The
steam age of Jera really begins with the advent of horseless transportation
in the world. The first vehicle was, in fact, not steam powered at
all, but ran on a magical engine, using a crude clutch system to engage
a perpetually turning shaft. Achella Stormdriver, a wizard of some
renown, researched the power source while doing graduate work at Grunburg
University, an Asterland think tank for the arcane arts. Asterland's
governing body centered in Alexander supports magical re- search, and
all discoveries are made public knowledge, circulated through periodicals
throughout the land.
The concept
quickly caught on, and a whole new breed of mages sprung up almost
overnight, the 'motive mage.' More traditional wizards look down on
these mages as lesser workers of magic. The use of magical devises
quickly increased as new techniques of teaching magic came out of Grunburg.
Magical items became cheaper, including "focal
amulets", which increase a mages ability to channel magic through
them, allowing the casting of more spells per day. A sort of spirit
of the times washed over the land as life became easier with labor-saving
devices which have modern day equivalents such as dishwashers and toaster
ovens and more importantly, motorized carts, bicycles, and trains.
Increased travel furthur increased the pace of progress.
