Take the Bog route

Litz thought about it hard before voting. Great Stingers were annoying but what he didn't want to see was a Treant. Going through an area of forest that dense, they were likely to run into one. And if they made enough noise, there would probably more coming to investigate. One Treant would be bad, but any more than that would probably destroy their group.

So with that thought in mind, Litz voted for the bog route. He watched the map shrink a little and to the right of it, the tallies came flooding in. It was only a small margin, but the bog route won out. What he hadn't noticed was that Tianna and Leeds had watched how he voted before they cast their votes as well. Tianna had brought him in on this mission because she trusted his judgement. Leeds would follow her through the gates of Hell, so whatever she decided, he would follow.

Once everything was decided by the vote, Tianna called for everyone to head out. With her and Leeds at the head of their Party, the group began heading down the bog route. Litz decided to stay near the back of the group but not quite at the rear. If something happened at the front, Not only was Tianna and Leeds there, but he had also noticed Vincent not far behind them. If they needed him, Litz was fast enough that he could probably get to the front easily. He didn't know enough about the other fighters to really trust them, so while he knew the front was secure, the back wasn't.

So he allowed himself to blend in and just melt into the Party's rear. The trip was pretty uneventful in the beginning. They traveled on the only real road the Floor had to offer. This road ran from the Stairway from the lower floor to the City in a winding path and was probably the safest part of the Floor. Two Great Stingers crossed their path, but went down in an instant as Leeds and a few other ranged fighters quickly fired off the first attacks and the closest warriors struck down their remaining HP. Litz didn't even move to help, knowing he wasn't needed for such a simple battle, but wasn't at all unhappy about the experience points he gained from being part of the Party.

It was nearly dusk of that first day when they made it to the stretch of land that had the bog near it. The hike had taken most of the day because the path Leeds had scouted was so far out of the way. Most of their group of tired and ready to rest, but Leeds and Tianna pushed for them to keep going. It was almost too dark to see without a lantern when Leeds called a stop. They were at a small clearing with a large fire pit dug out in the center and lantern holders all around the camp with the bog stretched out as far as they could see on their left and the forest to their right. Most of the group began setting up camp, but Litner looked out at the bog. Something was out there.

Strangers. Moving at the edge of the territory. Their movement had awakened him and that had in turn awakened the others. Slowly, they began to move. From deeper in the bog, he felt the ripples of the other moving closer as well. He wasn't supposed to be in their territory either, but this larger group was more of a threat. Cautiously, he crept forward, letting his eyes come up out of the water. One of the intruders was close to the bog. Close enough....

Litner saw the creature spring out of the water and was already prepared. His scythe was already materializing in his hands and he easily side stepped and cut deep into the bog frog. It croaked in shock and pain but before it could defend, Litner had spun and slammed the metal ball at the end of his chain down on its head. The Bog Frog gave one last pained croak before it dissolved in a flash of light and glowing crystals.

To his left, one of the other men wasn't so lucky. The Frog that had attacked him had pushed him down into the dirt and was raking powerful, poisoned claws across his chest. An arrow came out of nowhere and pierced the Frog's eye. It cried out and reared up in pain as another arrow from Leeds' bow took it in the throat. The frog died as Celeste ran to the man's aid. She quickly neutralized the poison and began healing him as the battle raged around them.

Litner began to move to defend her, but then noticed how the frogs were swarming the camp. This wasn't just one or two, it was a whole tribe. Their Party numbered about twenty warriors and healers, and were outnumbered at least two to one. Tianna cut one down with her fan on the other side of camp and now Leeds was trying desperately to get to her side. Vincent was standing over a fallen ally, calling for a healer was the man's soul stared down at his body cursing. A frog pounced towards Vincent and he knocked it away with his shield drove his blade into it as it landed.

Litner had only a few moments to decide his next course of action. Celeste wouldn't have time to finish her healing without help and everyone around her was busy. Tianna was mostly cut off from the rest, with several frogs pushing her back towards the forest. Leeds was trying to get to her, but too many frogs blocked his way. Vincent needed a healer to revive the man who had fallen, but none were close enough and Vincent would probably fall before one could get there. Litner needed to help someone. Or just leave. That could work too. With all the commotion, no one would notice. Just like no one noticed the Slip Jack waiting in the shallows to capture its prey.

Litner Gained 80 XP for the two Great Stingers and 100 for the Bog Frog

Level 25:
XP to next Level: 420

HP:
1800/1800

Gear:
Weapon: Ninja Scythe and chain (Blue Steel)
Extra Weapons: Ninja throwing knives (10 count) (Blue Iron)
Body: Black Hooded Outfit (Green Cloth)

Potions:
Healing Potion: 2 (Heals 500 HP)
Enhancement Potion 2 (Attack increases for 3 attacks)

Food:
Half-Eaten Bread (Restores 5 HP, Relieves some hunger.)
Cooked Lizard Tail (Restores 50 HP and moderate Hunger)
Pasta (Restores 50 HP and moderate Hunger)