The new money class in Grunburg are dubbed the tech lords. They are the new wealthy of Asterland. While they lack the family name association of the old money, they quickly climb the social ladder making up in importance to the economy of Asterland what they lack in connections.

After trying in vain to keep up with the affairs of the new magitech, the Grunburg city council has appointed seven industry giants to special posts in the government. Named "barons", they each represent a piece of the magitech pie. The following is a list of the barons, the company that they own, and what their firm produces.

Name Company Company Product
Mai'tron Kaipher Mai'tron Magitech Inc. Elemental Appliances, Low-cost Magimotive Carts, Landships
Wesley Dragonfire Primal Force Focal Amulets
Ophirra Winewood Archemage Magma Archemage Consortium
Sendell III Society for Freedom Beneficial Mutation Potions
Samal Friendsman Eagles Wings Shipyards Airships, Spelljammers, Hoverboards
Phimar Karie New Physics Company Cloud Cities
Magnus Venturia Venturia Magimotive Fine Magimotive Carts, Velocipedes

While the barons have not been long in their governmental capacities, they are quickly learning what power they now have. On their advise the council makes many of their decisions concerning magitech, something most of them have little to no understanding of, furthur than "my cart gets me to work."

Recently the Grunburg council acted on the advise of the barons to allow private military-style units to patrol their factories and act as bodyguards. >From the time of the decision, the techlords are surrounded by their company thugs that carry out their orders, be they moral or questionable. The forces are allowed to enforce their wills upon their company. They do so often with mob-type tactics and procedures. They are allowed by law to punish businessmen internally for crimes related to the business, such as misappropriation, a nice word for theft. The big companies gain more power by the day. Their only opposition is the Society for Freedom, which still tries to cling to its original ideal of maintaining the rights of the individual, but even they seem halfhearted in their efforts. Rumor is that they have been bought off by the other tech lords. This is in fact true. The Society sees it as a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" affair, where if they want to push through their own adgendas, they need to back the other barons in what they want.

With everyone gaining power except for the common man, many have felt powerless, while others are fueled by the incorruption to the point of rebellion. Many former company employees have turned terrorist to a greater or lesser degree. >From trying to block construction of new plants through petitions and such to the more direct and their magical explosions, the revolutionaries fight a futile battle against big money and government corruption.