import arcana

import arcana
from arcana import *

The crudest spells are those that directly manipulate reality, assuming that if one wishes for X to occur, then Y and Z must also occur. These spells leave their mark on the memory of the world, and are easy to spot to those learned in the arts of magic.

A true magician performs operations on the hidden layers of reality, those that unfold parallel to our own yet are subject to change by a skilled master. They interact with these layers through the use of artifacts and instruments, two things that invite programme and computation into the practices of magic.

You may program your spell using computer science notation, writing out what you wish to occur in order for it to be true. A simple spell could consist of just a single line, while more complex ones could span pages or even chapters. If you find yourself stuck on how to programme your spell, you may want to consider turning to the libraries around the magical world for help.

It is advised that you create multiple spells, and have fallback options in case of possible failures. The library suggests creating at least three spells, one for ordinary circumstances, one as a contingency in case the first fails, and another to be cast after the first is concluded in case the first fails.

It is also advised that you create multiple copies of your spell code, in case of failure or inconvenience. The library will store these copies for free, but if you wish to save this onto the secret library network, then memory storage will be required.

Before you begin writing, it is recommended that you choose a name for your spell. This name cannot be changed after it has been chosen, so select wisely. The librarii of the local branch of the magical academy have suggested some options:

Choose one or more words from this list:

Asterion Boreas Cicero Clarity Dryad Endless night Elyon Flock Flame Fury Gabbro Gehenna Glacier Hound Icerink Illusion Incarnum Jet Lustrous Midnight Mist Nought Ocean Pareilinôni Patient endurance Piercing cold Platonic solid Pluvial Protection Rain Raw power Rebirth Renewal Retribution Revival Rime Ryeland Sable Scorn Sea Serpent Shiloh Silence Skittering snow Snare Snowflake Storm Sublimation Sunset Tatters True memory Tyche Verdancy Vulcan Wet dream White settling Yvierna

The librarii have also suggested creating permutations of these words, or combining them in unusual ways. The effects of such spell names are usually not understood for days, weeks, even months, and may even be unique to you alone. While the most powerful spells should ideally use breaking concepts that have never been thought of before, it is important to set sail towards those storms that face you.

It is also advisable to create multiple spell names, in case one is taken or if it does not turn out well. As you craft more spell names, ideas will flow more freely and you will be able to create better names due to the creation of a recursive loop.

Before you begin writing, it is important to set up an environment conducive to magic. Many mages prefer a dim lit room or a darkened castle chamber, where the absence of light allows for the focus on the complex equations that make up magic. Other mages find that their elemental inclinations provide them with the ideal atmosphere, writing in the rain under an empty sky or amidst snowflakes. Whatever you choose, ensure that it is quiet, and ensures that you will not be disturbed.

If you are participating in a competitive magical apprenticeship, then you will be required to write a certain amount of words per day on the practice of magic, or on related fields such as history, theory, library work and cultural studies. These entries may be used against you if you are ever accused of plagiarism, so play it safe and do not copy from other people’s writings.

When you are ready to begin writing, invoke a statement of some spiritual significance that reflects your desired themes. A few examples include:

“I am made of star dust.” — Chinese legend of the Milky Way

“The wind blows us so close, yet so far.” — Japanese folk song “Haru yo koi”

“My journey lies upon the turbulent seas.” — Maori mythology of Tangaroa the god of the sea

“I walk among the stars.” - Islamic belief in the Qiyamah, or day of resurrection

Select one of these statements, or create your own! Then, begin writing. Write about the meaning of this statement that you have created. Write about what it means to you and how you will use this in your spell work. Do not think about it too much, and let the words flow naturally. If you find yourself stuck, return to one of the previously suggested entries and continue from there.

When you are finished, cross through that statement and move on to the next. Continue doing so until you have ten individual statements, each only crossing through one word at a time. Each statement should be unique in some way, even if its themes overlap. One might contain all nouns, another may consist of only verbs, etc.

When you are finished writing, select the words that you want to keep, and discard the rest. Understand that these statements are not eternally set in stone, and that you may change them at a later point in time. However, it is advisable to only change a maximum of three out of your ten original statements.

Now that you have created a foundation for your spell, it is time to craft the actual text. Select a page in this notebook or any other suitable writing device, and begin writing. You may use these words or alter them, but remember that you may only change up to three words at the most.

It is advisable to focus on one aspect of your spell for each word. For example, if you want to craft a spell to help you see a particular event clearly, then your words should describe what you wish to occur. If you are struggling to understand an concept or a problem, then you may wish to use words that relate to knowledge or clarity.

It is also advisable to use words that have related meanings. For example, if you wish to channel the spirit of the frost giants, then you should use words related to snow and cold (such as “sleet”, “chill”, “icing”) or perhaps those of might and terror (“subzero”, “blizzard”, “glacier”).

When you are finished, cross through the words that you do not wish to keep. Understand that these words are ineffectual now, but they may hold potential as trigger words for future spells. Keep only those words that you wish to use, and leave the rest behind.