<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/thumb/4/4f/Ithika_2.jpg/423px-Ithika_2.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Ithika<br/></span></span><hr/><em>Lvl 4 Drow Female UC Rogue, Contractor</em><br/><strong>HP:</strong>40<br/><strong>AC:</strong>20<br/><strong>Standard Perception:</strong>10 (12 vs traps)<br/><hr/>With her head tilted slightly and her face askance to Milena, the muddied-breed drow nodded as she passed her gaze over the rocks, the terrain, the entrance-- she seemed to have been envisioning something, but unlike Milena, who was perhaps seeing a future here, Ithika was focused entirely on its recent past-- what had happened here recently, and what might still be here.  Lifting her gaze to a modest height and turning briefly and respectfully toward the House's Inner Circle member, she bowed very subtly from the waist and reached into her haversack to pass back a palmful of something to the cleric-- the two keystones she had informed them of before.  Apparently, she possessed an abundance of caution.<br/><br/>Stryker, she expected, would be shortly behind, so she whispered over her shoulder to him as they neared the entrance.  "Please keep any lights from my path, if you carry them."  Then with a moment's hesitation, she smiled faintly back.  "And I'll help you if anything goes sideways, if you can do the same.  I expect that's in our best interests."  With what appeared to be unconscious ease, she lowered her shoulders and stepped swiftly and cautiously onward, finding the shadows of every angle to the door, and strode forth at a measured and steady pace.  Delving first into the open area before the entrance, scouting for disturbances, misplaced objects, hidden devices, or signs of import, she would then make her way deeper into waiting gloom with the expert precision and care of a practiced thief and dungeoneer.<br/><br/>DM Note: Ithika will scout the exterior and interior for as long as it takes to a) construct an understanding of recent events, if possible, and b) ensure the absence or traps, hostile forces, or secret entrances within all immediate spaces and abutting egresses.  If she encounters a trap, she'll make a note on a scrap of paper to send to Stryker and, if feasible, attempt a disarm.  If she encounters more than a minute hostile force, she'll attempt to signal a stop, signal a regroup/report to the others, scout, and stealth out.