Wind-catching cape

Full Item Description
A wind-catching cape is usually floor length, and the lining is always a shade of blue. Along the edge on the outside of the cape is a number of glyphs that say, in a language only known to air spirits and scholars, a number of things involving wrapping the wearer in a cloak of wind.

History
The first wind-catching cape was created by an ill-fated young mage. Talented but reckless, he dreamed of the freedom of flight. Watching birds, he began to understand how they rode the wind currents, and though his experience was limited, decided that he could replicate such an ability.

It is generally believed that he crashed into a hillside somewhere, for though his notes on the cape were found in his study, neither he nor the cape he created ever surfaced.
Though his original designs have since been improved by more capable wizards, the cape remains finicky at best.

Magic/Cursed Properties
When the edges of the cape are grasped and held out, the wearer gains the ability to fly, with somewhat limited control. To get lift off, they either need considerable speed or a decently high ledge to drop off, but once in the air they can reduce speed a good amount. The slowest that one can go without dropping from the sky is roughly that of a fast run.
The problem with the cape is just how hard it is to steer or even control at all. The wearer will generally be pitching back and forth, spontaneously changing altitude and all in all having a rather stomach-turning time. Also, since the users hands are occupied keeping himself aloft, if they need to defend themselves they are restricted to using their feet. Now while a kick at cruising speed is definitely a thing to be feared, the force from the kick will often send the wearer spiraling away, losing a very large amount of altitude before being able to recover.
Travel by way of the cape does have its benefits though, such as the ability to travel at very high speeds, as well as being able to say "I just flew from ______, and boy are my arms tired!" and mean it for once.