Flying Mounts Blamed for Massive Roof Damage Costs
Opponents of Flight Master's License cite one more reason to cancel the program.
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.
