By Fargo Flintlocke, Stormwind Correspondent
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| An increasingly common site over Stormwind's Trade District |
A recent study by Elwynn University has put a price tag of at least ten million gold on the cost of roof repairs to homes and businesses in the greater Stormwind area, due to damage from flying mounts. The study is being called "the last straw" by opponents of King Varian Wrynn's controversial new flight master's license program, which allows experienced adventurers to use their flying mounts within the city of Stormwind, as well as around the rest of the Eastern Kingdoms of Azeroth. Prior to King Wrynn's decree, use of flying mounts had been limited to the shattered world of Draenor and the frozen Northrend continent.
The study, conducted over the month since the program was instituted, was released yesterday. It surveyed several dozen local businesses and homeowners, and tracked the work orders of Stormwind's five largest construction contractors.
"We all suspected that there may have been negative repercussions from allowing flying mounts over the city," Professor Philius Fizzwink, the lead researcher of the study, commented. "But I don't think anyone on my team expected such a high monetary cost in just this one area."
The study revealed that most of the damage comes from mounts—particularly larger dragon and proto-drake mounts—landing or scraping their claws across roofs, knocking tiles and shingles loose. A further contributing factor was the increase of dragon and proto-drake guano. Unlike gryphon and hippogryph feces, dragon guano has been shown to be highly caustic, corrosive and—in the case of the volcanic stone drake popular with many adventurers—flammable.
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| The flying mounts above the city are blamed for everything from roof damage to sewage concerns. |
Damaged roofs aren't the only problem facing the residents of Stormwind. Thomas Miller, a traveling baker who spends most of his days on the streets of the Trade District, complained about the health risks posed by the droppings. "I need an umbrella," he said. "Preferably one made of Elementium."
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| Thomas Miller, a traveling baker, makes his rounds through the Trade District. Miller has complained about the health risks associate with mount excrement |
Many of the residents and business owners have complained about the new law since its inception, citing the damage to their roofs as just one of many factors. "About time someone put a price on King Wrynn's pandering," said Bernard Gump, who along with his wife owns and operates Fragrant Flowers, a flower shop in the Trade District. "Some adventurers think they're hot stuff and pay off the king to let them fly over Stormwind. Where's that leave the little guy like me? Cleaning dragon [excrement] off me roof every other day, that's where."
Some have leveled criticism at the study, however, saying that it's still too soon after Deathwing's attack on the city to accurately distinguish costs of flying mounts. Says Professor Harrison Jones of Stormwind University, "I don't need to remind anyone of the damage caused by Deathwing's disastrous attack on the city. The fact is with the fire and debris that rained on the city after he razed the Park District, we really have no way of knowing if the roof damage was remnants from his attack or due to the increased traffic of flying mounts."
Professor Fizzwink insists his study is accurate. "We applied the best Gnomish algorithms available to separate out the costs of that deadly attack. Our equations are rock solid."
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| Contractors still work to repair the damage to the city's entrance caused by Deathwing's attack. |
But Deathwing's attack is just another one of the factors cited by some residents for why the ban on flying mounts should be re-instituted. Orphan Matron Nightingale, the woman in charge of the Stormwind orphanage, cites psychological trauma as a prime reason against the flight master's license program, saying it's just "too soon".
"The numbers of children in my care has nearly doubled since that day [of Deathwing's attack]. Many children lost their parents in the Park District when it went up in flames. I have one little girl—her parents were visiting the druids that day—who goes into hysterics every time she sees the shadow of a dragon. I admit that even I get nervous with all the traffic above our fragile home."
But many seasoned adventurers claim Deathwing's attack as just the reason why the flight master's program is a necessity. "These are the people who defeated Lady Onyxia, who sent Ragnaros back to the elemental plane of fire, who protected Azeroth from the invasion of the Burning Legion, and who most recently drove the scourge back to Northrend before ultimately defeating the Lich King," Nevlonniel Moonbell, a Night Elf Hunter and part time stable master for the Argent Crusade, said. "We can and we will end the threat of Deathwing, but our flying mounts are critical in our effort. Being able to quickly react to threats and move about the realm quickly will be a saving grace in this fight."
