The foundation of modern magical science - collection of spell discoveries by a famous wizard

[prbarcelon]

This is my first NaNoGenMo Entry! The goal was to generate a fictitious book using various text generation techniques.

Repo: https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024
Book PDF: https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024/blob/main/2024.pdf
Book PDF (Formatted using Homebrewery): https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024/blob/main/2024%20-%20Formatted.pdf
Book PDF (Formatted, post-submission): https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024/blob/main/2024%20-%20Formatted%20v2.pdf

The book is a historical collection of research journal entries by a famous wizard that documents their discovery of various foundational spells in their world. Each entry goes into detail about the spell's incantation, its effects, and the wizard's thoughts on its potential applications.

I used the following approaches:

• A Markov Chain based text generator for the spell incantation. I used synthetic data from a few years ago to train the model.
• Tracery to generate the introduction sentence for each entry. I wanted to give each entry a unique feel and tracery was a good fit for this. I found that just for a single sentence, I ended up writing a lot of rules.
• The rest of the journal entry was generated using an LLM, specifically the llama3.2 3b model through ollama.

Here's a sample of the book:

The foundation of modern magical science : or, Selections from the Early Discoveries of Djando Makfa, 1st Royal Court Mage of the Kingdom of Pranora, Between the Years 21 and 158 of the Civilized Era, Translated Into Modern Prose

Entry #81: Wraithstorm of the Nightmare's Haunting Discovery

As I stood before the mirror-lined portal, I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. The whispers of the arcane still lingered in my mind from countless hours of research and experimentation. Today, however, was different. Today, I had finally unlocked the secrets to wielding the dark forces that dwelled within.

With the incantation "Phantoms of the night, let the powers of my imagination take shape and consume my enemies... Wraithstorm of the Nightmare's Haunting!", the air around me began to ripple and distort, as if reality itself was being twisted to accommodate the manifestation of my darkest fears.

The words echoed through the chamber, resonating deep within my very soul. I felt the presence of the unknown closing in around me, like a shroud of darkness that would not be lifted. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as the shadows coalesced into tangible form before me.

As I watched, a figure began to take shape, its features indistinct and shifting like the shadows themselves. The presence grew stronger, until it loomed over me, an embodiment of all my deepest fears and anxieties. The air around us seemed to grow colder, as if the very fabric of reality was being drawn into this dark vortex.

I realized that I had stumbled upon something profound – a method for harnessing the power of fear itself. This Wraithstorm spell would allow me to confront my deepest terrors head-on, and channel them into a force that could crush even the most hardened opponents.

The implications were staggering. With such power at my disposal, I could unlock hidden potential within myself and bend reality to my will. The darkness, once a source of fear, had become an ally – a tool that would set me apart from the rest, and cement my place as a master of Purple Magic.

I have decided to name this spell "Wraithstorm of the Nightmare's Haunting," a moniker that reflects its dark and foreboding nature. As I continue to refine this spell and explore its secrets, I am filled with an unshakeable sense of wonder and awe at the mysteries that lie hidden within the realm of Purple Magic.

Entry #95: Spell Incantation Discovery No. 2

Today marks a milestone in my studies of Yellow Magic, as I have magically crafted an unparalleled incantation. As I whispered the words, "Radiant beams of golden light, shine upon my soul and grant me the wisdom and clarity to overcome any challenge and the courage to face any fear! Lux Aeterna!", I could feel a surge of energy course through me.

The air around me seemed to brighten, as if the very essence of sunshine had been distilled into this spell. The golden light that radiated from my hands was not just a visual effect; it felt alive, imbuing me with an aura of confidence and determination.

As I began to test the incantation, I discovered its profound effects on my mind and heart. My thoughts clarified, and my fears dissipated, replaced by an unwavering resolve to tackle any challenge that lay before me. It was as if the light had awakened a deep reservoir of inner strength within me, allowing me to confront even the most daunting obstacles with courage and poise.

With each iteration of the spell, I sensed its power growing, illuminating not only my own path but also that of those around me. The Lux Aeterna seemed to resonate with an otherworldly frequency, as if it held a secret key to unlocking the very fabric of reality itself.

I have come to realize that this spell is more than just a tool for personal growth; it has the potential to uplift and inspire others. Its radiance can pierce even the darkest shadows, offering hope and guidance to those who need it most. As I continue to explore the mysteries of Yellow Magic, I am eager to see where this incantation will take me and how it may be used to spread light and understanding throughout our world.

---

2024-11-30 7:20 PM CST: Edited after submission deadline to add post-submission book fix.

[prbarcelon]

Forgot word count. MS Word says 50,064 words for the original book (https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024/blob/main/2024.pdf)

Now, on to issues I found so far:

• Some of the entries aren't using the Tracery generated text
• Entry #376 doesn't have content
• Entry #537 is also missing content
• Entry #806 looks like a bad generation
• Entries #1107 and #1133 are missing content as well
• Last page on formatted pdf doesn't have a page number

I want to continue working on this for a little bit for completeness. I'll upload a new formatted pdf since we're past the submission deadline. It'll have fixes for everything except the Tracery issue.

For the missing content and bad generation, I'll just increment the Entry # since that is used as the random seed for all the generators.

[prbarcelon]

Okay, fixed the missing entries and bad generation: https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024/blob/main/2024%20-%20Formatted%20v2.pdf

I updated the issue to add this new link as well.

[prbarcelon]

If you don't mind reading extra Homebrewery markup, the raw markdown file is: https://github.com/prbarcelon/NaNoGenMo2024/blob/main/journal_entries.md

[savetz]

amazingly readable (and pretty too)!