No, a couple of hours at best, but you did not get the long rest - you were awoken in the middle of it.

(Oh, well long rest is a good idea then)

Ordrag turns to Smiler and says: How long can you keep up this... and he waves his hand around at the fey scenery.

"A day, and I'll live it to you if you wish. Consider it to be my parting gift, I have things to do and that battle you left behind - might be worth to look at. Rest or just leave - up to you, but should you change your mind" (Smiler made a point to look at Fran specifically and patted the repaired side of Tormentor) "send a word, Defilers will take you in. Make noise again if you are in trouble - might come to look."

With that Smiler jumped on his bike, started it (with a flashy burnout) and drove away straight through the trees and flowers.

Fran might have gotten a little loose with her tongue to reveal Lulu. But would Smiler really not have eventually noticed or found out? Her brow would pop when he'd address her. The battle smith would adjust herself to ensure she'd have Lulu and Choir within sight. Adray was right, they needed to keep moving forward and maintaining what momentum they had. She'd take a double take when Adray would offer to hand over the wheel. The artificer was comfortable with Ordrag taking the wheel and her trying her hand at the harpoon if they wanted to continue anywhere. Though, glancing over the scenery with Mooncolour resting and Lulu buzzing near by, she was also more than content with them and Adray getting some rest here. She'd be willing to take watch if needed.

Her eyes would look the green elf up and down. "Noted." Fran would tip her head to Smiler.

Too bad, Choir thinks as Smiler drives away. She would have invited the green elf to breakfast.

Choir curls up  in the illusory beauty of the fake feywild and drifts off to sleep. She figures someone will wake her when they want her to keep watch.

Everything seemed quiet around - either that rival gang gave up, or was trying to regroup before attacking an obvious resting place of Defiler. As the hours went by and the weariness of the day slowly dissipated (Smiler had something here - you have not seen a green leaf for days now (or years? it felt like years) and Feywild around did help to calm the worries, even Adray felt less pressure from the eyes of Tiamat) you could again concentrate on the mission at hands. On the map that you had against the point labeled as 'Bel’s Forge" was a note from the mad Cartographer "An ousted archduke sulking in a volcano, eager to reclaim his stolen throne."

The dark cloud on the horizon in the direction you were supposed to move indeed hinted on a volcanic activity, but so did any part of the hellscape around you. And whatever it was, you had to go there anyway. Traveling took longer than expected, or so it felt but eventually you found out the Cartographer did not lie. A gargantuan volcano dominated the horizon. Clouds of fire and ash were spewing from its caldera, and the air trembled with its angry grumblings. A vast, multilayered fortress has been hewn into the volcano’s rocky slopes. It seemed that was the place you were looking for - The Bel's Forge.

There is a road leading to the massive gates of the lower level of the fortress. Closer to the gate is the big wagon carrying something heavy it seems. But most of the road is empty and Tormentor looks quite exposed here.

(Who has the basalt tablet from the dao?)

(Doesn't look like anyone specifically mentioned they took it. Did we loose sight of it? XD lol Fran's a scrapper, she wouldn't leave anything behind if no one else grabbed it first.)

Grumbling could be heard from Fran. "Aye. Anyone else feelin' a little exposed?" She'd lean on her tip toes and squint her eyes. What's this wagon? Which way should they go? And what are they going to do with the Tormentor? The artificer would hover her hands over her tool belt. She'd be prepared to camouflage them if necessary.

All were a good questions but Fran did not need to squint too hard to notice a few things: there is only one road (and probably one entrance) to the Keep, the Keep is guarded - and quite well (the movement on the walls hints on army of - most likely - devils protecting the place), the wagon ahead is heavily loaded and must be expected (it does not cause any racus on the walls), it's quite possible you were noticed but nobody came to attack (or question, actually).

But it seems if you intend to enter - your path is clear: by the road and to the gates.

((I don't suppose Tormentor counts as a creature that Polly could Polymorph...))

