NOTE: We left off with the character's having crash landed on the planet of Peren. An army of men on horseback, armed with primitive weapons were riding towards them...and they didn't look happy. Read The Fiery Path for all the details!

Smoke rose from the hull of the Kuat Systems Engineering Firespray-12 called the "Gray Sunrise." The party stood in the long grass outside the ship, watching the horsemen approach at a gallop. Quinn told his companions, "Raise your hands and show them your palms...in this primitive culture that will signify that we mean no harm."

The leader of the group of horsemen signalled them to stop about 10 meters out from the where the party stood. Their horses were breathing heavy, and looked like they had been ridden hard. The leader spoke. "I am Kirkin of the Sky Clan...what manner of construct is that behind you? What are you doing in our hills?"

Quinn explained that the party was from the stars, and that their ship for sailing in the sky had crashed. This of course generated a lot of empty stares from the horsemen, as well has whispered comments of disbelief. Quinn explained that the party meant not harm to the horsemen, their clan, or their nation...and that they would be fixing their ship and hopefully being on their way. Vette asked the direction of the nearest large city...and Kirkin pointed to the SE...the way from which they had come.

Kirkin was then advised quietly by two of the other horsemen...one appeared to distrust the party and was possibly suggesting they were an enemy to be dealt with. The second horseman appeared to advise moving on...and letting the party be. Kirkin turned back towards the party, "We have been stalked for three days now by an unknown number of tiver-cats...and as dangerous as they are...I see no reason to delay here. While you seem strange enough, and your story is madness...you have shown us nothing but respect and hands empty of weapons. You do not appear to be devils, or in league with devils. We will leave you be. Beware the tiver-cats, strangers!" Kirkin turned towards his men..."Ride...RIDE!"

As the horsemen galloped off, Quinn climbed back inside the Gray Sunrise, and brought out a Fabritech SE-Vigilant Automated Sensor Beacon...and extended the sensor's pole to its full 3 meter length. "I'm going to set it to detect large creatures, and put it to our SE...nothing will get within 250 meters of us without us knowing about it."

Kenai was taking up a sniper's position on top of the downed ship. He was scanning the horizon with his scope. "I'll keep an eye out...maybe we ought to grab some gear and head for this town...according to my data...it would be Cornwalsh."

Vette had been standing quietly with his hands at his side, his one real eye closed. "Yes...there is a fair sized town in that direction...I can feel the life there. What parts are we going to need to fix this ship?" Vette opened his eye and turned towards the Rodian.

Bot Welo was looking at a data-pad display. "Ships diagnostics and the R-4 units agree...the Ion Stabilizers are shot...and we don't have enough spares to get this thing flying. We need Kuat Engineering parts, or something close that I can rig up...or we're not going anywhere, any time soon. I'll have the two droids fix what they can for now."

Kenai called out to the others, "Look skyward...INCOMING!" Everyone observed the six trails of fire and smoke tearing through the atmosphere in their direction.

Quinn yelled to Bot Welo, "Are those things going to hit us?!? Scan those things!"

"Master Quinn...they appear to be .3 meters in diameter...6 objects...none of them appear to be on a path to collide with us...."

Quinn rubbed his beard. "Probes...probe droids. We need to move out of here...whoever shot us down means to finish the job!" And then over his communicator, "Let's pack up everything we need and head for that community to the southeast..."

One of the objects impacted within view at the top of a distant hill. Dirt exploded into the air. Bot Welo fired the ship's weapons, as Kenai fired into the cloud of dirt and dust. No droid was seen to rise out of the fire and explosions that resulted. "One down...five to go," Kenai thought to himself.

The party gathered up what equipment they could carry and sent a message to the Jedi from the Republic they were supposed to contact...Oaht-Goth. They then left the Gray Sunrise with their R-4's rolling along behind them. The party continued to use their Sensor Beacon, but having one of their droids carry it.

It was slow moving across the rolling grassy plains, for the party had brought quite a bit of gear...and the R-4's were not quick-moving in the grassy rough environment. Bot scanned for a cave up ahead, and located one where the party could stash some gear. That is when Kenai caught sight of one of the probe droids out of the corner of his eye. The droid was moving between hills, paralleling the party's path of travel.

