Grimoire

Fresh comment now that the 300dpi version functions for me:

I honestly respect the lack of a mana replenishment mechanic. You get 10 mana to cast out-of-specialty elements and cause effects, and that is it. And since you only ignore your element and not the effects, there's no such thing as costless spells. At absolute best you can cast 10 single effect spells of your one special element, at worst you write the most expensive spell castable and burn your 10 mana all at once.

(Fun fact: 5 effects and 5 elements costs exactly 10 mana before specialty, can add a 6th element or effect if one of the elements is your specialty for al 11 mana spell that only charges 10. 1 effect and all 10 elements makes a 11 cost spell than anyone can burn all 10 of their mana on for one effect that calls on all 10 elements! Conversely, all 10 effects and 1 element makes a spell only castable by a specialist of that element, only as their first spell, and likewise only as their last. But it will be quite the casting.)

Seeing as the goal is to pass the book on to other casters, this nonreplenishable mana source can make for a sort of ticking clock for casters. You've only so much magic to give, before the book needs someone else to use it. I look forward to incorporating that into my stories.

This combined with the simple spellcrafting procedures makes me think this was fairly well crafted as a system. It gives the feeling that a lot of thought went into every one of the few words it offers us.

Edit: I have made and casted as one of my characters the spell of "Infinite Time", the element Time plus all 10 effects simultaneously. Twas a short run, but a good one. And now the bandits have the book.