“Well, not much else to do. I will see you on the on the other side..” Polly say to Fran and choir and jump of the cliff with Brutus. As she falls she can feel the excitement in her belly, she try too yell but all words get stuck in her throat. Then the wind catch the sail and she lifts up in the air. Ahead she can see Adrey and Nibbs gliding, then she look around. 
perception check for flying mobs: 21

I know this is hell, but is sure is lives up the a hell of a view from here.. she thinks to Owis who hides inside her coat and laugh at he pun. 

With a thrill of excitement, Choir leaps off the ledge!  The wind riffles though her feathers as she glides after the others.  Looking down gives her a slightly nervous feeling in her stomach, but she decides not to look at the demonic battle so far below, and just think about how nice it will be some day in the future, when she can do this without a kite.

Fran tried hard to feed off of Choir's excitement and Lulu's continuous flow of joy to prepare her for this flight. She was proud of the materials they were able to scrap together to create these gliders. They were built firm and were quite beautiful if she could say so herself. But as she'd stand there at the edge, the reality of her fear of heights was staring her right in the face. The artificer could feel her hands start to tremble as she'd hold the bar out ahead of her to prepare her glider for flight. She'd pick up one foot, then the other, almost as if she was prancing in place, trying to psych herself up to do it as she'd watch her brave companions fly further from her reach. Shoulda asked one of 'em to push me...

Taking a deep breath, Fran would have to swallow to stop herself from vomiting in her mouth. She'd look down at her feet a little embarrassed before glancing over to Lulu. "Will you stay with me?" The artificer's cheeks were red and her eyes were welling up with panic. She'd swallow again, eyes searching the wise hollyphant's for the courage she needed to jump. Fran would reflect back on the story and information that was shared earlier about the legendary actions and sacrifices made by the little bundle of light. A small smirk would break the battle smiths expression. She was inspired by Lulu's bravery and was reminded that there's always hope. And... She really should jump. Like now.

Fran would nod to Lulu before looking back ahead again. She'd let out the biggest sigh as she'd back up a bit further. The red head would close her eyes to take a breath before opening her eyes once more. She'd push herself forward, kicking off into a run before she'd allow herself to think about what she's about to do. And just before the ledge, she'd push off into a leap trying to get as much air as possible beneath her glider.

They really did just launch themselves off the ledge of a city.

"I'mma barf in the Styx!"

Lol

During preparations to the jump Lulu excitedly flew around. Born to fly, she did not understand the fear of height, but sensed genuine distress even if Fran (or others) would try to hide it and did her best to comfort artificer in that time of trial. "I will stay with you all the way down!" as convincingly and ceremoniously as she could promised little hollyphant. And she tried - honestly! - at least at the beginning. Lulu was talking, singing, periodically blocking the view to keep illusion of safety, or did the opposite and try to distract Fran with pointing to the different landmarks. The latter, though, was problematic.

You all saw the poster map (the one Sylvira gave you), depicting a wasteland of dizzying proportions that has been warped by eons of demonic invasion. And now you could see for yourself, why that "map" looked more like a pictorial impression of locations that only hinted at their distances from one another. Whenever you yourself tried to concentrate on anything there - as Polly did - the vision begun to blur and you could feel a rising headache, adding to shifting images. The hellscape below you disoriented the senses and defied any attempt to map it accurately or even simply justify the distance.

Without focusing on something specific, though, you could "enjoy" the general view and asses the landscape as a whole. Not that it was anything particularly spectacular, though: Avernus sits under hideous clouds that obscure the vault of the sky, from which the occasional meteor streaks before crashing into the ground. Ambient light continually swells up from just below the horizon as though lit by nine setting suns, yet no actual celestial bodies fill the sky — no sun, moons, or stars, but a constant twilight.

As in the city, the atmosphere reeks of brimstone and burning tar, and hot gusts of wind shriek across the hellscape to scour the land below. Sometimes these winds swirl into immense sandstorms, which can strip flesh from bone and plunge everything into darkness. So far you were lucky to only observe it from afar.

Lulu explained some strange moving clouds - biting flies, hellwasps, and blood-sucking stirges patrol the air, hunting for any source of blood to feed on. She warned that thouse swarms  can grow so large that they blacken the sky and deafen the ears with the sound of their wings. On the ground it was no better: wandering bands of nupperibos — blind, bloated castaways of the damned — move in the thousands like living lakes of groaning flesh in their agonizing search for food. Bone fields, quicksand, bubbling tar pits, lakes of lava, canyons of wailing souls, and salt flats made from the tears of the damned all awaited patiently for the group to land.

Lulu did her best to keep kites pointed at your destination - Fort Knucklebone. The place was not depicted on the map in any way, but you could see now for yourself, that it was real. Though, from that distance all you could say is that the fortified compound sits atop a low plateau that rises out of a crater-pocked landscape.

22

Finally the torture (at least for Fran) ended good 3000 ft away from the city and - most importantly - from the battle. It was but a glimpse of the eternal Blood War, but all your experience so far was telling you, that landing near that battle would mean - without any doubts! - certain death. Now, though, all you had to overcome is 10 miles hike through the blasted, war-torn battlefield.

Choir is sorry her brief experience with flight is over.  She examines the kite to see if there's some way she can fold or store it, to keep it with her.

Ordrag had to give it to Fran - those flying kites sure did the job! But as much as he admired the craftsmanship, he wasn't sorry to leave them behind, and had never felt so glad to have his feet on solid ground. Looking around to check the others had landed safely, he hitched his pack up tighter, hefted his hammer and said: Let's get going. Us still have a hell of a walk...

