The Thaumoindustrial Revolution

At around the same time as Valentine's Principia Arcana is published, a financially-challenged magician named Robert Hawkwright uses its principles to invent a self-spinning, self-carding textile frame on a bet. The Hawkwright Frame revolutionises the textiles industry, and Hawkwright becomes extraordinarily rich.

Imperial charters are granted to survey and explore the West Rim of Hyperborea, north of Tol Annun. Famous for centuries as an impassable, monster-infested wilderness, the region's abundant natural resources make it worth the risk to a maturing Empire. Dozens of expeditions depart yearly; many of these don't come back.

In 879, the archaeomantic expedition led by Professor Julia Moreno of the Imperial University at Maunder made anchor in the bay where the mouth of the Wisidivescor River meets the Dyscrasic Ocean. Intending to make an archaeomantic survey of goblin ruins in the area, base camp was established within the mostly-intact tower atop Beacon Hill. When circumstances necessitated a change of plan, the expedition's resulting re-activation of the Tallwater Beacon proved key to the success of subsequent settlement efforts in the area.

Rising populations requiring more resources need to gather from further afield. Steam technomancy arises to solve transportation issues, and a supply chain develops across Hyperborea.

The technology so recently developed for land, sea, and underground exploration is adapted to flight technology. No longer dependent on wind for propulsion, ships stop taking their design cues from sailing vessels, and begin to incorporate more nature-inspired design elements.

Whether it's lost treasure or a piece of land, the relative safety provided by the Tallwater Beacon has brought outsiders to the mouth of the Wisidivescor in droves. Overnight, camps become shanties which mature into villages, which grow together to become the Town of Tallwater.