By the way, here's a bit I posted in the Interest Check in regards to tech-level. I'll also add this to the OP under the "An Unlikely Power-Source" heading. :)

"The aesthetic of the world is very much steampunk, but the tech level is more early WWI. Rifles and artillery are proven war-time weapons suited for soldiers. They are accurate and can reload relatively quickly. There are tanks and armored vehicles. I'd say the most advanced technology in the world would be the steam arks, which are basically arctic submarines armed with ether torches that can melt ice. As for automatons, I'd say they would take the form of steam golems given life through magical means. There certainly isn't any AI or anything of the sort yet. 

These kinds of modern weapons are used specifically by the Varyan Secular Army (the non-priest soldiers). Inquisitors can use them too, but most favor magical close-ranged weapons. But we can get into that later. This is an aspect of the world that I'd be more than willing to collaborate with players on."