Ancient technology is inescapable, even in the fractured era that is Outer World's 4th Aeon. Folk live amongst the dilapidated structures of the old kingdoms and the scars left behind by their follies. Entire species exist thanks to forgotten bio-sorcery. No matter where you stand, the Sun Machine - or its absence - is impossible to ignore.
For many, these things have the same weight as any natural feature of the landscape might. Drawing water from an ancient irrigation system isn't so different from doing so from a river or spring, assuming it's safe to drink. But others look upon them more curiously. There are earnest efforts to re-learn the workings of these devices and use that knowledge to create new ones.
Such things are referred to as "high technology", to differentiate it from "common technology" - the sorts of things that are easily created and maintained by the means and techniques that are more accessible to the common folk.
Scholars and crafters acknowledge a few categories of high technology. These distinctions are not perfect, as contemporaneous techniques often inform one another and old know-how provides the foundation for innovation, so there are many cases of overlap. But they remain a helpful way to talk about the myriad of disciplines that have emerged in Outer World's history.
Pre-Historical Technology- These forms of technology existed before Outer World itself had come to be. They are the least understood of any known disciplines.
The Creator left behind a few relics upon his departure. While most of these are records and other documents, some are small devices of understated appearance but incomprehensible power. Most of these are under the dedicated protection of Old Iron or the Unterkin of Lost Crystal.
Wonder Werk is a catch all term for the creations of the legendary Wondersmith. They range from bizarre creatures and intricate toys to impossibly grand structures like the Sun Machine. Thanks to the sheer scope of the Wondersmith's ability, the only things that truly unite their handiwork is a color scheme of gold and scarlet, the fact they never degrade without outside interference, and that they are, as far as anyone knows, impossible to replicate. Con artists are fond of selling counterfeit Wonder Werks, which only further obfuscates their nature to the layman.
Great Kingdom Technology - The three great nations of the 3rd Aeon each made great leaps in technological advancement, but took most of their knowledge along with them into ruin. That said these are still the most researched and best understood of the high technologies.
Magitech was an Akenian discipline that married mundane crafting with arcane teachings. It has its origins in the devices created to defeat the Divine Rulers in the 2nd Cataclysm and it advanced considerably during the 3rd Aeon. In addition to their arcane nature, magitech is also often elegant and aesthetically pleasing due to the preferences of Akenian culture. While it is fondly remembered and researched for the most part, there are numerous scars on the surface of Outer World whose origins lie in this potent but dangerous technology.
Bio-Sorcery has its roots in surgery and medicine, rather than gadgetry. The favored art of the empire of Calian, this discipline famously lead to "flesh warping" - the craft of altering and creating organic beings. A controversial practice even in its time, Bio-Sorcery is responsible for dangerous monsters intended to be used as war machines and more benign developments, like magical prosthesis.
Puretech began as the Technocracy of Gley's answer to Magitech and Bio-Sorcery, but flourished when researchers discovered how to make powerful fuel out of congealed mana. Puretech devices are generally bulky and austere (at least compared to Akenian Magitech) but their ease of use and less overt dependence on the arcane make them a bit more broadly usable. Many personal vehicles and handheld tools are descended from this discipline.
Outsider Technology - Technology whose origins are from beyond the stars are known as Outsider Technology.
Startech came to Outer World along with the Rai-Neko in the form of tools and relics from their place of origin. Sleek and efficient by nature, it is often considered something of a halfway point between Magitech and Puretech in spite of being related to neither. While most Rai-Neko have a basic understanding of its workings, only a specially trained few are able to reliably maintain it.
Otherworld technology is a debated curiosity among Outer World scholars. While many of the relics dimensional strays bring with them are quite novel and have some use, most of it is unimpressive and banal in comparison to the accomplishments of the other high technologies. The entertainment devices are extremely popular however, and even the harshest critic of them has to admit that tooling about with a Game Gal Advance is pretty fun.
One final note must be made, and that is on the Outer World's understanding of magic and casting. This craft is invaluable to most high and even common technology, but exists alongside it rather than within it. Most scholars agree that one must understand or at least respect the importance of magic if they are going to study the high technologies seriously.