Fran would land with a little bit of a stumble. Her legs were shaking, barely able to hold herself up. The fact that she was back on the ground with the others close by kept her from falling to pieces. The artificer would still double over though, all while still clinging onto her control bar for dear life. She was trying to hide the fact she was dry heaving. There was nothing left. And trying to take in a deep fresh breath was impossible. Barf. Was all she could think before rallying herself together. She'd pull herself up to correct her stance, puffing out her chest a little bit before exhaling. She'd stifle a gag on her next inhale.

The battle smith would gently lay her kite down on the ground with shaky hands. Fran would then have to put her hands on her hips to hold herself up to blink through the vertigo she was having. She'd bring one hand up to her mouth as she'd fight back her gagging reflex one more. Kay, Fran. Git it together. The artificer would allow own last shudder to pass through her body before she'd finally be brave enough to speak.

"'ere. Like this." Fran would demonstrate with her glider how parts of the rig could be unhooked and folded into a much more compact shape. It could still be a bit bulky to carry around, but considering the materials given and craftsmanship, maybe they may be lucky to fit in a bag of holding?

Fran would be guilty of snorting to Ordrag's pun. She would do a check to confirm that she had all her gear and equipment still on her and that the only thing she lost on the way here was her breakfast. "Aye. Les go." She'd nod in agreement, happy to move further away from any ledge.

Polly walk over to Fran “You really outdid yourself this time Fran. It was amazing don’t you think? Did you also notice that your vision would blurred when you tried to focus it? Fascinating! .. erm, are you okey? You look a little shaky.. ” 

Before you begun your 4-5 hours journey across the scorching desert - Level 7, everybody!

Woohoo! 

Adray starts to panic a little as the kite begins to get closer to land.  He felt awkward with where his arms and legs were and completely restricted.  As it got bear he just bailed.  Dropping out of the kite at about 15 feet up he hit the ground rolled and came up just in time to see the kite smash horribly into the ground.  All the while the others seem to land just fine.

Lulu's happiness changed to excited determination - the path ahead could be dangerous, no, it was dangerous, but with some precaution... She flew a bit ahead of the group, watching out for the at least visible threat.

To Choir's disappointment kites could not be folded - sure, they could be broken into pieces, or disassembled (that would take about the same amount of time as making them), but not folded in any way. Walking around with even one unfolded kite, would be quite a challenge too, so, unless the group decides to spend a day working on disassmbling, kites would have to stay.

1  7

At first road did not look all that difficult, even safer than walking around Elturel (meteors seemed to strike the ground not as often as lightnings), but the hit was worse. Eventually, water could become a problem. After about two hours of walking (you could say the Fort was getting closer) Lulu reported some movement ahead. Hard to tell in all that gloomy twilight, but she was sure there are several creatures searching for something in the pile of bones (one of many - the ground was covered with them, mixed with big rocks, that looked like pieces of destroyed buildings, and obvious ruins, that looked as a natural part of the landscape).

With some precaution the creatures could be avoided, in the same time an ambush most likely would not be possible.

After flying through hell on a kite, Ordrag feels confident he could do just about anything, and judges they can handle a few devils if they turn hostile. Chances are their group is large enough to scare away some minor trouble. He looks to Adray and with a nod of his head indicates that he is willing to proceed...

Choir sadly ditches the kite. "We will all treasure our memories," she says somberly. "Rest in peace, fellow traveler."

Having seen the creatures in advance, he stops the group to make sure they all take note of them.  "We will try to skirt them, no use starting a fight if we can avoid it.  Save our strength."

He will then try to lead them around them.  Try to skirt them by at least 50 yards.

”What do you think they are looking for?” Polly ask and watch them.  “I agree with Adrey. We can probably kill them, but why waste our energy?” 

(Does it look as if they are looking for something specific or just rummage for food or something to “play” with?) 

Fran would smile softly to Polly for the praise. It'd be bitter sweet to give up her kite, but she would. The artificer was genuinely happy that Polly and Choir gushed about their flight. Their joy was enough to almost make her forget about how terrified she was. Almost. There was a lot of heaving.

Looking to Polly, Fran would finally admit to her friend who checked on her. "Fran is not a fan." She'd exhale. "I like to keep my feet on the ground." But taking a look around and remembering Ordrag and Adray's landings, it was perhaps a similar experience for them. She found some comfort in not being alone in that. She'd nod in thanks to Polly.

Fran and Brutus would follow Adray's lead skirting around. She agreed with Polly's point, why waste the energy? They need to conserve what they could in a place as unknown and wild as this.

They were demons. Even for the least knowledgeable in "demonology" among you, those distorted shapes could not be the accurate devilish figures of natives of this plane (not to mention language - harsh Abyssal words were clear enough sometimes. Hard to say what they were searching for, but the group of intruders was too busy to pay attention to the party and the journey continued without unnecessary fighting.

Slowly but surely the Fort was getting closer and finally you could see it in all it's glory: a fortified compound sits atop a low plateau that rises out of a crater-pocked landscape. At the center of the compound is a hill of rust-colored stone that resembles a hand clawing out of the ground, with gaps between the fingers. A jagged 20ft high wall made of rock, bones, and metal debris surrounds this hand-shaped hill. Built into the rampart is a ramshackle gatehouse, atop which stands a half-dozen small figures on watch (that look like undersized gnomes with a hunched back and a sinewy frame). The entryway passes through the gatehouse. A wall of junk on rollers looks like it can be pushed in front of the entryway to seal it in case of attack and one of the small figures stands by something, that looks like a gong, that can be struck to warn of impending attack.

"Redcaps," commented Lulu thoughtfully but did not elaborate any further. Whether the "redcaps" were good or bad in your case, but gatehouse seemed to be the only way in.

Polly looken at the fort in fascination ”So do we need to knock?” She ask and look over at Lulu.