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| Orphan Matron Nightingale worries about the psychological trauma the program may cause to the children in her care. |
Nightingale protests, "I understand the adventurer's need to travel quickly, but why can't they institute a no-fly zone over Stormwind? I hear they had a similar arrangement with the wizards of Dalaran in Northrend." Northrend did indeed have a no-fly zone until it was abolished by recent convention.
Moonbell argues, "Dalaran was a small city, and floated in the air. You could easily fly under or around it. Stormwind is much too large and would require us to go miles out of the way to react to threats."
The kingdom of Stormwind began issuing flight master's licenses as part of an international treaty with Ironforge, Darnassus, the Exodar, and the kingdom of Gilneas. The licenses are available to any seasoned adventurer, but for a price. The Stormwind Flight Authority charges 250 gold per license which, in theory, is supposed to offset the costs associated. But critics complain that the financial relief from the Keep just isn't there.
"So King Wrynn promises us that he'll use the license costs to pay for the damage, right?" said Reese Langston, proprietor of the Pig and Whistle tavern in Old Town. "I've spent nearly 10,000 gold in repairs , but haven't seen a bloody copper piece from his Highness. It's probably all going to pay for vacations for his son." Langston is one of many who voiced disapproval of the several high-profile trips that Prince Anduin Wrynn has embarked upon, most recently to Ironforge, where his Highness was during the Cataclysm.
Many also cite the fact that King Wrynn has offered discounts to adventurers in good standing with the kingdom, and since any adventurer with enough experience to obtain the license, will also likely qualify for the discount. "I doubt that anyone's actually paid the advertised price," Gump speculated.
A high-ranking representative of the Keep, who asked to remain anonymous, said that, while most adventurers receive discounts, the income from the program should be more than sufficient to pay for repairs. The King has already approved more than two million gold in subsidies, he claimed, but that due to the high number of requests, it is taking much longer to process the reimbursements than expected.
Others, such as Druid of the Talon Gandelf Jenkins, wonder if there isn't a solution that would satisfy all sides. "When I'm in my Dire Crow form, I'm always respectful. I don't 'let it out' over the city, and I weigh no more than any other bird," Jenkins said. "I don't see why I should be denied the right to overfly the city because some are disrespectful. The flight master's license law actually prohibits many of the behaviors the citizens are complaining about, and makes riders responsible for damage caused by their mounts. What we need is better enforcement of the existing law, not a change or—Light forbid—a repeal of the license."
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| Officers of Stormwind's Royal Aerial Guard chase down an adventurer suspected of violating landing regulations. |
According to Jenkins, what is really needed is more Stormwind Royal Aerial Guards, which is another program that is supposed to be funded by the license fee. But according to our contact in the Keep, the Guard is simply spread too thin to effectively enforce the skies. "We're training more and more enforcers each day," he said, "but they just aren't coming fast enough."
"So the gryphon master—the flaming Stormwind gryphon master—lets one of his gryphons nest on me roof," Gump complained. "I put in a complaint to the Guard weeks ago, but the blasted bird's still there. They won't do nothing about it."
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| A gryphon roosting on the roof of Fragrant Flowers. The shop's owner, Bernard Gump, says he has complained to the Stormwind Guard, but received no response. |
Adding fuel to the fire is the recent revelation that Major Samuelson, one of King Wrynn's most trusted guards, was actually an agent of the Twilight's Hammer cult, working for the Old Gods. He was caught while making an attempt on the King's life—who was only saved by the quick action of his paladin-in-training son. Samuelson is only the latest infiltrator of the King's administration, a list which includes Lady Katrana Prestor—Onyxia of the black dragon flight—herself.
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| Samuelson, during his thwarted attempt on the King's life. |
"If the king can't keep his own house clean," Gump said. "How's he expect to clean my roof?"
