abstract
| - Petranilla first appears in the series premiere as a seemingly pleasent enough individual who even sacrifices her house to support her son, subsequently moving in with her brother. However we later see her true side when she secretly poisons her sick sister-in law, causing her to die a painful and violent death. Afterwards Petranilla has her niece Caris (who she typically maintains a distant relationship with) be married to the abusive Elfric. Afterwards Petranilla continues her efforts to help her son Godwyn attain higher status in the Church, including murdering the previous head of the Priery in cold blood. She also has a history with the knight Roland, and after learning that his fiancee cheated on him with his own son exposes her deceit so she may have Roland for herself. Petranilla also continues in her attempts to help Godwyn not only advance his career but also maintain his power, among other things convincing him to commit murder. However, when Godwyn bullies his mother into murdering her brother Edmund Petranilla is apalled by the suggestion but ultimately goes through with it anyway, though at the same time is clearly devastated. She then frames her niece Caris for murder and witchcraft shortly thereafter. Petranilla later reveals to Ralph Fitzgerald that he is in fact her and Roland's illegitimate son from their previous romantic fling. Though Ralph initially does not believe her, he nevertheless eventually comes to seek out her aid when his peasants turn on him. Working with him, the two get Ralph made earl. When Petranilla later reveals to Godwyn that Ralph is his half-brother though he turns on her, which leaves her devastated. Realizing then that Ralph and the encroaching English army will not spare her or anyone else, Petranilla committs suicide with her own poisons, dying in pain and bitterness. Before she dies she shows just how hateful to Caris she truly is, also revealing that she killed her parents.
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