Szardos Clan

PHASE 1

Szardos Clan
Portrayed by None
Known Aliases:	Margali Szardos (deceased); Stefan and Mirela, Jimaine and Meggan
Affiliations:	Kurt Sefton, Amanda Sefton
Socked By:	Kate, Rossi, Indiana J
Introduction:	January 12, 2005

The Szardos Clan are the immediate family of Kurt Sefton, Amanda Sefton and Meggan Szardos. They have little interaction with the school and little connection to other current characters beyond Wanda Maximoff, herself Romani.

Details

Parents: Margali Szardos (deceased), Ivan Szardos (deceased)

Siblings:

• Stefan Szardos (dob June 24, 1974),

• Kurt Sefton (adopted),

• Amanda Sefton,

• Jimaine Szardos (dob October 31, 1989),

• Meggan Szardos (adopted).

Other Relatives: Mirela Szardos (formerly Natonska), Stefan's wife.

First appearance: January 12, 2005

History

The Szardos Clan are a Roma clan living largely in Germany. They are named for the leading family, the Szardos family, of whom Margali was formerly the head. Margali was also a magic user, acting as Draborni or fortune-teller for the clan and her eldest son Stefan replaced her upon her death. The clan runs a small circus during the summer months, touring Europe, in which the family performs various acts.

The Szardos family was comprised of Margali and her five children, two of whom she adopted. Stefan is the eldest, with Margali adopting Kurt after his mother, Mystique, abandoned him immediately after his birth. Her third child, Gemile was kidnapped by the black magician Rack at the age of two and her fourth, Jimaine, was born six months later. In 1994 Margali's husband Ivan died of heart failure, leaving Margali to raise their children and take on the mantle of leadership. In 2005 the shapeshifter child Meggan was adopted by Margali to provide her with a legal identity whilst she was at the school, and following Amanda's departure from the school Meggan came to live with the caravan.

Margali was a small, dark-haired woman in her fifties, far more intimidating than her stature would indicate. Her time as leader had made her somewhat harsh and strict - her disowning of Amanda following her alliance with Selene was an indication of that - and it became increasingly so. Her three natural children all follow their father in looks and general temperament, being blonde, blue-eyed and generally happy people-loving types. Responsibility has made Stefan rather solemn and not really knowing her father has made Jimaine very much her mother's daughter. Amanda's return in 2005 made things particularly difficult with the family dynamics - Jimaine became jealous of the attention her previously-unknown sister received, particularly from her favourite brother, Kurt. She blames Amanda for Kurt's absences from the clan and bonded even further with her mother as a result. This situation became even more marked with Kurt's casting out following the events of Mommy Dearest Redux.

Things came to a head in August 2007 when it was discovered that Margali had encouraged Jimaine to pose as Amanda and steal several powerful magical texts from the Dr. Stephen Strange collection in Wanda's custody. Upon being confronted, Margali used a powerful spell to switch bodies with Amanda and flee, eventually tracked down by Kurt and various members of X-Force. It became clear Margali was suffering from some kind of dementia, which had driven her into paranoid behaviour patterns and resulted in her targeting Amanda. Convinced of the error of her ways, she reversed the spell. The effort was too much for her and she passed away shortly after. Before she died, she reinstated Kurt to the clan, and asked for Amanda's forgiveness.

Stefan is now head of the clan, and Jimaine has been given Margali's power as Draborni, although she will need much training and practice in the art. Stefan is now married to Mirela Natonska, a girl from another Roma clan: a small woman, with chestnut brown hair that waves slightly, and brown eyes. The daughter of another Roma clan, largely based in Poland, Mirela sets store on the traditional ways of her people, but for all that is something of a modern woman. She left the caravan to pursue her schooling, but under amicable circumstances, and returned to a warm welcome. She and Stefan met last spring, at one of the traditional gatherings of the Roma, and began their courtship shortly after.

Early on, Stefan sounded Mirela out on her attitudes towards mutants, with his 'demon' brother and 'monster' little sister. Mirela, having encountered a number of perspectives on the mutant question whilst at school, places value in the person, not the appearance, and became close with Meggan. When Margali's condition worsened, it was with Mirela's family that Stefan placed the empathic shapeshifter, to save her the exposure to Margali's instability.

Mirela loves to laugh, and has a sunny personality that will do much to ease Stefan's seriousness. She is also strong-willed, and dedicated to her family and her people. She will do her best to support Stefan in his role as clan leader, and to help her new sisters and brother recover from the upheaval of Margali's death.

Plots/Events

Gypsy Road Trip

Mommy Dearest Redux

The Winding Way

Stefan and Mirela's wedding

Meta

Socked by: Rossi (Margali), Kate (Jimaine) and Indiana J (Stefan)