Kenai zeroed in with his scope. "Probe droid at nine-o'clock...about 100 meters...look lively."

Quinn and Vette ran low across the hills faster than a man was supposed to run. Their light-sabers were in their hands. They had worked together long enough in the old days, that Vette moved to the right...ahead of the droid, and Quinn moved to the left to come up behind it...though not a word was said between them. Vette and Quinn ran towards each other between the hills, and the probe droid was not in view between them. Vette headed for high ground, while Quinn swept through the valleys and gulleys looking for the droid. Morgan had run to Vette's position, while Kenai kept his rifle shouldered and his eye to his scope.

The probe droid ambushed Quinn with twin blasters...hitting him and delivering minor damage to his left arm and leg. Quinn ran forward and swung at the hovering droid with a blade of light. Vette and Morgan ran to join Quinn in his battle, as the probe droid rose to 10 meters off the ground. Kenai smiled. His blaster rifle fired a single shot and the probe droid exploded over the heads of the jedi and the monk from Ando-Prime. "Two down...four to go."

"Nice shooting Kenai." Quinn looked over his wounds as the party gathered back together. "Let's get to that cave, stow our gear, and see if we can't get some help from the locals."

The cave was nothing special, but it would do to hide their gear and the droids. They rested briefly and drank water from their canteens. The sound of a probe droid repulsor could be heard approaching the cave. Quinn turned on his sword and moved towards the cave entrance, Vette behind him. The probe droid hovered out of reach, and a mechanical voice could be heard repeating, "Do not destroy the equipment...do not destroy...do not destroy...."

Another larger round droid came into view and took a position slightly behind the probe droid. This larger droid had several cameras visible upon its surface. A voice full of gravel came from this larger droid...a voice of a living being being transmitted, rather than the droid's own voice. "Please do not destroy any further droids. We certainly did not mean to shoot down any Jedi. Please believe me...."

Quinn kept his lightsaber on, as Kenai scoped in on the probe droid. "Why did you shoot us down then...and what are you going to do to correct your error?"

The faceless voice explained that he was Vrusk Kryl'ion, and that he was part of Vendi Optune...a trade organization that was working under contract with the Fendora-Bengala Trade Corporation. They had mistaken the Gray Sunrise for pirates attempting to intrude on their contract to trade with parties on the surface of Peren...and had fired upon them. "If we knew Jedi were aboard your ship, you would not have been fired upon. When we saw your lightsabers as you fought that last probe droid, we realized our horrible mistake. We have no wish to bring the justice of the Jedi down upon our heads."

Bot Welo spoke up from the back of the group. "Then we'll need Ion Stabilzers...Kuat Systems preferably...and some other parts in order to get up and flying. You owe us that at the very least."

"Agreed. Transmit a list of what you need...and you will have it. We have Kuat Systems' parts...we'll get you what you need."

Quinn turned off his lightsaber. "I am Quinn Roldoon, Master Jedi of the White Tower. We'll need to speak with your leader here. I want certain information and guarentees which I can only get from the man...or woman...in charge."

There was a long pause. Then Vrusk's voice crackled across the droid's external speakers. "He will meet with you by holoprojector...but not in person. We will deliver the part to the location where your ship crashed...and we will talk more there. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Back at the Gray Sunrise the party transmitted to Vrusk that they had arrived and were ready to receive the parts. Vrusk answered, "We know...and I am headed to the surface in a shuttle."

The shuttle landed about 15 meters from the Gray Sunrise. Vrusk exited the shuttle with 6 heavily armored and armed guards. Two of the guards slung their weapons and guided several cargo boxes made weightless by repulsor-lift platforms. Vrusk nodded to the Jedi. "These parts are exactly what you need...please check their thoroughly...we would do the same in your position."

Kenai came forward with Bot Welo, and they guided the cargo the rest of the way back to the Gray Sunrise. They began to sweep it with sensor packs. Quinn stepped forward and greeted Vrusk. "I am ready to meet with your leader."

Vrusk clicked a button on a small handheld remote, and a floating holoprojector exited the shuttle and stopped between Vrusk and Quinn. Vette and Morgan joined Quinn, and the holoprojector crackled into service. A green faced Duro appeared in three dimensions before them. "I am Lada Nikta...leader of Vendi Optune. We appreciate how understanding you have been thus far. We would never intentionally attack Jedi...we have nothing against you or your fellow knights."

