Dolash nodded with a smile to Marek to show approval, and moved gently into the caves. Slightly less restrained praise was showered on him by Jubaz, the Rodian, who slapped him so hard on the back that Marek nearly doubled over. "Very good, very good indeed. Doors are tricky like that." and with that promptly entered the cave. The rest of the Jedi gave Marek smiles and nods from there on in - respect given to a recognized fellow Jedi, after proving he had mastery over the Force before them.

Inside, Dolash took in the caves, and found that he agreed with Trazu greatly. "You are right, Trazu, there is something off about these caves. I've never seen them before and even to I the warping is noticeable. We should tread carefully, to see if the root of the problem is something that has been attracted to the Orb and the Force power that you felt in this place - or if these things themselves are tainted.

As the Jedi proceeded, a feeling of unease fell upon the party. The walls did indeed possess mysterious carvings that told of events from countless worlds and innumerable time periods, but just why or what all of this meant escaped them for now.

"Senses sharp, everyone." Dolash whispered. "If you see anything at all, point it out immeadietly."

"Wait." said Proq, and the group halted. "Who's that?"

He pointed a finger at one particular carving, this one seemed harsh and rough - as if done by someone in anger, and fairly recently. A Twi'lek Jedi, only this one female, was falling to her knees dead as strange, twisted soldiers behind her blasted away. It seemed like they were in a jungle, and the appearance seemed particularly warped and twisted like the walls.

Barris suddenly let out a chokced scream, and had to restrain herself swiftly. The group turned to look at her, and she said. "I... I'm sorry. That image, it looks like Aayla Secura. We served together on Felucia. That was where I... passed away. It looks like the clones got her too..."

Ian frowned. "Why would there be pictures of how Jedi died in a cave like this? I doubt nearly anyone knew where she died."

Dolash nodded. "We must procceed. Marek, Trazu, if either of you in particular see anything, I would like to know."

Trazu continued to guide them down the passageways, passing through one of the connection chambers, the very one he had meet that one strange creature that claimed to be the keeper of the place, though now he knew that had been a lie. He wondered briefly what happened to the creature: he knew the K’Satizitus failed to kill him and he had escaped, but where did he go after that?

Doesn’t matter right now. He thought, then yelped in pain as he stubbed his foot on something. He hopped on one foot a moment, muttering curses in his native tongue before realizing he had done something like this before. Shining his light on the floor, he found the same broken transparent half sphere he had stubbed his toe against last time he was here.

“We’re getting close to the sphere chamber.” He announced, shining this light at the ceiling. “Let’s see if these work like last time.” He directed his beam at one of the intact ‘light bulbs’ and like before it absorbed the light and started to glow. The one next to it started to glow soon after and the one after that. The chain reaction however stopped after five ‘bulbs’ and he quickly saw why: the warping of the tunnels had caused more of them to break off and crash to the floor. Still, the increased light helped them to see more of the carvings and one in particular caught his eye.

It depicted a large cloaked figure wearing a full helmet and looked half man half machine, holding over his head another cloaked figure, only this one twisted and thin, arcs of lightning firing from his finger tips and into the first. Unlike the one depicting the Jedi Purge, this one was clean and clear. “The redemption of Anakin Skywalker…” Trazu said softly. When the balance was restored.

It started to dawn on him what this place meant, what the carvings meant. “Is it me…” Trazu said to the party. “Or are all these carvings depicting events that were directly connected to the Force itself?”

Marek was pleased with the compliments that were bestowed upon him, even despite nearly being knocked into the ground by Jubaz. The connection he felt with the stone was unlike anything he had experienced thus far in his Jedi training, but it was still early on.

"You are right, Trazu, there is something off about these caves. I've never seen them before and even to I the warping is noticeable. We should tread carefully, to see if the root of the problem is something that has been attracted to the Orb and the Force power that you felt in this place - or if these things themselves are tainted."

