@The Reindocks are Raverie’s high-capacity logistics and emergency delivery complex, combining traditional postal services with experimental aerial transport. While widely known as a luxury taxi service during winter, their true purpose is to prevent the city’s delivery infrastructure from collapsing during peak demand, crises, or severe weather.
Reindeer-based transport is considered a last-resort asset and is deployed sparingly.
The Post Building is the oldest structure within the Reindocks and predates all reindeer-related systems. It is a large four story half-timbered house with a cozy looking wooden inside. Every letter, parcel, and official dispatch entering or leaving Raverie passes through this building.
Large sorting halls staffed by precision sorting automatons
Route-planning offices that assign cargo to street-level or aerial delivery
Priority handling for sensitive, fragile, or time-critical post
Most deliveries are handled by carriages and street-capable automaton sleighs. Reindeer transport is authorized only when these systems cannot keep up.
The post is run by Lars Yppi, who lives on the top floor with his wife and son. He has an instinctive understanding of the city’s postal rhythm and is often the first to detect anomalies or backlogs.
The Workshop is where animal handling and precision engineering meet.
Construction and calibration of reindeer harnesses
Maintenance and repair of sleigh automatons
Stress-testing of load limits and endurance configurations
Harnesses are individually tuned to each reindeer. Even minor errors in winding or alignment can cause discomfort, fatigue, or aggressive behavior. For this reason, every adjustment is documented, reviewed, and approved by certified mechanics.
Emergency release mechanisms are also tested here, allowing sleighs to detach quickly in critical situations.
A large, quiet structure designed around the needs of the White Reindeer.
Houses all fourteen reindeer
Reinforced stalls with wide lanes for movement
Strict noise, access, and lighting regulations
The reindeer are semi-domesticated. They tolerate humans but remain independent animals with strong instincts. Handlers monitor posture, breathing, antler tension, and hoof wear to judge readiness for work.
Outside the stable lies a long, straight launch corridor known simply as the Runway.
Embedded along its length are three massive brass Runway Rings, each taller than a person and anchored deep into the ground. Their spacing matches the natural acceleration rhythm of the White Reindeer.
During takeoff:
The rings resonate as the reindeer passes through
Momentum is subtly reinforced, reducing physical strain
The final ring stabilizes the transition from ground to air
Reindeer must reach sufficient speed before flight becomes possible. Failed runs result in aborted takeoffs, not crashes. Only trained teams are permitted to initiate a launch, and the area is always cleared during operations.
Handlers are professionals whose sole responsibility is working with the White Reindeer.
Grooming, feeding, and health monitoring
Reading behavioral cues and stress signals
Deciding when a reindeer must rest, regardless of pressure
Handlers have the authority to cancel flights if they believe a reindeer is unfit. This authority is legally protected and frequently tested during high-demand periods.
Sleigh Steerers operate the sleigh during transport and guide the reindeer mid-flight.
Control direction through reins, posture cues, and harness feedback
Manage takeoff alignment and landing approach
Coordinate with sleigh automatons during cargo deployment
A skilled steerer can reduce stress on a reindeer significantly. A poor one can cause strain even with a perfectly tuned harness.
There are fourteen White Reindeer currently housed in the Reindocks.
White Reindeer can reproduce, but births are exceptionally rare. Calves are born only once every several decades under ideal conditions. The most recent reindeer birth occurred approximately five years ago, an event treated as a matter of citywide importance within the Reindocks.
Because of this rarity:
Reindeer are never overworked
Long rest periods are mandatory
Injuries are treated with extreme caution
The loss of even one reindeer would be considered a severe logistical and cultural blow.
The Reindocks operate under a strict principle:
Reindeer are preserved, not consumed.
They are rotated carefully, flown infrequently, and removed from service at the first sign of prolonged fatigue. Some may go weeks or months without active duty, even during busy seasons.
Reindeer sleighs are deployed when:
Seasonal demand overwhelms standard delivery systems
Severe weather blocks street-level routes
High-priority cargo must bypass the city entirely
Their ability to fly allows them to avoid congestion and reach nearby settlements directly.
On rare occasions, reindeer sleighs are authorized for passenger transport.
Extremely expensive
Requires advance approval
Often used as a status symbol
The Mayor of Raverie is a known frequent user, a fact that quietly frustrates handlers who prefer the reindeer be reserved for essential operations.
Improperly wound harnesses cause pain and aggression
Political pressure during festivals strains deployment limits
Disagreements between handlers and administrators are common
Every flight balances efficiency against long-term reindeer welfare
The Reindocks function not because demand is low, but because restraint is enforced.