The Dalremian Power Cycle

As long as the Batteries have stood in Dalreme Castle, the Power Cycle has been a necessity of life.   Built in [date here], The Batteries were built based on Memoria designs, on a larger scale. While effective, they were not able to hold as much power as those they were copies of, and slowly drained of energy over time. The artificers found that, as long as power was passed from battery to battery on a regular basis, the power loss was minimized.   However, by the time that this discovery was made a fair portion of the town had not only been built between the batteries, but had tapped into its power lines-a straight transfer of power was risky.   The issue was eventually solved with a combination of smaller power cells and inhibitors placed at strategic points throughout the city. Power could flow from one place to another without completely blowing out the power grid. As a precaution, though, families were instructed to shut their houses off from the grid until the transfer could be completed. And stand by with buckets of water if one of the capacitors failed violently.   However, the cunning of the Artificters and the preparations of the townsfolk have so far, meant that no harm has come to Dalreme Castle... at least not by the Power Cycle, anway.

The Power Cycle is exceuted three times a year, the maximum time a battery can hold power without significant loss. The battery's facilities are evacuated save for the essential crew, and the Castle's town prepared for shutdown.   The Town itself prepares for the transfer by shutting their homes off the power grid and readying fire-suppresent materials. snacks (traditionally ones that can be toasted over a fire) are also prepared.   At the desginated time (Never too late so the adults can still usher their little ones to bed) The Main Battery is discharged, the power routed across the town to the secondary battery. The blue glow of Memoria's power supplies casts the city in an eerie, but delightful, light. This light fades as the Secondary Battery starts up, becoming the Primary Battery for that season. As the Main battery fully discharges, a flare is sent into the air. Houses are re-attatched to the main grid in waves, creating a second flood of light that casts the city in a new, warm, glow.

While the Civilian side of the Ceremony is mostly fun and games, the actual transfer of Power from one Battery to the other is timed and planned with extreme precision-a wrong lever thrown at the wrong time could kill the battery entirely.   The Lead Artificter oversees the project, coordinating teams at both the Main Battery and the Second Battery in the sequence. Second to him are the Team Leads, who oversee their individual batteries. All other non-essential personell are evacuated from both facilities, not only because of the danger but because one stray coffee mug can kill a battery. They're not making that mistake again.