1. What is an autonomous spell?

Before entrusting a golem with a task, break the task into instructions. Start by deciding their order. You do not need to write a spell yet.

Give instructions

As an exercise in giving instructions, imagine asking a golem to wave. It raises its hand, moves it from side to side, then lowers it. You can picture the result because the actions have an order.

Changing that order changes what happens. Both the actions and their sequence matter.

An autonomous spell sets out the steps your workshop will follow. Each step is an instruction. Executing a spell means carrying out the instructions written in it.

Instructions have a written form

To give your workshop instructions, arrange words and symbols according to the rules for writing spells. The language used for this is ArcaneScript. Spelling and symbols have precise forms, so the workshop can follow what you have written.

You do not need to learn a long spell at once. In the next chapter, write a single instruction that leaves a short message in the workshop log. Begin by seeing your own instruction take effect.

Exercise

A golem should raise its hand and then lower it. Put these two instructions in execution order.

• A: Lower the hand.
• B: Raise the hand.