Ziroonderel

Ziroonderel is something of an enigma. She appears to be an ugly old woman with a black walking stick, and bears records that testify to a four century career raising dozens of Gifted children for the Order. According to these testimonials, she raised one of Jerbiton the Founder's children, as well as several Gifted Mercere and various famous, infamous, and obscure Hermetic magi. She was told of the covenant by the magus Aurulentes of Jerbiton, who learned of the situation at Cor Draconis when Samson wrote to him asking for help and advice raising a Gifted child. Ziroonderel arrived a few months later, briefly inspected Sarah and Robert, the two children in question, and offered her services as a nurse for a fee of 1 pawn of vis each season per child (8/year).

The Council debated this the next morning, and called Ziroonderel in to ask her what she could tell them about the children. She spoke a Death Prophecy about each of them and revealed that Sarah's father was a magus, not Gregory the Grog, as had been presumed. This caused some consternation among the Council but had the effect of sealing the deal, and Ziroonderel was hired.

Ziroonderel's magical powers are difficult to quantify and not entirely known. She can create illusions and control fire and shadow, tricks she uses to entertain her charges. She can create protective wards. She does not appear to sleep, and claims to know the future. She clearly knows much about magical traditions and creatures (Magic Lore), faeries (Faerie lore), and the Order (Order of Hermes Lore, Code of Hermes), and has a rudimentary understanding of Hermetic magic (Magic Theory). One of her testimonials describes her construction of a magical sword fashioned from thunderbolts. She is Immune to the Gift. Judging by her credentials, she tends to her charges until they are claimed as apprentices, and these children all speak Latin as their native tongue, know their letters, and go into their apprenticeship with not only a little Magic Theory, Order of Hermes Lore, and other useful skills, but with a Supernatural Ability.

She is probably a Faerie, but she could be a Magic Human of some sort.