Marek could hear Dolash speaking to Trazu as they entered. His uneasiness had increased ten fold the after entering the cave and as his eyes adjusted to the dark surroundings he began to focus on the strange carvings that lined the wall.

"Senses sharp, everyone." Dolash whispered. "If you see anything at all, point it out immediately."
They only took a few more steps before Proq called out.

"Wait, who is that?"

Barris recognized the figure in the carving Proq was referring too. It was a Twi'lek Jedi named Aayla Secura. Apparently a victim of the mass Jedi extermination by the Sith during the clone wars.

"I... I'm sorry. That image, it looks like Aayla Secura. We served together on Felucia. That was where I... passed away. It looks like the clones got her too..."

Zolar sympathized with the ghost, but didn't feel it was his place to comfort her.

Ian chimed in with a question of his own.

"Why would there be pictures of how Jedi died in a cave like this? I doubt nearly anyone knew where she died?"

Marek Agreed. Why would the brutal murders of Jedi, be recorded here? And how would anyone know that it had happened, all the Jedi that were there were killed along side her.

Dolash nodded. "We must proceed. Marek, Trazu, if either of you in particular see anything, I would like to know."

Marek nodded, "Yes Master."

The group followed as Trazu led the way. They passed several carvings of various events involving Jedi Knights, all of which presented a feeling of melancholy. So much loss and for what? To what end were there deaths necessary. Marek didn't understand it.

“We’re getting close to the sphere chamber.” Trazu announced, “Let’s see if these work like last time.” He was trying to activate the lighting system in place. A few of the lights actually began to cast light; others appeared to have been destroyed.

As they continued moving, Marek came across a carving that struck his attention. It was of two Jedi engaged in a lightsaber duel with a horrible looking individual, no doubt a Sith Lord. His face marked with various red and black tattoos, he was a frightful sight, and he’d dare say intimidating. The carvings seemed to capture the intensity that played out upon his haunting features. The two Jedi, though noble in their attempt appeared to be outmatched and in the last series of the carvings the older looking Jedi Knight is struck down by the menacing phantom-like warrior. Zolar could feel his own anger began to rise as he watched the carvings play out.

"Master Qui-gon Jinn..." he announced to the other party members.

It was then that he heard Trazu, “Is it me, or are all these carvings depicting events that were directly connected to the Force itself?”

Marek looked in his direction, "It would appear so."

On Dolash's mind was nothing but finding the source of this corruption and putting an end to it - for surely that was the Force's purpose in guiding them here. He expressed this feeling aloud.

"It appears to me that this corruption is what the Force has sought to reveal to us and set right. Once fixed, maybe some new secrets will reveal themselves in this place?"

"Maybe..." said Proq "But it's probably best not to jump the gun here, right? We'll know when we get there?"

"Councilling caution - most wise, Proq."

The group continued their journey through the history of the Force, as more recent events began to play out on the walls. Dolash began to eye them with renewed interest - some even began to seem familiar.

Throughout, however, the caves had been darkening. The walls began to blacken and twist, altogether becoming fouler. Then, quite suddenly, all that changed.

The cave walls suddenly took on a new appearance - and if it was twisted before, now all the moreso. The twists were not just bends in the structure, it seemed as if the whole tunnel were being torn apart. Stone of all kinds jutted awkwardly from cracks, and the carvings became more and more indistinct.

As they reached 'the present', Dolash stopped, and said "Slaskia - I feel we are reaching the central chamber of this place. As you know the most, I ask that you lead the way, and light our journey. And Marek? stay close to me." Protectively, Dolash moved to ensure he was within reach of his padawan - he was filled with equal parts curiosity and suspiscion as to what lay ahead, and he didn't intend to be unprepared.

"I... I can't go on." said Barris, and she stopped. "It's too... strong, up ahead. Or too weak... I don't know."

The group turned with surprise to the ghost, as she seemed to struggle against some invisble wall. "I'm sorry, it's just too thick. I can't do it."