"So, we got that 'letter' of introduction right.  We wanna just drive up and knock on that door?  Seems to have worked so far." Adray questions as they idle.  

((No, not really a creature, I'm afraid.))

Choir packs up all the extra oatmeal-and-mayonnaise sandwiches her Create Food spell conjured and places them carefully in her pack. If food is indeed scarce as Smiler indicated, they might be able to trade their leftovers.

     Polly helps Choir pack up.  “You know, mayonnaise may not be the best choice.  The heat here will make it turn right quick.  Caramel or Marshmello Fluff might store better...  or or Or!  Have you ever had s’mores???”

Choir sighed. Those all sounded delicious, but for some reason, the spell liked to create oatmeal and mayo. She knew it would keep for one day, but no longer.

"Give thanks to Akadi for what we eat today," she simply said. "If you really wanna." She was pretty sure they'd all be sick of oatmeal and mayo sandwiches by the end of this quest.

Adray ate what he could and tentatively took a bag of oat to Moonglow to make sure the unicorn could eat as well.  "Keep the food for our ace in the whole and Chior dont advertise that you can do this.  Smiler's right, that's a valuable skill and others may try to take advantage of it."

When Adray approached Mooncolor suddenly blinked out of existence and reappeared 30ft away, but immediately returned with an apology. "You are carrying a heavy burden. I am sorry I can not make it lighter for you." The Unicorn graciously accepted offered oat (and should mayo be given might even lick a drop, though after a complete block of telepathic communication) and with a bit of hesitation sent a question: "We have to get inside, do we?"

Meanwhile, a warmachine parked not far from the gates of the Keep begun to attract attention of the guarding devils. So far it is just a few more devils looking specifically your way.

Adray will drive up to the gate.  He takes a deep breath and yells out, "Hey, open up, we want to meet with the Lord of the tower!"

At the closer look the Keep was even more impressive: massive walls made of basalt (probably magically treated too) were made to withstand anything - weather or hoards of demons. The volcano it was built on, did not diminish it's size the least - the Keep (or Forge) was a true sit of power worthy of an Archdevil.

It seemed the audacity of a simple warband in a single machine demanding audience with the Lord of the Keep warranted at least some attention of the guards. Two horned devils answered Adray's call, though there could be no doubts more were waiting inside. When both landed near Tormentor spreading their intimidating presence like a bad smell, the car suddenly begun to look much smaller and Mooncolor with Lulu took a defensive position.

The tablet, though, proved to be a true permit to enter, so much so, that both devils lowered their weapons and without a word pointed to the half-opened gates. One went a bit ahead, showing the way, another followed behind. The machine had to be left by the gates (though you were allowed to bring it inside the yard at least) and the walk to the throne-room? workshop? main chamber? begun.

If you though that the air in Avernus felt hot before, you got a chance to reconsider that statement - the heat here was a heat of a volcano. You crossed open rivers of lava, channeled through the forge to smelt ore and soften metal. The path lead down, deeper into volcano.

At the end you had to use wrought iron spiral staircase, descending into a cavernous forge itself. Channels of bubbling lava wind through the complex as well, casting fiery light over huge anvils. Chained giants with coal-black skin and fiery orange hair hammer out weapons under the malignant gaze of a pit fiend seated in a flying throne. Throughout the forge, sparks fall like rain. The fiend - crimson-scaled colossus with massive, bat-like wings and clawed extremities - turned to the group, waited for the leading devil to give him the tablet and explanations and looked at each of you with a something that could be taken for an amusement.

"Why are you here?" The voice was deep and so powerful, it overcame the deafening noises of the Forge.

Ordrag could hardly answer if he tried - not just because there was so much to rivet his attention, but because the hard dry heat was like nothing he had ever experienced. All memories of the salty sea air vanished as though they had never existed. At least that was the excuse that Ordrag was sticking with. His speechless state had nothing whatsoever to do with being in the presence of the most intimidating arch-fiend he had ever seen...  And so Ordrag waited for one of the others to answer.