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.