I know that gruagach have so much flexibilities that spontaneous spells are the usual for them probably. Transformation are also very easy.
Considering a “siege a castle” scenario where both side have magical support, and the gruagach being on the outside force, I considered the idea that transforming some units of soldiers into birds by using a “give shape” spell (which is only base 5, but need acceptance), with the idea of those soldiers using the night to attack the top-roof soldiers and pushing them downwards (instant dead) then touching ground, and using the “limit (sweeping: touch ground)” to both 1) have a low modifier to duration (+1 only for limit (sweeping)) for a level 15 spell at touch range for each soldier, that is a level my NPC can give perhaps exerting himself and 2) allow the transformed soldier decide when to turn back into human.
I didn’t find anything in the rules about limit/geass which prevented they be used in the interest of controlling the moment at which the spell stops per the target himself.
My second question : since there is no subdivision of forms, I’m assuming that “individual” is the person and its equipment. Nothing in the gruagach section say the opposite; where for hermetic magic it’s (unconsistently between spells, books…) requiring casting requisite.
So i’m guessing that when the spell starts, the equipped grogs become eagles, can fly and attack the guards, push them down the tower/kill them/take their time while other eagles lands on the roof, which is the limit of the spell, turning them back into humans, so that they can end the fight while the defender’s men are fighting eagles and trying not to fall the dungeon edge of wall/having their eyes punctured by the eagles’ beaks.
Am I missing a point about Give shape and limit duration which would make this unfeasable, or do you agree?
One thing I really like about this is that they can't be on the ground as they transform, so they would need to be in the air as they turn. You might be able to argue something if they were being held or sitting in a tree (though then landing on a tower might not work either, but I prefer the imagery of the Gruagach literally pushing them off an edge and having them soar away a few seconds later. It would mean every soldier has to take that leap of faith, knowing that if the caster fails, or decides not to for whatever reason, they’ll plummet to the ground.
To be honest, I didn’t think yet of that part, but also, make them start by launching them with a catapult.
I would need to check if geass can be used on other things than curses, but if yes maybe a geas(specific)(limit(sweeping)) spell (which only would cost +1 for duration):
→ geass specific : when you stop walking the earth;
→ limit sweeping: when you touch the ground.
Since it’s a spontaneous spell, i’m quite tempted to do what feels right in play at that moment.
But your idea about tree is also very interesting, and the most fun is that leap of faith idea I very much like it.
And yes I agree that if the PCs are involved, the plan can easily be ruined. I’m preparing the “if the PCs do not intervene” different phases of the siege and it’s not very easy because i don’t know what PCs will or will not do.
Gruagachans magic is heavily poetic. You can't limit somebody in a way which is not a limit, but the effect itself. This kind of magic is not just technicalities - it is poetic justice.
These kind of “loop in RAW” should fail to function in the world of Mythic Europe.
Oh well, that gift is only a -3 on the roll, and even if i were to impose a EF15 (which is quite realistic if the gruagach is not an usual ally but demosntrated that his powers work, which is not the case here, but I’m just speaking for the example; and also that could just be factored a EF18 without any gift modifier, which the rules should have done since the start, because they are always saying that the gift is not easily fixed by magic, and yet in the same way, just impose a -3 on the roll, which any magic can easily overcome (for example all MuIm spells at level 10 give easy +3 modifiers, and let’s not speak about ReMe20 where the person just obey your words)), this issue is not pertinent in this case since that gruagach is not gifted.
In fact, during the session, the eagle, familiar’s of one magus, saw the scene happen (when the soldiers were pushed from the cliff above the sea). Thanks again for the very good idea!
I very much like it.