The Magical Industrial Revolution is the techno-magical transformation of the gem-world Vala Cristalis, sharply accelerated from 1812 AE after the fall of the Borg Pope of Caldero. Its center is Star City.
History
The papal theocracy had held back progress to keep absolute control. After the Pope fell (1812 AE), industrial nobles took over and accelerated development; between 1812 and 1824 AE the richest parts of Star City advanced rapidly. Caldero receives it as a cautious periphery. Mascor Blancarba recalls, in his Chronicle of a Curious Visitor, stories of magic-driven machines, workshops mixing alchemy and steam, and artifact guilds.
Innovations
- The Miracle of Miles — powered magical flight, by Miles Corp.
- Portable holes and bags of holding.
- Armor brands Pristine and Goze.
- Short-range teleportation helmets.
- Spell universities, enchanted foundries, artifact guilds.
Social asymmetry
The upper districts of Star City are full of factories combining magic and technology. The wealthy benefit; the lower districts receive the inventions late and badly, or not at all.
Open questions
- Whether the Revolution belongs to the positive pole or is the vehicle of a new, industrial Borg papacy is left unresolved. The sealed tower laboratories of Lord Valanthru and Tittiframe could be gestating the negative pole the classic Borg Popes never achieved.