Gwyniviere Rannek
Gwyniviere Rannek is a Seneran noblewoman of Rannek, daughter of Uther Rannek and Maria Rannek, and sister of Angel Rannek. During the Vengeful affair, her betrothal to Mark Malthrek drew the Rannek household into the Malthrek and Travertine crises.
Family and Betrothal
Section titled “Family and Betrothal”Gwyniviere traveled with Maria and Angel to attend the wedding of Luke Malthrek and Pallia Travertine. The Ranneks were invited because Gwyniviere was betrothed to Mark Malthrek, Luke’s brother. Early reports noted that Mark was absent from the Travertines after being called back to the Maltreks for unclear reasons, which later became one of the signs that he might have been magically compromised. 1
When Gwyniviere learned that Mark was in the dungeon, she reacted badly and demanded details along with Angel. The sensitivity of Mark’s condition, and the possibility of enchantment or coercion, made her betrothal a political and personal concern. The Marchioness of Rannek was later considered able to rescind the match if Mark’s condition made the marriage untenable.1
Artistic Work
Section titled “Artistic Work”Gwyniviere is repeatedly associated with painting and portraiture. She paints portraits of Angel, and at Travertine Keep she offered to paint Oscar Savoy. She described herself as an artist who posed subjects and manipulated the surrounding environment, suggesting a practical and theatrical approach to portrait work rather than a purely passive one.2
Her skill was supported by an unusually precise visual memory. Gwyniviere could remember anything she saw and reproduce it in paint almost immediately, though longer study allowed her to capture more details from a scene. This gift also shaped her portraits of Angel. Gwyniviere sometimes claimed to glimpse wings on her sister, despite Angel having no physically visible wings, a detail later read as a sign that Gwyniviere could perceive something of Angel’s celestial nature.
Gwyniviere was also the person who persuaded Angel to become a model for Legally Bare. After Angel adopted the public persona Angel of Delight, Gwyniviere painted the originals used for Angel’s pages. Mystine Nightingale later contacted Gwyniviere about providing regular art for Miya as well, contingent on an upcoming collaboration between Miya and Angel proving fruitful.
Gwyniviere also helped with wedding arrangements after the Travertine crisis disrupted the planned ceremony. She enjoyed creative work and was capable of managing local affairs.2
Vengeful Affair
Section titled “Vengeful Affair”Gwyniviere remained with Maria and Angel through the Travertine crisis. She helped guard Pallia in the infirmary after Pallia was exposed as a dangerous hag and Reformist agent. She also provided a personal focus that helped the party teleport to Mark after he was found missing, feverish, and apparently abandoned. 3
Subsequent planning treated Gwyniviere and Angel as figures who might have personal influence with local combatants in the Rannek Marches. This placed Gwyniviere among the family members whose social position could matter if the Rannek crisis broadened beyond the Travertines.3