Szardos Clan

PHASE 1

Szardos Clan
Portrayed by Friedrich von Thun, Thomas Mikusz, Ellen Muth, Sibel Kekilli
Known Aliases:	Margali Szardos (deceased); Stefan and Mirela, Jimaine
Affiliations:	Kurt Sefton, Amanda Sefton, Meggan Szardos
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

First appearance: January 12, 2005

Ivan Szardos - deceased	The three natural children all follow their father in looks and general temperament, being blonde, blue-eyed and generally happy, people-loving types. Ivan was the clan leader, marrying Margali, the clan's witch, in 1974. It was his generous nature that opened their doors to the blue mutant child abandoned by his mother and which broke his heart when his daughter Amanda was taken by a man claiming to be from the government in 1989. He died of heart failure in 1994, leaving Margali to raise their children and to lead the clan. PB: None.
Margali Szardos - deceased	A small, dark-haired woman in her early sixties when she died, Margali was far more intimidating than her stature would indicate. Her time as leader 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 as time passed and she began to slip into early dementia. She died in August 2006 following a misguided attempt to steal Amanda's body with the magical aid of persons unknown. PB: None.
Stefan Szardos	The eldest, born June 24, 1974. Responsibility has made Stefan rather solemn, but he cares for his family deeply and his younger sisters bring out his more carefree side. During his childhood he frequently got into fights defending his 'demon' younger brother Kurt and the two were each other's back up in confrontations with their strict mother. In October 2007 he married Mirela Natonska, after sounding her out on her attitudes towards mutants, with his 'demon' brother and 'monster' little sister. PB: Thomas Mikusz.
Kurt Sefton	Born December 24, 1976, Kurt was left with the Szardos clan as an infant - his mother, the shapeshifter Mystique, gave birth to him in the guise of a homeless young German woman and vanished shortly afterwards, naming the blue infant 'Kurt Wagner' before she did. She later fathered another child, Kurt's half-sister Marie D'Ancato. For further details, see his individual page. PB: Alan Cumming
Amanda Sefton	The third child, born April 14, 1987, Amanda was two when she was abducted from the family by black magician Rack, posing as a government social worker. For further details, see her individual page. PB: Billie Piper
Jimaine Szardos	Born October 31, 1989, six months after her sister's disappearance, not really knowing her father made Jimiane very much her mother's daughter. She looks very like Amanda, and after her elder sister's return in 2005, developed a deep jealousy of the sister she'd grown up being told stories about, blaming her for her favourite brother Kurt's absence from the clan and envying her the magical and mutant powers that Jimi lacked. This jealousy and her attachment to her mother led to her assisting Margali in her body snatching scheme. As Margali was dying, Amanda used Jimiane's resemblance to herself to ensure Margali passed on her magic to the younger sibling, who was more suited to becoming the clan Draborni. Jimiane has much to learn, still, and is in frequent contact with her sister to ask for advice. PB: Ellen Muth
Meggan Szardos	Adopted daughter of the Szardos Clan, Meggan has progressed from the small furry girl she was when found to a teenage girl curious about the world and her own powers. She is currently a student at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. For further details, see her individual page. PB: Carey Mulligan
Mirela Szardos (formerly Natonska) - Stefan's wife	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 in spring 2006, at one of the traditional gatherings of the Roma, and began their courtship shortly after. 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. PB: Sibel Kekilli

Other Relatives: Many extended relatives - aunts, uncles, cousins of various degrees.

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 as leader 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.

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 and Margali harboured a deep-seated doubt and disappointment that her eldest daughter had become an Outsider. Jimiane blamed 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. Most recently, it was decided that Meggan should return to the school to learn to use her powers more effectively. The three siblings living in the States frequently visit, often bringing guests such as Carmilla Black and Nico Minoru.

Plots/Events

Gypsy Road Trip

Mommy Dearest Redux

The Winding Way

Stefan and Mirela's wedding

Family Christmas visit

Meta

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