The rolling hills that lead to the moving ones are easy enough to navigate, although they provide a poor view at the moment.  As the group crests a rise overlooking a grassy, shallow valley that runs roughly north-south, they get their first good look at their objective.

What they see is not geography, but biology.  Great, multi-legged creatures that seem like a monstrous, armored cross between a long-necked turtle and a tardigrade with impossibly long legs come into view in a slow, meandering herd.  Perhaps 30 of the creatures are spread out over a mile or more, slowly grazing on vegetation below.

OOC: You've come about 3/4 of a mile from the cart.  You can make a Perception or other check to notice additional info.  If you do, please let me know what, specifically, you're looking for.

Derrick surveys the area for dangers. He keenly remembers yesterday's mechanical bird attack and is not going to be taken off guard again if he can help it.

Derrick rolled 8 using 1d20.  Perception test (trained). Derrick is looking for predators or threats. That might extend to the giant creatures as well.

Seeing nothing, Derrick relaxes a little and just watches the behemoths.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:25, Mon 27 July 2020.

"Grazers, but how enormous!" Hoa Sen says. The arkus observes the creatures carefully. It would take a savvier biologist than her to make sense of the creature's anatomy and potential capabilities, but anything this size had to have a significant impact on the local environment.

OOC: 22:13, Today: Hoa Sen rolled 15 using 1d20.  Perception (trained).
She's trying to get some sense of what's going on at ground level and especially how what the landscape looks like the wake of the giant creatures.

Alyssa tries to recall what she has learnt about similar herd animals from books she has read and what people with more animal experience than she has told her. Perhaps these beasts can be tamed?

17:40, Today: Alyssa Yulo rolled 7 using 1d20.  Knowledge about similar beasts. Intellect check  (spending effort to decrease the difficulty).
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Tue 28 July 2020.

The older man regards the herd with interest, stretching forth his Perceptive and Empathetic senses...

RPoL Dice Roller:

18:13, Today: Agatho rolled 11 using 1d20.  Perception.

OOC: By observation and/or direct empathy, Agatho seeks insight into the possible emotions, motivations, instincts, behaviors, etc. of the creatures within the herd, including deducing such things for their recent past and immediate future.

”They are lighter than they should be. See how shallow the footprints are.” Hoa Sen points to the creatures’ wake. ”The smaller ones seem younger. Their shells are not so complete. I wonder how they manage such size, but they seem peaceful enough.”

"Hmm... perhaps that's due to their many legs. With that kind of size and natural protection they can't really be prone to be attacked by predators I guess."

The large herbivores (?) continue their very slow munching and meandering in the shallow valley.  Occasionally, small, bird-like creatures will land on them and hop around, or swoop in to investigate a recently made footprint.

Artor's investigations of the flora near the cart and your vantage point yields nothing particularly shocking or useful, although he continues to make examinations before resting in the back seat to wait for the others.

Derrick, not having noticed the details that Hoa points out, turns his attention to focus on those same details. He nods in agreement with Alyssa. "I expect that it is like Alyssa says. It would take a very large animal or a group working closely together to fell one of those behemoths. If they're no threat though, perhaps we don't need to worry about them?"

In reply to Derrick (msg # 36):

"Well, since they seem to be herbivores they could potentially eat crop, but perhaps they live solely on grass?" Alyssa strokes her chin. "I guess they could be potential trouble."

In reply to Alyssa Yulo (msg # 37):

"Anyway, I guess there's nothing we can do about these magnificient beasts now. Good to know they're here. Should we continue?"

Derrick nods his ascent, turns, and heads back to the cart.

Back in the exertion-saving vehicle, the travels of the scouting party resumes. The terrain continues become greener as the group moves eastward.  The grasses and succulents become denser, more prolific, and more frequent.  After navigating the shallow valley of the large walking beasts, more rolling hills are visible with occasional rocky prominences and spires jutting up from the surface.  To the southeast, the group occasionally spies what seem to be small copses of trees interspersed between herds of smaller-sized creatures.

Due east, the greenery grows ever closer.

OOC: if you want to look for or look at anything in particular, let me know.

"Should we investigate those smaller creatures?" Alyssa suggests.

"We could. It would be useful to know what the Canthans might be able to hunt." Hoa Sen pauses, considering. "Although it may best to search for a site first, then determine which creatures around it are potentially useful or potential threats. To state the obvious: it is not always obvious which are which."

In reply to Hoa Sen (msg # 42):

"So what are we looking for exactly? A place with a fresh water supply I guess? Never thought I would be scouting for a settlement." Alyssa laughs. "It has been interesting so far though."

Derrick nods his agreement with Hoa. "Yes. I think that we should make our way to where the river exits the bowl and pick a place to set up camp and plant the seeds that the Canthans gave us. There will be time to investigate once there is a base of operations."

The drive continues.  The scenery changes slowly but inexorably.  The hills become grassier.  The copses of trees are larger and more frequent.  Occasional small ponds (or the dried remnants of them) can be spotted occasionally, in the lowest areas.  There are more rocky outcroppings dotting the landscape, some quite large and formidable.

At this point, the cart seems to be five to ten miles from what looks to be a tree line.

OOC: You can give me Perception rolls again, and include anything specific you might be looking for, please.

While still keeping an eye out for threats, Derrick also looks ahead to watch for signs of the river.

Derrick rolled 15 using 1d20.  Perception (trained).

In reply to Derrick (msg # 46):

Alyssa keeps a look out for anything that seems to be from one of the previous worlds. Overgrown buildings, numenera or other things that seems to be out of place.

OOC: 07:42, Today: Alyssa Yulo rolled 5 using 1d20.  Perception check.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

Derrick points to the distant tree line. "We should make for that line of trees. Such things often indicate water, it may be the river."

In reply to Derrick (msg # 48):

"Ah of course. And it might mean some shade as well." Alyssa smiles.

The road trip (sans road) continues.  Some of the creatures on the plains are able to be identified as smaller herds of aneen, although the color of their fur seems strange, blue stripes on some, perhaps?  Yellowish spots on others?  The herds retreat from the unexpected sight of the rolling machine, so the eccentricities cannot be examined too closely.

Odd rock formations continue to pop up here and there.  A large one is visible many miles to the south.  The shape and color, at least of the middle (?) section don't seem to match the surrounding rocks, but that's all that can be discerned at this distance.  Morning bleeds into noon falls into afternoon.  More grasses, more copses, and more watering holes dot the landscape.

Hoa Sen watches quietly as the treeline gets closer, though her attention is eventually diverted by the mismatched rock formation in the distance. "If there is a band in which the trees are not too thick along the river, that may be ideal. Access to both the water and the plain would work well for a settlement."

Another mile passes and the cart begins to slow its pace through the long grass.  Shrubs are more abundant and larger, requiring a more circuitous route.  It's still about 2 miles to the tree line (maybe?).  The cart will likely make it, but will not be well-suited should a hasty retreat be required.