Quinn's voice was all about business. "We will require the names of agents you have on the ground here, as well as details about the political situation on planet. Please download these files to us at once."

Lada's face was grim. "I am downloading the political situation now...maps...current army positions, etc. We mainly trade with the Islands of Sir James, the Kingdom of Bantroth, the Swalunes...Norlund...even Respite. But we stay clear of the Grasslanders. Revealing agents to you would put them in danger...so on that favor I must refuse."

Quinn nodded. "I understand. We will also require proper transporation."

Lada smiled. "I will shuttle down my personal speeder...its a luxury model, and will serve your purposes well, I hope. We are simple pirates, out to make credits as simply as possible. I wish to avoid any...complexities...that might jeopardize our profits here. The Fendora-Bengalas charge a hefty fee for an exclusive contract."

Quinn pointed at the hologram of the duro. "I trust you can keep your discresion regarding our arrival here. We wish no one to know of it...especially the Fendora-Bengala Trade Corporation...."

"Of course, Master Roldoon...of course. As I said they charge a hefty fee for an exclusive contract...too hefty if you ask me. I owe them no loyalty or information. We will say nothing to them."

Lada Nikta's luxury speeder was shuttled down to the party, and Vrusk returned skyward with the two Vendi Optune shuttles. The party was contacted by Oaht-Goth, Jedi of the Republic, by voice communicator. Oaht-Goth informed the party he had been sent by the Jedi Council to investigate the disturbance in the Force on Peren, and that he was to share any political, military, and intelligence information he had gathered with the party. Oaht-Goth had intended on picking up the party, but since they already had transportation, he sent them the information they required. Quinn asked if Oaht-Goth was going to directly intervene to stop the disturbance, and Oaht-Goth suggested that it was the party's task to handle that problem.

Based on info from Vendi Optune and the Jedi of the Republic, it was decided to travel to Kloaden, the capital city of the Grasslands of Shronth, and the seat of power for Draad, Lord of the Iron Clan. Based on visions that Quinn had experience regarding the formation of the Seal of Kordasha, it was determined that Vavasha, a powerful force-user had erected the seal. The party hoped that by contacting Vavasha, they could get to the bottom of what was happening as quickly as possible.

The party parked the luxury speeder some over a hill from Kloaden, and approached the city at night and on foot. At the gates they were questioned by guards, and Vette failed to convince them that the party was a group of traders needing shelter for the night. Quinn stepped in and was able to turn things around using information from his datapad to seem like a native. Once in the city, they were searched, and were able to explain their blasters as religious items...while their light sabers were completely ignored as clearly not being weapons.

They were directed to an inn within view of the gate, and purchased two rooms for the night. The next morning, Quinn attempted to reach out and communicate with Vavasha mentally...and was able to make contact. A knock was heard at their door, and it was Vavasha! The party invited him in and learned that an ancient evil had been tampered with, and a gate between dimensions had been opened...and this was the reason for the Seal of Kordasha. Vavasha stressed that he had been looking into a way to reduce the power that it took to maintain the seal, and that they were working on a way to seal the gap between dimensions altogether...and get rid of the seal completely. But (and this was a big "but"), the Red Jackel had made his move...distracting Vavasha and all the powers of the Empire from this task.

High elves from Aranonri, Dragon Dwarves from Dumathoin, Wood Elves from the Forest of Whispers, Thri-Kree warriors from the Sands of the Aerunes, ebony warriors from the Red Jungle, and a variety of non-Empire affiliated powers had united under the Jackel's flag...and the cause of countering the "destructive activities of the human nations and the Feron-Jacobe Empire." All of these forces had united beneath the Jackel in order to eliminate the threat posed to all the world by those that had made the Seal necessary, and by those that would erect something as magically-draining as the Seal of Kordasha.

Quinn asked Vavasha what could be done to help with removing the need for the Seal...as the Seal had attracted the attention of the Jedi of the Republic...an order of force-users from over a billion worlds. Vavasha answered, "The Jackel pushes past the borders of the Grasslands of Shronth...and his forward armies are commanded from the Palace of Bone...in the Valley of Bone. If you were to disrupt their command...slow their progress, and buy us some time...that would help. We have people with the power to help in the other dimension...they may well solve the issue very soon. If they do...the Seal can fall...and the Jackel will lose his ralleying point...his reason for uniting all he has united against us. Yes, that would help."

