Kerra's ears flattened at the mention of the guards but she looked around at the strong people by her side and grinned. "Go ahead, call all you want. And then you will have to explain to the guards, how is it you got the stolen gem and have a life thief in your humble shop." (Intimidation: 12)

She was ready to jump at the gnoll to intercept his attempt to run out should he decide to do so. (Athletics in advance: 9)

Daphyra steps to stand next to Kerra, adding her furry bulk to help Kerra's intimidation. 

Oh, and placing a hand on her shoulder to give her guidance as well.

Reroll of Intimidation: 15 + 1 (from Guidance)

Tasmara has been hanging back, watching evens unfold but ready to cast a spell if needed. The little halfling sorceress doubts she can intimidate a gnoll twice her height so relies on her more physically impressive friends to carry the weight. 

As Felix looks around the apothecary, he sees shelves lined with various jars and vials containing powders, herbs, and other natural ingredients. Some potions and elixirs he doesn’t know what the use is, but he does note a couple healing potions. There is nothing that appears illegal or out of place.

Heth takes a step back, stumbling over his own feet in his haste to retreat from Kerra. He grips his cane tightly, knuckles white with fear, and his eyes dart nervously around the room. "Okay, okay," He stammers, his voice trembling. "Raheed is upstairs, in the attic. Go ahead and look for him if you want, but just leave me out of this!" He points, and you see there is a ladder at the back going up the floors.

Felix will let the others go but stay close to Heth, holding tightly his spellbook and very much ready to cast a sleeping spell on him.

"See, was not that hard. We'll make an honest man out of you yet." Kerra moved upstairs, fast, but looking where she steps, trying to be light on her feet and attentive.

(Good idea @Felix - I don't trust this guy any more than I could throw him!)

(I'm guessing the ladder is near the door at the back?) Daphyra walks to the back of the room, as if she is going to go up the ladder following Kerra, but instead opens the door at the back. As she walks, she has one hand on her amulet to cast guidance on herself. 

Daphyra's hand grasps the doorknob of the back door, only to find it firmly locked. Heth catches her trying the door and he barks out a warning, his voice cracking, showing signs of fear. "I already told you Raheed is in the attic! That is my private room in there! Stay out of it!"

Kerra places her paws carefully on each rung of the ladder as she ascends to the second floor. On the second floor, she sees a door. The ladder continues upwards, disappearing into the shadows of what she assumes to be the attic. 

"I'll check the attic if you keep an eye on the door. This son of a gnoll is not to be trusted." If Daphyra agreed to wait and listen by the door, Kerra continued climbing up. Also listening to any noise and at least trying to watch her steps.

Daphyra guards the door while trying to keep an eye on how Kerra is going. 

Tasmara steps forward offering a sunny smile. "Look Heth," she says in her most pleasant tones possible, "we don't want to cause you any trouble and you don't want to cause us any trouble. No one wants trouble. Just relax and we'll be out of each others hair soon enough."

(OOC: Going for a little 'good cop' here. Persuasion: 6)

Heth seems a little comforted by Tasmara’s words, but he still fidgets nervously, eyes darting between Daphyra and up towards the attic.

Meanwhile, Kerra reaches the top of the ladder and pushes open the creaky trapdoor, revealing a gloomy and decrepit attic that is filled with the eerie chirping of bats. There’s a pungent smell of guano and dust. The dim light filtering in from the city through the cracks in the wooden walls casts an eerie glow on the scene before her.

Kerra notices a large sack is hanging from a butcher's hook that's anchored to the ceiling some ten feet above the floor. Something in the sack seems to be wiggling and muffled sounds can be heard coming from within it.

Not that Kerra doubted her own abilities, but four hands and four eyes are always better than just two. Not to mention claws and teeth. She called back to Daphyra. "Something is here in a sac. Moving. Come. And maybe we need Slick too to check if we caught the right mouse."

While others (hopefully) were climbing up, Kerra cut the suck - a "window", just enough to see who/what is inside.

(That is if there is a way to lower the suck to the floor, or if the suck is close to the wall. If not, Kerra will wait for others and then climb to the ceiling to cut the rope and drop the sack down)

Daphyra calls. "I'm coming up!" before saying to the others, "Can someone watch this door and him?" indicating Heth. "Why would he be in a sack, Heth?"

"C'mon Slick, up you go."

Tasmara sighs and nods at Daphyra. The little halfling then turns to Heth: "So want to play dice or cards or something while we're waiting?"

Using her dagger, Kerra cut a small slit on the sack. Peering through the gap, she sees a glimpse of the figure inside - definitely humanoid, wearing ragged street clothes, seems to be tied up, but she couldn’t see much more. As she leans in for a closer look, a muffled sound reaches her ears, "Hmmmhmmm", insistent and urgent, like someone trying to speak but can’t.

Kerra doesn’t see any apparent ways to lower the sack to the floor (could do a perception check). She notices that the hook holding the sack is attached to a thick beam running across the ceiling, almost out of reach. The distance between the sack and the floor is about five feet, but the hook that’s holding the sack in place is approximately ten feet high.

Hearing that Raheed is in the attic, Slick immediately follows Daphyra up the ladder, eager to get this business over with.

“Don’t trust a word he says!” Heth's face twists into a snarl. “He’s a filthy rat!” Then he eyes Tasmara, his expression nervous and guarded, his voice strained as he says quickly. “No, I don’t want to play any cards.”

Kerra Perception: 14

One good thing about being a cat is - you can climb easier than an ordinary human. If she could not find a way to lower the sack, she would cut it off the beam. (Provided, others did come into the attic).

Daphyra stands ready to help lower the sack to the ground if Kerra cuts the rope.