Sounds good to me. What season would Roberto be free to do this, and would he be willing to study Leap of Homecoming?
THis may be neither here nor there, but starting over the leap, I'd like to have Lucas start investing some silver in House Mercere mercantile interests. It just seems like as a Mercere magus, he ought to have his finger in the Mercere pot.
I'm not sure how to handle this. But it fits the character so I wanted to take notice that I was doing it.
Oh, and FWIW, Lucas will let House Mercere know that as of 1242, he's available to devise level 50 (or even a bit higher) longevity rituals for the House.
Any season after 1236. But 1241 is better. And that is exactly the spell.
How about Autumn 1241?
As for spell, how about Leap of Homecoming? That's one they both know; it's one I know Lucas wants to learn Stalwart, and I think it's one that Roberto wants to learn Boosted.
I will log it in. And yes, that spell is the one 
Now that the moratorium is lifted, so you want me to make up a grog, or do you want to make your own assistant up?
When, and what age of child, do you want this?
In the summer of 1241, during a break from his tutelage with Guiverna from Bashir, Semsuhfaw slithers his way to (presumably) the library and coils up next to Adan the Heretical Scribe, rising up to address the human face-to-face.
"Good afternoon, my friend. I have a task I would like you to undertake for us.
"I have a monograph that I need to write. But, as you can see, that would be rather difficult for me. I was wondering if you would be willing to take my dictation."
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Basically, he wants to write a Tractatus in Autumn of 1241 on Egyptian Theology (specifically, funeral rites adapted for European climes), but he obviously can't write. The whole no hands thing.
If he could write a Tractatus, it would be (as near as I can tell) SQ: 8 (Com 2 + 6). Not sure what effect, if any, dictating the Tractatus to Adan (with a Scribe of 10) would have on that.
Dictating to someone doesn't have any effect on the SQ, as I recall. S'pretty common way of getting stuff written after all.
Besides which Adan would probably suggest he do his dictation to one of the younger scribes, possibly his own apprentice.
Works for me, I just didn't realize we had any scribes aside from Adan and Amada. So, I'll jot that onto the Autumn box on the planner.
Oh, no, do her.
At worst, she'll be fired up, that's all 
When... I figure by the start of 1240.
What age... THe younger she is, the easier to mold.
I figure her plan is to take a youth of between 5 and 10 (there's a tradeof between impressionable and too much babysitting). Have her spend her time between studying lores, running errands, and... That's not her plan, but in practice, having someone around to fling ideas and speak to, even if the kid doesn't understand.
Wanna sleeeeeep!
It's at the end of Autumn in 1239 that Cecelia comes knocking on the door to Arachne's sanctum. Once she's let in, and the pleasantries are dispensed with, she reports to the maga on what she's accomplished.
"I think I finally found a good candidate for you. She's an orphan who I found living on the streets of Valencia, surviving mostly by begging. From what the locals tell me, she's quite clever and resourceful. She'd have to be, since she's been living on her own for two years now. I'd guess she's around eight or nine, though even she's not entirely certain."
"She was orphaned two years ago and didn't care for the conditions in the local foundling house. She ran away and has lived on the streets ever since. He name is Eva and she has a large red mark that covers half of her face and neck. As you can imagine, that hasn't made it easy for her, though it does help with her begging. Some call it a mark of disfavor from the Lord. Personally, I find it hard to believe that our Lord would find any disfavor in a young girl who's suffered more in two years than most of the people who condemn her will in a lifetime. But that's neither here nor there."
"Eva survived two winters in Valancia, which is no small accomplishment. But I fear that her chances would get slimmer the older she gets. Many who would find sympathy for a six year old and allow her to sleep inside on the hearth would make a different decision with a nine year old, or a girl even older. And I don't like to think what would happen to her when she reaches the full bloom of womanhood." Cecelia shakes her head sadly.
