Spelljammer

Starfaring civilizations are united by a common technomagical principle, called spelljamming by many spacers, that calls upon the power of the ethereal plane to traverse interstellar space with astounding rapidity. This is done using a variety of methods: most ships in the Radiant Triangle and the Astromundi Cluster utilize an older and more arcane mechanism called a spelljamming helm; the systems of the Maelstrom use an esoteric Weave-based magitech dubbed weftsails, and other cultures use variations on the principle variously called etherdrives or weft drives.

Mechanism

Spelljamming makes use of the planography of the universe: all material, celestial, and infernal planes exist within the greater astral plane, with the Feywild and Shadowfell existing as parallels to the material plane gestalt. The ethereal plane, by contrast, exists in a higher energy state overlaid on the rest of the planar system (barring the elemental planes, which exist at a lower energy state than the rest of the planar system). Being the source of magic, it lends its energy to the lower planes via the Weave, which is then harnessed to fulfill the extreme energy cost of interstellar travel.

Discovery

The various starfaring civilizations of known space have come to know of spelljamming through various means. The peoples of the Radiant Triangle acquired spelljamming helms from the Mercane of the Astromundi Cluster -whose origins are a closely guarded secret- and have since reverse-engineered their own versions. The weftsails of the Maelstrom have ancient roots in a unique, textile-based magic once used to sail the cloudseas and the span of the Reef. Terraspace developed their technomagical method of accessing the ethereal plane to "jump" across space during the Invasion War, which allowed them to win the war and start their astral exploration.

Availability

Regardless of type, all spelljamming technology is incredibly complex and difficult to both build and maintain. Procuring an isolated drive or helm is expensive; obtaining a complete ether-capable ship with helm or drive included even more so. Generally spelljammers are owned by organizations rather than individuals, though privately owned spelljammers are not especially rare. Nor, too, is it completely unheard of for skilled mages or engineers to build their own spelljammers.