The Noel Modus, Raverie’s legendary month-long transformation mechanism, was invented by @Gustavo Horonasius us, one of the city’s most celebrated and eccentric precision engineers. Having grown up outside of Raverie and encountering the winter festivities of the city only later in life, Gustavo became convinced that joy—like any other civic function—could be engineered, regulated, and shared equally among all citizens.
Driven by this belief, he designed a seasonal Modus capable of reshaping the entire city for one month each year. The Noel Modus was constructed directly into Raverie’s existing mechanical foundation and deeply integrated with the Modus Primus, allowing it to influence systems across every district without destabilizing the city’s core infrastructure.
The heart of the Noel Modus is housed within the @Horonasius Tower Tower, a brass-and-copper structure standing in the @Grand Plaza of Raverie ie. From this central core, the Modus interfaces with a dense subterranean cog-network, realigning thousands of smaller mechanisms into their festive configuration when activated.
Each year on December 1st, the people of Raverie gather in the Grand Plaza, the city’s mechanical and cultural center. The plaza’s thick glass floor reveals the vast, moving gearworks of the Modus Primus beneath, while the oxidized copper and brass structures surrounding the square glow with a soft green patina.
At dawn, the Modus Winder of the Noel Modus approaches the primary winding interface of the Horonasius Tower. Only this Winder—trained for years and entrusted with the system’s deepest workings—is authorized to perform the activation.
When the attunement key is inserted and the grand winding sequence begins, a deep harmonic resonance spreads through the plaza. Beneath the city, gears shift, locks disengage, and seasonal subsystems come into alignment.
Hatches open. Mechanisms engage. Lanterns ignite.
From the center of the Grand Plaza rises the Great Noel Tree of Raverie, unfolding from below the glass floor in articulated, clockwork segments like a blooming mechanical monument. Its emergence marks the official beginning of Raverie’s December season.
The Modus Winder of the Noel Modus is both engineer and custodian of tradition. Their role extends far beyond ceremonial winding: they are responsible for maintaining alignment protocols, emergency shutoffs, and seasonal calibration throughout the year.
Improper winding or misalignment can cause city-wide malfunctions, ranging from minor decorative failures to dangerous mechanical overextensions. For this reason, the Winder’s actions during the December Rite are observed in near silence by the gathered crowd, a moment of collective trust placed in precision and experience.
Hidden beneath the @Grand Plaza of Raverie e for most of the year, the Great Noel Tree is a telescoping bronze structure composed of layered branches, resonance plates, and lantern nodes. When fully deployed, it rises through the plaza floor and spreads outward with measured, gear-driven elegance.
At its peak, a mechanical star releases a stabilizing harmonic pulse that synchronizes all Noel Modus subsystems across the city. In normal operation, the tree is a symbol of unity and celebration. In the event of malfunction, its sheer size and tension can turn it into a dangerous, immobile engine of metal and force.
During December, Raverie’s standard guard automatons are adapted and redeployed under the Noel Modus as the Nutcracker Automaton Line. These units are not newly constructed models, but existing Clockguard automatons refitted with festive behavioral routines and ceremonial equipment.
Outfitted in Nutcracker-themed uniforms—including painted armor plating, polished brass accents, and oversized cylinder hats—the automatons conduct frequent, highly choreographed marches through the city. Along their routes, they assist citizens where needed, perform synchronized routines for public enjoyment, and distribute walnuts to passersby as part of the seasonal tradition.
While operating correctly, the Nutcracker Automatons serve as both guardians and performers, embodying the Noel Modus’ ideal of structured joy and civic order. If the Modus malfunctions, however, their enforcement protocols become dangerously rigid. In such cases, they grow extremely intimidating and aggressive toward anyone who fails to adhere precisely to public regulations—such as being too loud, blocking pathways, or taking up excessive space—treating minor infractions as severe disruptions requiring immediate correction.
During December, @The Royal Bakery l Bakery becomes one of the most active nodes of the Noel Modus. Both the @Chocolate Wing of the Royal Bakery ocolate Wing of the Royal Bakery and @Cake Wing of the Royal Bakery ke Wing of the Royal Bakery engage specialized Dough Automatons that operate continuously throughout the season.
These automatons:
Mix batter in rotating brass basins
Knead dough using padded mechanical arms
Regulate industrial ovens via precision gear valves
When operating correctly, the bakery becomes the scented heart of Raverie’s winter celebrations. In cases of malfunction, overproduction may occur, leading to clogged corridors, flooded workspaces, or runaway dough automatons.
Housed within the @The Reindocks eindocks, the mechanical reindeer of Raverie remain dormant for most of the year. Upon activation of the Noel Modus, their navigation systems illuminate, linking them to the Horonasius Tower’s atmospheric guidance array.
These reindeer transport gifts, parcels, food, and official messages across the city and surrounding settlements with remarkable speed. Their flight paths form a constant aerial pattern above Raverie throughout December.
Improper synchronization can cause misrouting, territorial behavior, or sudden aerial aggression, making careful calibration essential.
In the @Maestro District strict, tuned bells, resonance plates, and pipe arrays form the Winter Carillon. When activated, a series of Song Automatons begin their performances, producing layered harmonics and wandering seasonal melodies.
Corrupted tones can become dissonant, destabilizing nearby mechanisms and triggering feedback loops in sensitive systems.
Throughout the @Lumos District and the @Rhotra Market , the Noel Modus deploys hundreds of decorative automatons and drones, including:
Floating lantern orbs
Wreath-spooling gear rings
Ribbon-distributing clockwork sprites
Overhead constellation projectors
These systems transform streets and plazas into moving displays of light and motion. Incorrect winding can cause violent flickering, erratic drone behavior, or hazardous spinning mechanisms.
Integrated with the @Institute of Weather Research , the Frostloom Snowmaker produces Raverie’s artificial snowfall during December. It distills atmospheric moisture through mechanical fractal molds, releasing soft, controlled snow across the city.
Designed to ensure winter festivities even in mild years, the Frostloom is closely monitored throughout the season. When corrupted or misaligned, it may produce dangerously cold, jagged, or otherwise unsuitable snowfall, posing risks to both citizens and infrastructure.