"I found her begging in her regular spot and gave her a shilling[sup]1[/sup] and told her there was more if she was willing to talk to me. When I added that I'd buy her a loaf of bread and a wedge of cheese, she agreed without hesitation. Over her meal I told her that I might have a position for her. I told her it would be demanding work for someone she might not like - no offense intended, Arachne, but that's what the Gift will do. But I also said that she would get a warm place to sleep, enough food to eat, proper clothes to wear that would be replaced every year, and possibly some coins for exceptional work. Despite all of that, she was still somewhat leery until I told her that she would be working for a woman. That allayed many of her fears. In the end, she had many questions, but eventually agreed to come with me."
"I have Eva at the tower now. Lucas and I have only just started moving in, but Maria was there and I thought it best to leave Eva with my daughter and talk to you first. I can bring Eva here any time you like. And if you don't find her acceptable, then I'll make certain she finds a place as a grog, either here or somewhere else. I can do that much for her. So you needn't worry about her going back to the streets if you don't think she's what you need. She's a bit rough around the edges from living on the streets, and isn't what you might call genteel. But she'd smart and she'd determined, and I think she'd be a good fit for you."
[sup]1[/sup] - or the Spanish equivalent.
Arachne welcomes Cecilia warmly (for her notions of warm), proposing her some milk and honey.
As she listens Celilia's description, a light smile forces itself on her lips.
Intelligent, brave, too disfigured to fit in and an orphan... My, cecilia, she looks perfect! I knew I could count on you, but it seems you did very well, this looks like the perfect combination to me.
And I must say I appreciate you taking the time to warn her. Things will do better if she expects the truth rather than some lofty position.
Thank you very much for your efforts. I'll have to find something for you when I can.
Now... Yes, I think things will go better if you take her here. There will be 2 little separations instead of a big one, and it'll be easier on her if you bring her here rather than me just fetching her. And the sooner, the better, before she gets too accustomed to your home and daughter.
Arachné wants to craft something for Cecila as a thanks, probably a magical shawl of sorts, she just needs to find a suitable effect to put into it.
Cecilia accepts the milk and honey graciously, sitting down at the table with Arachne.
"Oh, think nothing of it," Cecilia replies with a smile when the maga thanks her. "I'm just glad I could help the two of you. And it gave me a chance to explore Valencia a bit, which was a nice bonus." She stands and heads toward the door. "I'll bring Eva over right away. As you say, this is probably best done without delay."
Cecilia then fetches the young orphan and brings her to Arachne's sanctum. Once more she explains that Eva's new mistress might seem stern and a bit unnerving, but that she will be fair and won't mistreat Eva.
Meanwhile, Arachné is a little lost, and has a little moment of panic, which would surprise all that are used to see the seemingly collected sorceress.
She wants the child to be useful and loyal, so she doesn't want to frighten her needlessly. But she does want the child to obey her, and understand that she is to work.
Aaarh!!!, she says, pacing and flaying arms.
Breathe. Say little, treat her well but speak sternly. Establish that you're the boss, but if she obeys, you'll take care of her. Just like a liege. You can do it.
So when cecilia comes back, she has put some lights up, and opens the door calmly, her staff in her other hand. She looks at the redcap, then the child.
So. This is Eva?
She stares at the child an instant.
I am the spider. But you may call me mistress, for now. I've heard good things of you. Come. Let us speak together.
"Yes mistress," Eva says with a firm nod but trepidation in her voice. She seems to be battling within herself as to whether to shy away from Arachné or stand her ground. For the moment she stands her ground.
"Cecilia said that you'd give me a warm place to sleep, enough to eat, and clothes to wear," the urchin adds. "She also said you wouldn't mistreat me. Is that true?"
Arachné pauses, looking at Eva.
Let's get this out of the way.
You don't like me. That's fine. You don't have to.
There are... Things I don't have time for. Running errands, collecting things, keeping in touch with the place... This will be your first task. Be my eyes, ears and hands. Then, I know a lot of things, but I can't know everything I need to know. When do griffins mate, how to tell the difference between a magical giant and a faerie one, the resting places of ancient ghosts... So, just as I'll ask you to be my surrogate in the outside world, I'll need you to learn all this, to supplement my knowledge. Do you understand?
