Seeing the potion, Obsben's eyes went wide in a mix of genuine surprise, awe, and horror! "Ooooh~ Now if that's what I /think/ it is, how did you get a hold of something like that?" She looks up to Graxx. "You know that sorta of magic is illegal in most major cities, and just possessing its liquified form can get you in quite a bit of trouble." She warns, but then after looking back at the so far gathered bodies. "But... this is a unique situation, and so long as we dispose of any evidence after, it would make things much, much easier." 

Graxx smiles and looks at the Potion.

Graxx hands it to Obsben.

"It was a gift some time ago."

Graxx nods.

"Use it wisely."

Neya first goes through the birdman's pouches and pockets prior to binding him.

Investigation: 9

Sleight-of-hand: 6

"Someone ready to catch this guy?" Neya calls down to the rest of CRAP.

Obsben cants her head to the side at the offer. "Hmm~ Making sure I'm an accomplice I see. And here I was all set to simply turn a blind eye." She said with a sly smile, and before Graxx can rescind the offer, promptly snatched up the potion. "But, it wouldn't be the first time! Now, there's still some concern of a wandering patrol that could come snooping about at any time, and... I still don't know what-..." She pauses and looks up to Neya, then expectantly over to Graxx and Utar. 

(OOC: Let me start with the looting.)

@Utar: On the bullywug: studded leather armor, shortsword, light crossbow, and a dungeoneer's pack. He has a pouch with 50gp inside. It seems to you like this person is a smarter-than-average bullywug.

@Utar: On the half-orc: morningstar, disguise kit, and a monster hunter's pack. He has a pouch with 50gp inside. You also find out that this person is not really a half-orc, but a human wearing plenty of make-up and prosthetics.  

@Obsben: On the elf: dagger, spellbook, disguise kit, and a entertainer's pack. He is also wearing gloves and has a pouch with 250gp inside. There is also a note in his pocket. You also find out that this person is not really an elf, but a human wearing plenty of make-up and prosthetics.  

@Neya: On the birdperson: studded leather armor, shortsword, light crossbow, and a burglar's pack. They have a pouch with 150gp inside and a potion of healing they never got to use. You suspect this person to be an owlin.  

CRAP begins the somewhat time-consuming task of tying the unconscious enemies while paying special attention to the gagging of the "elf". They bring their prisoners together, with the farthest of them being tossed from the roof by Neya. The owlfolk is small enough that Utar has no trouble catching them.

Done in a rushed manner, some of the knots are better than others, but there won't be time for a second try. By the time this initial tying and looting are done, the owlin is already waking back up. Being jostled by the toss and catch certainly helped them in the process. The others look like they are in for a much longer sleep, unless they are medically or magically treated before then.

Graxx is sure to bring out a vial of mind shenenigans in case someone can put it to good use. Obsben is unable to contain her excitement, and perhaps a bit of reservation and fear, and soon finds herself holding the vial in her hands. With or without the aid of a magical liquid, the halfling insists that any follow-up interrogation should be held away from the place where the fight occurred.

(OOC: What are the next steps?)

Utar rifles through the pile of assorted stuffs, tossing the purses into his own pack before lifting two hempen ropes to replace the ones being left with the Bullywug and pretend Half-Orc.  For good measure he also takes the manacles, spell book, steel mirror and five ration packs.

"Whatever we're to do, do it quick. These knots were not my best work and one of them is already waking. I'd say whatever questions we can ask here might be all we can do, someone already tipped off the Black Fist after all and we all know they are less inclined to ask questions and more inclined to dole out summary justice...."

Starting the good cop, bad cop routine early, Utar mimes a noose being draped around his neck and then pulled taught.

Intimidation - 6

"I'd rather take my chances with us, who might just be persuaded to show mercy and let you live. The Black Fist don't look kindly on thieves and brigands."

With that, Utar takes the note from the Elf and opens it, attempting to read it, should he not be able to identify it, he'll pass it to anyone else who fancies it.

(Utar can read common, Orcish, Draconic and Celestial.)

Having been the one to get hold of the note first, Obsben's natural curiosity nearly gets the better of her, as she almost immediately opened it up to have a gander at its contents! But after a moment's hesitation and spike of paranoia, she does remove the elf's gloves and fits one over her own hand as much as possible before handling the note. (Languages Known: Common, Draconic, Halfling, Infernal) Though the MOMENT Utar tries to go for the spellbook set aside along with everything else, she whips around and actually hisses at the half-orc while slamming a little hand on it and pulling it closer.

"This one is mine." She says, her eyes darkening for a bit there while pulling it tight to her side. While warily side-eyeing Utar she returns to at least gloss over the note. If none of it made sense or appeared to be in a cypher at first glance, she'd seem to soften and sigh before handing it over, as well as motion to the rest of the stuff(pouch of mega coins included) for others to take.

"For the record, I didn't actually tip them off. Just sent a message to another contact to help look into things from another angle." She clarified, having fully returned to her normal, nonchalant self, though still hugged the spellbook to her. "But again, ramped security and it getting close to curfew 'n all that." Seeing as the Owlin was to be the first upon the interrogation block, what with her spell soon to lose its magic, Obsben considers Graxx gift again for a moment, before pocketing it for the moment in favor of a copper piece and casting her spell. That way when they fully came to, she'd be ready to do a little light reading while Utar started things of the creature's mind.