"That's not the Barris of history." said Katria, her brow furrowed. "The archives said you were reknowned for your courage to move forwards, even in the face of danger."

She seemed torn, but Katria continued. "It's not much further - here, I'll take your crystal. Hold on to me if you have to, and I'll take us both through it."

With that, Barris seemed to sink into Katria, yet something in her eyes suggested the ghost was still there.

"An admirable sentiment, surely." said Jubaz "But there are still dangers in bringing a ghost into the close proximity of the mysterious. Be warned, is all I advise."

Dolash, however, was thinking. He had an idea, but instead of speaking it he turned to Marek as the group moved forwads again and said "Tell me, what do you think that suggests in the Force? If Barris finds it difficult to move through the Force ahead, what do you think that indicates?"

Lavality moved after the group, slowly, but she was finding place's to hide rather difficult, but as she rounded another corner and kept on following the group, staying, hopefully, out of there sight range

As she slowly walked across the ground she could see the walls, the twists and turns, a pattern in mind formed but it was to jumbled for her to think. She kept going until she slipped, falling onto the ground, the lightsabre she had clipped to her belt hit the ground, causing a metallic clang. She immedently got up, and searched for a place to hide and soon found one.. although she already knew that group HAD to of heard her little mistake

Dolash once again put him on the spot.

This time he really didn't have an answer, at least not one he felt confident in.

"Uhh..Well.." he began to respond. The uneasy feeling he felt before was now multiplied ten fold.” Maybe the central chamber is crawling with ysalamiri's. I mean, Barris in her current state is more attuned to the force than any of us, maybe their force-negating effects are attacking her and we just haven't felt it yet?"

He wasn't very comfortable in his answer, but it was all he really had going on in his thought process.

Until...

"Or it's a trap and Barris is just luring us in to an untimely demise, the old rope-a-dope hope they fall for it routine." Still grasping at straws.

He shot a timid glance over to Katria and Barris. "No offense Barris."

Marek looked back at Dolash, "The only thing that I'm sure of is that something isn't what it appears to be."

He felt like he had just taken a test he hadn't studied for and completely bombed.

It was completely different from what he had seen last time in both form and feeling. Besides the physical distortion and perhaps it was because he was physically closer to the source, he could almost feel the distortion now as well. While Marek answered Dolash’s inquiry, Trazu decided to take a chance and closed his eyes and concentrated, bringing up his perception of the Force in his mind’s eye. It was not a new skill, as he had used it before when the spirit was still possessing him, but he had to relearn how to ‘see’ the Force once the spirit had been banished: his son Silonik helped him with that. He still couldn’t walk around just using this method of ‘sight’ however, but it will do to see what lay ahead before physically going there.

The mist vision came up, but what he saw was not what he expected to see. Through the constantly shifting mist that he saw the Force as, he saw the large chamber beyond and the now distorted shape of the sphere and the spires that surrounded it. Since it was neutral place, the walls in the mist were simply grey, though the sphere was quite noticeably thicker since it was directly imbued with the Force. However, there were patches of darkness, dark grey and black being the colors he had chosen to show the influence of the dark side, through out the chamber. Most disturbing though, was that in the places that these patches were darkest there was a new color: red. Red streaks were in these darkest patches he could see and they seem to open and close like how a sail with a rip in it would and he got the perception that like a ripped sail the tear would get bigger the more it ‘flapped’. There was only one word he could describe it as: a wound.

“What could do such a thing to the Force itself….” He muttered. When queried on what he was talking about, he quickly described what he saw.

The Jedi filed into the central chamber with mixed expressions of shock, horror, and awe. As they moved, Dolash guided Marek towards the edge of the mists and said "Do not be too surprised that you weren't sure what was going on - I have been tracking this anomaly since it's first signs made themselves known ages ago, and I still do not grasp it fully. You were right, however, right to sense something was wrong."