She pauses, letting the girl answer
I'm telling you all this for 2 reasons.
First, I don't want a dumb servant. I asked Cecilia specifically for a bright young girl. I won't begin our relationship with a lie. I need to be able to trust you, and, for that, you need you to be able to trust me.
Secondly, this answers your question. You're an investment to me. I want you to be fine, healthy, and to live a long time, because that way, you'll be more useful to me, all the more so as time passes. So I'll see to it that you're clothed and fed accordingly. And I'll need you on hand, so if I sleep in a warm place - and I like to - you will, too.
Now, mistreatment... I have no interest in a broken servitor, and no time to chastise you. So long as you do as you're told, and are loyal to me, I'll take care of you. But the moment you betray me, or if you prove to be useless, I won't waste my time having you beaten up or something. I'll just cast you out.
She walks calmy towards Eva, and, slowly, crouches before the young girl, so as to be even with her.
So here's the deal.
You won't have any life, save whatever I leave you. This includes any foolish delusions of a family you may have. My will, my desires, are to be your priority.
But if you do, I'll take care of you, I'll protect you, and I'll see to it that you become a fine christian scholar and a learned lady.
Do you agree?
Despite all her talks about truth and trust, the Spider is not averse to some manipulation.
She's conscious of her gift, and that this may make this look a little too much like a deal with the devil. Which is why she specifically said a christian scholar.
Likewise, she makes this sound like a deal between equals, although it ain't one, as she know Eva has little choice in the matter. She knows this, she even made sure of it. Still, by making this an apparently free choice and a common agreement, she's trying both to blunt somewhat the effects of the gift and, more importantly, to plant the seeds of future loyalty: Eva will be a better servant if she thinks she agreed to it on her own.
For a moment Eva looks like a startled rabbit, staying perfectly still and looking at Arachné. But after a short time it's clear that she's been listening to every word the old maga has said.
"I c'n run errands and collect things," Eva says at last, some confidence creeping back into her countenance. "An' I know how to keep my eyes open. You gots to when you live on the street." Then she wavers a bit. "But I don't know what a Griff-on or a fairy is, though I've heard of ghosts." She shudders. "I ain't got any idea where I can learn about that stuff."
As Arachné goes on, it's clear that Eva doesn't understand everything the maga is saying. Words like 'investment' and 'chastise' solicit a blank look from the girl. But she clearly understands the bit about being fed and clothed and being given a warm place to sleep, and that seems to reassure her.
Eva involuntarily flinches when Arachné crouches down to her level, but stands her ground. "If you'll make me a learned lady," she says, "then I'll do whatcha want. I never 'spected to have a family anyway. And I won't betray you neither. I ain't no kinda scrub." It's not entirely clear whether the girl is motivated by fear or loyalty at the moment. But she seems sincere. "'Sides," she adds. "I told Cecilia I'd do what you said. 'An she was nice to me."
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OOC1: It's clear that Eva is still scared of Arachné. But she's canny enough to see that this is a better situation than living on the street, even if Arachné turns out to be a bad mistress. Having a place, even a bad place, is better than having no place.
OOC2: If the way I write Eva sounds a bit more sophisticated than the way you write Eva, it's because I have a 9 year old girl at home and I can tell you, even at 8 they can be surprisingly articulate.
Arachné can't help but laugh, which, due to the gift, must make a frightening sight for the poor child.
That's great! she say, recovering. You'll learn everything you need, in time, don't worry.
...
Ah, thanks, I don't laugh enough. You'll do great, I'm sure.
Perfect. We've got a deal, then.
The old maga raises herself, and takes a few steps back.
Now, come. I've commanded dinner for 2, you'll tell me more about you, before I show you my place (have I described it? Ah, yes I have)
Oh, and I seldom eat, so tell me if you need more, okay? I don't know about children.
That's perfect, thanks!
If you're interested to play her more, whenever you want, I'm all for it!