Freeport Swooping Terror Hangar
Freeport’s Swooping Terror hangar provides flights aboard trained Swooping Terrors.
Location
The hangar stands on a high shelf of rock above Freeport, beside a sheer drop of approximately eighty to one hundred yards into the city.
A road continues uphill towards a large Pirate Lords fortress shaped almost like a ship, with cannons covering the approaches to Freeport.
Facilities
The main hangar is a large timber building with doors broad enough to admit a Swooping Terror. A launch platform extends towards the cliff.
Smaller administrative buildings handle contracts, payments, and flight records. The yard contains harnesses, ropes, feed, and equipment for tending the animals. Medicinal salves are used both for injured mounts and for stable hands bitten while treating them.
Staff and security
Trained riders operate the mounts. Stable hands feed and maintain them, using harnesses, straps, and hooked poles. Children also perform minor jobs around the yard.
Armed handlers guard the approaches. Their equipment includes padded vests, cutlasses, and pistols.
Business and authority
Flights are arranged through the hangar’s administration. Rarely, retainer arrangements can attach a particular rider and mount to a client, with payments passing through the business.
The Pirate Lords exercise authority over flight operations. During the blockade led by Gustavo, Montañero Pirate Lord in 05/Y120, they suspended unauthorised private flights and reinforced the facility with mercenaries. The hangar’s arrangements with clients also acknowledge the possibility of emergency requisition by the Pirate Lords.
Loss of Lazarro Altaviti
The death of Lazarro Altaviti and the loss of a Swooping Terror during a journey towards Amokuali Temple disrupted the hangar’s operations during Gustavo, Montañero Pirate Lord’s blockade in early May Y120.
Lazarro Altaviti had been an important transport operator. His loss compounded the shortage of available mounts while authorised flights occupied the remaining animals and private work was restricted.
The hangar posted notices commemorating him as a pillar of the community.
Contracts and liability
Flight contracts can include provisions for injuries to the mount, compensation if it is lost, and limits on the operator’s liability for injuries to passengers.
A contract negotiated with Lazarro Altaviti specified a $200,000 payment if his mount was lost. This was the liability attached to that particular arrangement, rather than an established standard price for every Swooping Terror.
Lazarro Altaviti also kept a private mount that was not ordinarily available for public hire.
See Treasures Age Old - Session 7 Player Recap.
See Treasures Age Old - Session 7 Player Recap, Treasures Age Old - Session 8 Player Recap, and Treasures Age Old - Session 9 Player Recap.