The party agreed, and asked for a guide. Vavasha said that he would provide a guide named Merzin, a force-user in training beneath the Elder Mage. Vavasha left shortly thereafter, and Merzin arrived a short time later, maps in hand. As he spread out his parchment maps, Quinn and Kenai projected their datapad maps three-dimensionally into the air. Merzin nodded in appreciation for their "magic," and they began to compare notes.

A short while later the party and Merzin were skimming across the grassy surface of Peren towards the Valley of Bone...and the forward command of the Jackel's military forces. Looking down into the Valley, they could see the Palace of Bone towering above the Valley floor, with scores of tents pitched around its walls. After a short bit of planning, Bot Welo accelerated the luxury speeder towards the black gates of the Palace, while Kenai began throwing grenades to the side of the speeder. Quinn, Vette, and Morgan stood on the hood of the speeder and the tops of the seats, leaping high over the gate and wall when the speeder swerved to avoid colliding with the gate. Quinn and Vette came down on top of the gates, and began fighting with the guards, while Morgan landed in the courtyard beyond the gates. The speeder began a circuit around the Palace, Kenai throwing out grenades as he went.

Quinn and Vette exchanged blows with the guards, as Morgan accessed the force and pushed on the black gates from the inside. BOOOOM! The gates exploded outwards, and Quinn and Vette leapt into the courtyard and ran towards the front doors of the building. Quinn used his lightsaber to cut a circle tightly around the door latches, cutting them free, as well as slicing the heavy bar on the inside into three pieces. Vette shoved the doors open and arrows flew from those waiting for him inside. Morgan lifted the ground beneath those in the courtyard, toppling many of them this way and that. Meanwhile the speeder had made it all the way around the Palace of Bone, and slid through the open front gates. Grenades tossed behind the speeder brought the walls above and besides the now missing gates crashing down in a pile of rubble.

Quinn dove ran past Vette, and dove through a doorway where two archers were taking cover...and the fight was on with those within this barracks room. Quinn and Morgan made their way into the room also, in an attempt to avoid the archers taking cover at the hall intersection at the middle of the building. Outside Kenai continued to throw grenades, as Bot Welo and Merzin took cover. The elves were very accurate with their bows, but it was the flasks of oil they threw at Kenai that worried him. The surface of his armor and the hair which was exposed caught on fire...as Bot Welo and Merzin took dove back into the speeder to avoid the flames.

Back inside the room, Quinn, Morgan, and Vette swun away at their elvan opponents...but the two Jedi and the Monk were also taking damage. Morgan thrust his fist at the outside wall...a determined look on his face. The wall exploded outwards, raining down debris on the courtyard and their speeder parked outside. Quinn's eyes opened wide as he saw the 10 foot wide gap in the wall. "Fight you way to the hole...we need to get out of here!"

Vette smiled, blood on his teeth from a cut on his cheek, below his remaining organic eye. "We're not going to win the war here...but we've certainly disrupted things! You've certainly grown in power these past five years, priest...." Morgan nodded and ran for the hole in the wall. Vette and Quinn fought their way to the hole, and emerged through the cloud of dust into the courtyard outside. Everyone piled into the speeder, and Bot Welo floored the accelerator, and set the horizontal repulsors at maximum to gain as much clearance as possible.

Crashing through the crowd, Bot steered the vehicle towards the mound of rock that had fallen at the ruined gate. Kenai yelled from the seat behind Bot, "Keep left...keep left...its more level!" Bot could not hear Kenai over the roar of the engines and the screams of the crowd...and he steered right. The speeder rocked side to side as it ascended the rocky ramp, and began to slip to the right...striking the rough edge of the wall where the gate had been. The right body panel was ripped from the vehicle, and the vehicle listed heavily to the right. Bot attempted to adjust for the inertia of the impact, but it was too late.

The speeder's front end struck a boulder, raising the rear of the speeder past a point of no return. Instead of keeping the vehicle stable and floating above the ground, the repulsors were now accelerating and vehicle's roll...and the speeder began to flip....