(SP) Magic Creatures have might etc, not the gift.
But, as Transforming into a Magical Creature (AFAIK) causes you to lose your gift, you can never add extra effects into your Talisman. In fact, it might even sever the bond with your Talisman.
No Verdi would ever go that path, though binding your spirit into an object/automata would be OK.
BTW as was pointed out, if you ever bind yourself into a Golem or Automata, be very careful when you construct it so that only you can command it. Imagine a powerful magi binding themselves into an artifact to gain immortality, having to obey the orders of EVERYONE who commands them.
I think that some magic creatures do have The Gift. Granted it may not be stated in so many words, but there are ghosts of magi who can cast spells in Calebais, and I believe they must still have The Gift to do so.
I don't have the books to hand at the moment, but I don't think it's specified that magi who go to the Hall of Heroes or become living ghosts lose their Gifts. It is specified for magi who become faeries through the Merinita mystery, but that's because The Gift is part of the Magic realm and the character must give that up to become a faerie (or perhaps the character's identity is assumed by a faerie that doesn't have The Gift).
That sounds really cool. I must say I really love that idea!
Transforming does not sever the binds to your talisman. In fact, you need it to accumulate extra knowledge. Moreso, as you can enchant your own spirit as your talisman with the requisite mystery, this would mean losing it
As per enchanting spells in it, I don't remember anything you can't, and am quite sure of the contrary.
Yes, as others have said.. turning into a magical creature in no way severs your gift.. perhaps Eric is right and you're confusing it with turning into a faerie.
The gift is from the Magic Realm, so turning into a magical creature actually helps you in many ways, such as the aforementioned immunity to twilight and warping, which are purely mortal flaws.
There's a lot of great story ideas in that! ...A magus intended to gain immortality but accidentally ended up as a kind of genie in a bottle for some power hungry mundane...hehe
My mistake, I haven't read the Mysteries yet, I have been waiting to get my hands on it. I was confusing the faerie mystery with the others. I was aware that living ghosts existed, but I thought that they used might for their spells instead of the gift.
...and for BellaDonna and her penchant for greedily taking up "story ideas," there's a section on designing your own Mystery Cults, which are story hooks all of their own!