(Just surface thoughts for now, though she will start probing deeper depending on what questions get asked)

Utar's eyes fly wide as Obsben houses at him like some kind of wildcat. He passes the spell book to her, "Thought you'd want this, just figured we'd divvy up later, like usual. Torm knows I got no use for a wizard's scratchings."

(OOC Happy to leave Obby with the note. Utar can crouch to read over her shoulder.)

Graxx will retrieve his axe to ensure it is safe and sound.

Graxx sees that the pretend "elf" is being taken care of properly and help the others with the tactics.

"No Blackfist?  Good" says Graxx.

Graxx leans on his axe using it to prop himself up.

"Forget thieving.  I don't take kindly to folks trying to kill my friends."

Graxx leans a little further on his axe.

"I'd suggest you start the talkin' before I get all angry again." says Graxx.

Intimidation:  9

After gathering up the owlin’s belongings, Neya rejoins the group on the ground. She keeps an eye out for any onlookers or eavesdroppers. 

Perception: 11

Utar picks the best pieces of equipment from the loot pile, including all the coin, for safekeeping. After some slight misunderstanding regarding a spellbook, the group focuses on the note they found on one of the assailants. Obsben is careful to pluck a glove from the "elf" and place it on her own hand so to more safely handle the note. Upon removing the glove, she notices a series of green tattoos on the last three fingers of the "elf's" right hand. As for the note, it says:

"tusJ etg ti node, seoarS. fI htey nifd em, htne teh tsla fruo ohstnm aehv bene a aoltt wtaes. euErns tath teh p'hseirsreW itfha ni su aws ton lil peacld."

The use of a cypher does not surprise Obsben, who passes the note along to someone else and turns her attention to the interrogation to come. The first prisoner is waking up now and the group has not moved yet, so the circumstances call for it all to simply take place right here.

Neya takes a few steps to distance herself from the owlin and better pay attention to the general area surrounding CRAP. Looking around, she notices that all windows on the building in this alley are closed. She focuses on that for a bit, failing to pay attention to anything else for a little while.

Graxx begins the interrogation a bit too early. The owlfolk is still visibly groggy by the time Graxx finishes delivering his threat. It is pretty obvious they did not internalize any of it. By now, Obsben has cast a quick mind-reading spell. Utar then begins the interrogation proper once he sees the owlin is at least reacting to their surroundings. Although the owlin only says four words, it seems they are willing to cooperate, maybe... "Not the Black Fist..."

@Obsben: The owlin's thoughts are still pretty jumbled at the moment.

"Yes, I suppose the Whisper would be exceptionally disappointed if you fell into their hands wouldn't they." Her time reading the note hadn't been much at all. Yet something about the apostrophe... that bit lingered like an ear worm, and the had lightling subtly squirming at first while everything else was being seen to by others. But if only to confirm the theory Obsben couldn't help letting slip the tile while pretending to go through the spellbook, hoping to shock the owlin into focusing on the details to the surface. 

Utar raises an eyebrow as he glances at the note and lets Obby pass it off to either Graxx or Neya.

Focussing down on the owlin, he stands over them and then kneels.  "Give us a reason not to just hand you over now. Start. Talking."

Graxx takes the note and looks at it confused(internally) at the jibberish.

Graxx hands the note Neya and raises his eyebrows like he saw Utar do to not give away he does not know what it says.

As Graxx see's his previous threat was unheard but the Owlin seems to want to cooperate Graxx will stand and look menacing.

Graxx will also keep an eye on the other captives to ensure none are trying anything funny and trying to escape.

Perception:  16

"The... Whisper?" The owlin finally responds, looking at Obsben first. "Who is that?"

Utar takes over and finds little reluctance from the only foe who is awake: "A reason? Well, I am just a sword-for-hire, like any other. I was hired to take down some miscreants... you. I know nothing of no Whisper."

@Obsben:

Graxx decides to leave the interrogation to the others and joins Neya in keeping an eye out. He hears no steps approaching the area, windows being opened, or any movement from the other three captives. Some cockroaches actively roam about the alleyway, though.

Neya give the note a look and responds to the Owlin, "Miscreants? That's new. While we do straddle the line, I don't suppose that..."

She looks closer to it, as try and suss something out, "Sareos? Soreas...? Sosear... Sa-" She gives up guessing the name.

"Whoever's in charge among you what we're supposedly guilty of?"

The owlin clarifies: "Soares. We were told to follow his directions." After blinking a few times, they continue: "My companions and I," they point to the bullywug and human disguised as a half-orc, "we were told to follow Soares's instructions, that is, the elf. They only said you were putting your nose where you shouldn't..." The owlin then more clearly nod toward the fake-elf and add: "You really outta be talking to Soares."

"'Who is they? The people that clearly contracted you fine folks to 'rumble us'... is I believe what the phrase is. Clearly they are not very well informed, otherwise you and yours might've been better equipped. Then again... hmm... How long have you known your half-orc and 'the elf' by the way? Because depending on your answer, you may have been doubly duped I'm afraid Mr. Owl." Obsben nonchalantly questioned upon finding a moment to do so. 

"Don't worry. We'll have a further talk with Soares, but focus on my little friend's question. Depending on how you answer, we might be able to put you and your friends in touch with folk who'll pay for your services without jumping strangers in back alleys. Surefire way to get your teeth knocked in by my larger, angrier friend."