Unveiling the Radu Clanthat his cousin, Theodosius, allows in his life.Suspicious <strong>of</strong> Cartha's loyalties, Emil recentlyconvinced Anton to maneuver Pieter out <strong>of</strong>Specularum to the Veiled Society's newoperations in Kelvin.Theodosius, son <strong>of</strong> ZweisHistory: Zweis Radu despaired <strong>of</strong> ever siringa male heir, and took his frustrations out onhis wife and four daughters. Needless to sayhe was overjoyed when, 15 years ago, shegave birth to little Theodosius. The boy grewup sullen and quiet, despite his father’s bestefforts to draw him out. Zweis dotes on himnonetheless, and was proud whenTheodosius recently informed him <strong>of</strong> hisintent to join the Veiled Society when he issheared in a few short months.Personality: Theodosius is quiet andreserved, unlike his father, but neverthelessbears a similar air <strong>of</strong> danger. Though Zweisnever once raised a hand to the boy, theabuses suffered by his mother and sisters lefthim with a cold sense <strong>of</strong> detachment towardsthe suffering <strong>of</strong> others. He has recently founda clinical amusement in killing and dissectingsmall rodents and livestock.Appearance: Lean <strong>of</strong> build and red haired,Theodosius looks nothing like Zweis.Fortunately for him, he resembles hismother’s side <strong>of</strong> the family instead <strong>of</strong> that <strong>of</strong>his true father- Vasile Torenescu. He rarelysmiles, his expression dark behind his grayeyes.Relations: None but his mother know thatTheodosius is the product <strong>of</strong> an affairbetween her and a member <strong>of</strong> the hatedTorenescu clan, although Cartha and Pieterquietly seek confirmation <strong>of</strong> their suspicions.Emil Radu is the closest thing Theodosius hasto a real friend, and will make him a deadlylieutenant one day. Pieter and Theodosius,despite being “brothers,” are not close.Pieter, son <strong>of</strong> ZweisHistory: As a youth, Zweis Radu fell deeplyin love with a peasant girl, Marika Petrescu.Theirs was a doomed affair, though, forAnton Radu had already betrothed his son toa more influential Traladaran family whilebuilding his power base. When Marikaturned up, pregnant, Anton had no choicebut to quietly relocate the young woman toa convent far outside <strong>of</strong> Specularum. Thefact that her child was actually Cartha’s (withwhom she had been having an affair), andnot Zweis’, made it all the more imperative.The object <strong>of</strong> that birth, bright-eyed Pieter,was thus raised within the Church <strong>of</strong>Traladara. Following his Shearing ceremony,he immediately took his vows to becomeordained a cleric in its hierarchy.A few years ago, Pieter- now a ranking priestin the church hierarchy- showed up at theRadu family estate, revealing his parentageas the son <strong>of</strong> Zweis and Marika. Afterconfirmation <strong>of</strong> his “true” lineage by bothAnton and Cartha, Zweis welcomed himwith open arms and he was instated as alieutenant in the Society.Most recently, he was sent away to the city <strong>of</strong>Kelvin, under the auspices <strong>of</strong> his priestlyrole, but secretly to oversee the installation<strong>of</strong> a fledgling branch <strong>of</strong> the Veiled Societythere.Personality: Pieter takes his priestly dutiesvery seriously. He detests the Thyatianoccupation and the efforts <strong>of</strong> the Church <strong>of</strong>Thyatis to convert his Traladaran people.Incredibly, he sees no hypocrisy in also90THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1
Unveiling the Radu Clandirecting the efforts <strong>of</strong> the Veiled Society,which he views as a tool to help undermineThyatian interests in his homeland. While hisoutlook on the function <strong>of</strong> the Society maydiffer from that <strong>of</strong> Cartha, one opinion bothmen share is that the Veiled Society- and theRadu clan- are better <strong>of</strong>f in the hands <strong>of</strong> theirside <strong>of</strong> the family than in Anton’s.Appearance: Pieter is short, even byTraladaran standards. Though barely 26, theease <strong>of</strong> his station has caused his formerlywiry build to turn to pudginess. That,combined with his s<strong>of</strong>t features and smile,give him an almost fatherly appeal. He isnever seen in public without his robes <strong>of</strong><strong>of</strong>fice.Relations: Pieter and Cartha are thoroughlycomplicit in their plots to take over theVeiled Society, which is perhaps why Antonhad him stationed in Kelvin. Though he isdetermined to establish control over thecity, he is well aware that it is a fool’s errand;the lack <strong>of</strong> any real criminal undergroundand Baron Kelvin’s militant followers makeany such plans all but impossible. He knowsthat Cartha is his true father, and works withthe man to undermine Anton’s authoritywhile still manipulating his ties to Zweis, buthe feels little affection towards any member<strong>of</strong> the Radu clan.91THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1