Derrick shifts in his seat so that he has a better view of the path ahead and begins to look around. "Is there anything to look for? You and Artor navigated through this last night. If there's a trick, that will help me spot it."

In reply to Derrick (msg # 3):

"Well, there were sparks. I didn't really see the source of them yesterday due to the darkness. There also seemed to be patterns."

Derrick immediately begins looking around, trying to spot the patterns of the sparks and call out warnings as he sees dangers.

Derrick rolled 19 using 1d20.  Perception test (trained). Minor effect!

Derrick, now alerted to the fact that there is a pattern to (at least some of) the discharges, is able to pick out that pattern fairly quickly by observing the larger clusters of crystal farther away from the vehicle.  He is also able to pick up some of the tire tracks from the previous night's journey (which are presumably on a safer path), which helps Alyssa choose a safe route out of this zone of danger.  After a few miles, only the smallest of crystals are present, and no damage has come to the cart.

The route westward along the southern rim of the crater continues.

OOC: With the minor effect and the help, I'm just going to let you guys clear the fields of black shock crystal with no further delays.

So what are you doing/trying to do as you head toward where the river leaves the Great Bowl?  Let me know so I can assign appropriate rolls.  A (very rough) estimate would be a journey of at least 6 hours at top speed.

Chatting is also encouraged.

Pleased to leave the lightning fields behind them, Artor continued to scan the trail they had left - and the lands they passed through. He was curious what they might have disturbed, and how much, watching for whether whatever birds and small beasts returned after they had passed

From the rear, he called out to the others as they drove forward, "Tell of your hometown, Alyssa? Where were you intended before the Ninth World brought you to us?"

Given its a fresh morning, Artor's Flex skill will be Botany. He is keeping an eye on their backtrail from the rear of the vehicle but plans to examine the flora and fauna when they reach the area suggested for resettlement. Every now and then he will drop back or range to one side or other of the trail, looking for samples, or rummage through the crates to refamiliarise himself with the seedlings they brought with them

In reply to Artor (msg # 7):

"There's not much to say about that place. It was... is a small farming community. When it was clear that I was born with special abilities I was trained to be the village healer. I very recently took over the position when my mentor passed away." Alyssa does not mention that her previous occupation, although satisfying was a lonely one. The villagers had both looked up to her for help, but also feared her special abilities.

Once clear of the shock crystals, Derrick settles back to watching behind the cart for any dangers that might approach from the rear. "Agatho and I have been to many such villages. You did not journey far afield then?"

In reply to Derrick (msg # 9):

"Not farther than the next village occaisionally." Changing the subject Alyssa asks "So what kind of threat requires us to build a new settlement? Is it man or nature?"

"It is the Ninth World", muttered Artor from the rear, "It encroaches upon the town, but the form it takes is other folk. Attacks from the Caecilian Jungle have become increasingly common, cannibals and raiders. They cannot maintain the town, having proved too ... tasty"

In reply to Artor (msg # 11):

"WHAT? They actually eat other sentient beings?!" Alyssa suddenly feels the urge to get to their destination quicker and hits the accelerator.

“They were unclear”, admitted Artor, “But those were the rumours. Certainly the town was being attacked more and more frequently, folk were disappearing “

In reply to Artor (msg # 13):

"Hmm... so has anyone investigated these rumours? I mean people can disappear for a number of reasons." Alyssa smiles. "Take me for example."

The older man sighs, with an empathetic glance at Hoa Sen, and speaks gently.

"Before arriving at the town, Derrick and I came upon the remains of a group that had been attacked, likely by abhuman raiders.  There were no survivors, and little remains.  One of them had been on his way to meet Hoa Sen, but he never made it."

Out of view at the back, Artor grunted and nodded

Derrick shakes his head sadly. "The town itself is well defended, but the outlying farms and anyone traveling to or from it are vulnerable. Even if they can remain safe inside, eventually the food will run out. So we were given what they could spare and sent to find a place the raiders won't follow them."

As the vehicle heads westward, the Veil continues to loom to the south.  While it was 20 miles or so away, it still towered over everything.  The lip of the Great Bowl continued its cracked rise to the north.

The landscape seemed almost level, dotted with odd rock clusters and bits of scrub vegetation here and there.  It seemed quite akin to the deserts surrounding Canthus.  No movement could be seen on the ground at this time.  Perhaps what hardy life there was kept itself hidden from the heat of the day.

In the skies, a few circling carrion birds(?) could be seen, but they were far off and seemed to take no notice of the silvery intruder in their hunting grounds.

To the west, bits of green and other richer colors warped through the ripples of heat, promising more fertile grounds.

"Westward?" suggested Artor during one of his pauses walking beside the conveyance, "For whilst this terrain is homely enough for the folk of Canthus, food will be needed and plenty of it"

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 18):

"Is the beasts I encountered earlier edible? I don't really know much about farming. I was mostly given food as payment for my services." Alyssa chuckles. "Had a herb garden, but it was mostly full of weeds. My mentor never told me the secret of growing things. Perhaps she was blessed with green fingers."

Derrick looks over at Artor. "Hopefully, the land where the river flows out is better for growing things."

He nods in solidarity in response to Alyssa. "I've never had a chance to keep a garden or raise animals. Most of what we've encountered have been predators. The Canthans gave us some special plants that they say will help us determine if the land we find will support them."

"The plants themselves aren't special," Hoa Sen said, "but they've been treated to grow quickly. They're all staple crops for the Canthans. If they can grow inside the Veil, then it will be much easier to create a sustainable settlement. Hunting alone cannot sustain many."

In reply to Hoa Sen (msg # 22):

"Well then, I guess we have a target area to investigate then. So how quick does these plants grow? I guess the Canthans..." Alyssa hesitates. "Is that what the villagers call themselves?"

Shrugging, Artor offered his agreement, "I recall a few of what the elders said about their plants. Let us investigate this greener path and see what is there ... then we can see about planting some samples"

As hours pass, there are little diversions and stopovers.  There are a few gullies and rifts that need to be navigated around.  Occasional odd bits of metal or ceramic catch the Jack's eye enough to prompt a stop, but don't amount to much in the way of clues or directions.

As you move westward, though the plants do become more numerous and occasionally taller.  Succulents and scrub slowly give way to grasses and shrubs.  All the while, the warping green in the distance beckons.

Taking a meandering route southward to get around a particularly wide gully, the party notices a set of what seem to be odd, low hills to the southwest.  The landscape here is beginning to undulate more, and the odd hills seem to rise from a hollow in the stagnant waves of the soil.  Continued attention reveals that the hills seem to be moving, if in a disordered fashion, and certainly a relaxed pace.  You can make out at least 15 of various heights.

OOC: if there is anything you wanted to try as you were driving, speak now.  Otherwise, carry on.

Derrick points out the moving hills to the others. "I think those might be worth checking out. We ought to be sure of any potential dangers on the route. Perhaps we should leave the cart to make sure it isn't damaged though."

In reply to Derrick (msg # 26):

Alyssa looks at the moving hills flabbergasted. "Is that a phenomenon anyone of you have experienced before? Looks dangerous." She chews a bit on her lip uncertain of what to do. She then smiles one of her beaming smiles that make people feel at ease around her. "But I guess it's something we need to investigate."

She nods in agreement at Derrick's suggestion.