As tentative steps were taken into the mist, Dolash continued "This is not merely the dark side at work - the damage may be shrouded in it, but the dark side is innately self-destructive and mustn't have realized the damage it's inflicting yet. This is neither good, nor evil. This is unnatural."

Suddenly, an unholy wailing from Katria tore their attention away from the curiosities of the Force. She had been struggling this far as it is, but instead of being pushed away being so close to the red cuts in the air began instead to pull her in, the air full of shrieks and crackles of Force energy.

Ian dased over to grab her, but the Force crackled off of her and earthed itself into his chest, sending the Jedi hurtling across the room into the wall. Proq and Jubaz quickly stepped up on either side of her, willing the Force to pin her in place. Finally, she was encapsulated into a bubble of energy and collapsed into a heap.

"Get her out of here!" exclaimed Dolash "We don't know what'll happen to them if they're sucked into one of these disturbances, it's too dangerous!"

Proq and Jubaz nodded, and with great concentration, began to move their companion using the Force, heading back out the tunnels. As Ian got to his feet and watched them go, he gave a look to Dolash. Dolash nodded, and Ian hobbled off after them.

The three that remained in the chamber turned back to the center of the disturbance, and Dolash shook his head. "This is not merely the absence of the Force as created by a Ysalmari, it's all the more terrible - I had thought the corruption we saw earlier was some sort of parasitic force or infection, but the damage seems deeper than that..."

Dolash turned and looked at both Trazu and Marek "This will be dangerous, and I know that I alone lack the power to explore the Force energy in this place, but if we are to find the root of this problem we must follow the strong current back to it's source from within the Force. Together, however, I believe we will have sufficient strength."

Dolash advanced to the Orb, which was strange and wondrous. "Trazu, you have said that this was meant as an alarm, or beacon, or something of that nature? The important thing is not it's intended purpose but the fact that it purely runs on the power of the Force. All such manipulations of energy can be unravelled and followed back to the mighty stream that is the living Force. I will need both of your help to do this, and if anything, something that threatens the Force in this manner is as much yours to know as it is mine."

Like a wounded animal it lashes out at those that just want to try to help it…. Trazu thought grimly as he watched five of their party (including the currently unseen Barris) retreat back into the passageway. But is the Force like a living thing that can eventually learn who is friend or foe? They were about to find out it seems and Trazu was apprehensive at best at the prospect of what the sphere would do.

“A word of warning.” He said calmly. “Last time I came into direct contract with the sphere, it plunged into my memories uninvited and showed me the K’Satizitus had prevented the Force from warning me of the imminent danger to my lifemate’s life, setting me down a path that would lead to the spirits complete take over of my body. It was only after that secret was revealed did it pass on it’s warning. However…” He stared at the sphere. “With the current state of this place there is no telling what the sphere may do. It may act just as before…or….” He shook his head, not wanting to think of the possibilities. “Mental defenses will be key here, I feel.”

He was admittedly a bit worried for Marek. So new to Jedi training he had only begun to understand the Force and now he was being thrust into a potentially very dangerous situation. The lad was a former pirate though and likely saw and experienced things that would turn most people’s stomachs, so Trazu hoped that will have prepared him enough for whatever was about to happen.

“I am ready when you are, Master Dolash.” Trazu said finally.

Lavality approuched the chambers that the group had headed into, a moment before she saw two jedi run out with someone. As she got closer though something was tugging on her, like an unseen force

She took a few more steps and rounded a corner, staring straight into the chambers. She took a step away from the door.. and was astonished at what she was seeing. "How...." she said

You are seeing what I am seeing... but we mustn't stay here.. don't get any-

But Lavality ignored the voice, someone was calling to her and she felt a need to get closer. "Who...."

Lavality!! Stop!! If you get any closer y-----

But the spirits voice got cut off, and she could only watch as the girl she inhabited only got closer, not even realizing that the closer she got, the more likely she'll be killed by the spirits sudden disapperence.. and the spirit could already feel it occuring