempered by the recent battle.

The Captain heads down after handing over control to Zandir. "Yes, we did all agree. Who wants to do the honors of opening it up? Vale, it is apparently your brother, would you like to do the honors?"

Vale pauses before saying "Didn't you all want to make sure you get paid for this job? If I open it that will most likely be the end for that right? I would hate to be the reason you all lose out on your money."

Rel's head snaps around in surprise as she stares at the strangely fickle young woman.  Her eyes flash and nostrils flare as she struggles to contain her exasperation, and for a moment, she looks every bit the image of her cruel and domineering drow slaver of a mother.

"I am sure I did not just hear you suggest that after all this, you now wish to leave the crate closed until we are... paid?  You, who abandoned your post during the storm and battle with the sea serpent to desperately rush below decks to open it.  Weeping and pleading desperately about your brother's plight and your overwhelming need to see him as soon as you can?  What is wrong with you, Vale?  Should we paint a weathervane on your forehead?"

Forcing herself to relax and taking a few breaths to calm her anger, Rel continues, reaching for her divine father's Guidance once more.

"I believe Tex suggested a way we might conceal our intrusion into the crate?"

Zane, who was the last to arrive and is only standing in the doorframe, chimes in, "Should we open the crate.. and I'm not saying we shouldn't, but Vale has a point too."

He coughs and starts again. "Should we open the crate then maybe Vale and the captain here can be in the room and we just outside of it? We were told, in very clear terms, that we should definitely not open it."

It is clear that he intends to step outside once the actual crate opening happens.

Tex elaborates on his suggestion, "We could turn the crate to the side and pry open its backside. That alone should be more likely to go unnoticed unless they suspect foul play. Additionally, I can fix small damages to make it even harder to spot." He turns to look into all their faces and notes, "All of this secrecy only really matters if we do not more than just look. If we disturb whatever is inside, or worse, decide to take something or someone out, there won't be any need to disguise our efforts. Just so that we are all clear on that." To Zane, he replies, "It's true that we were explicitly told not to open the crate but we were also specifically hired to protect it from others. I think, if someone detects that the crate was opened, be that by us or anyone else, we cannot expect to receive our reward. Additionally, if its content gets damaged or, worse, removed, not getting paid will be the lesser of our problems."

If they all agree, with the help of someone else he will turn the crate to its long side and begin to carefully remove the nails used to lock the bottom board with his tinker's tools. 

(Tinker's tool check? 18+2/3 for DEX/INT)

Zane nods to Tex.

"But let me go over it first before you try to open it."

( checking for traps: rolled 17 on d20. Plus whichever skill or stat is going to be added to it )

Vale says to Rel "It's just, Zane made a very good case for getting paid. I wouldn't want to be the reason for you all not getting your earnings."

Zane

 Tex

Zane goes over the crate and then backs off. "I can't find anything unexpected here, but I would suggest backing off anyways. You never know what they put in there as a surprise."

He moves to the hallway, out of sight of the crate.

With the nails cleanly removed, Tex allows himself to take a break for a breath. Then, he carefully opens the bottom board from the, now, top side with someones help (we turned the crate to the side so that the bottom is now at the side and one side on top). He tries to avoid that it opens abruptly and its contents fall out and he only opens a slit with the bottom part firmly pressed in place so that everyone near enough can have a peak inside through an opening of a few inches. Apart from taking a look himself, he sniffs to find out if there is the telltale odor of a decomposing body. 

Gently opening the crate, you do see that there is indeed a body inside though there is no scent of decomposition. The body lies still. Without opening the crate further you will not be able to inspect the body beyond sight and scent. 

Zane

 Vale watches anxiously as you peer into the crate, letting Tex handle the delicate part of opening the crate. "Well, you see him in there? How does he look?"

Tex looks around for any sign of anyone wanting him to stop before he continues to fully open the board, laying it flat in front of him. "There it is," he says to no one in particular. "It's opened. Though, I'm not sure what we're looking at. Is this your brother, Vale? I'll let someone with more medical experience take over," and he steps back to give space. 

Bellamy gives Tex a thumbs up and looks inside the crate to see what is there.

Thren also looks into the box 

Rel keeps back, suggesting only that Vale get a good look to confirm the identity as her brother and look for the heirloom ring on his finger.

"With the crate partly open, perhaps one of you that can detect magic can identify whether the magic is coming from the heirloom ring that Vale mentioned or from some other source within.  Also Vale recalled that Lord Agustin was assisted by strange, obedient humanoids with red-glowing eyes.  It might make sense to get a look at the eyes to see if he now has the same condition."

She pauses a moment.  "Vale, what is your brother's name?"

Once she is given the go ahead to approach and inspect the crate she rushes over "Vlad? Vlad!" She instinctively kneels down and embraces him. After a moment she stops and says "He feels...cold. He looks...pale. He isn't breathing! Someone do something! Does anyone know how to resuscitate? Hurry"

Bellamy and Thren

"Well I can give him a once over" says Bellamy. He begins examining the brother.

Medicine Check

16 in game log

Medicine check 7 

Rel stays back out of the way, leaving the matter to those who appear to have the right skills.

She only asks about what she fears:  "Is his heart beating?  Even slowly?  I would like to confirm that he is not undead."