Setheris Nelar

Setheris Nelar was the husband of Hesero Nelaran and the cousin of Maia Drazhar, and assigned caretaker of Maia during their relegation to Edonomee.

Appearance
He typically frowned. He had a "brisk, bristling stride." He had long white fingers, and his ears would cock when he was thinking. He had cold eyes. He was middle-aged.

Personality
During Setheris' time at Edonomee, he was abusive, patronizing, bigoted against goblins, and an alcoholic, which made him worse. He would often drink "himself into a maudlin stupor."

Maia described Setheris as: "bitter, cunning but perhaps not wise."

Setheris was austere at Edonomee, and seemingly afforded himself no luxuries (other than the metheglin).

Setheris did not respect Chenelo Drazharan's cultural beliefs, and called them "pernicious" more than once, particularly in regard to caring about servants.

Setheris educated Maia as a barrister to some extent solely because "it did not befit the son of an emperor to reach manhood entirely ignorant", and possibly because Setheris was bored and needed a hobby.

Setheris believed in the law to some extent, and disdained corruption to some extent.

Life
Setheris was trained as a barrister. At some point he married Hesero.

Setheris seemingly attempted to turn Varenechibel IV against Uleris Chavar, and Varenechibel IV had Setheris imprisoned in the Esthoramire for 3-4 months as a result, for attempting to exert undue influence on the emperor. After Chenelo's funeral, Varenechibel IV had Setheris relegated with Maia to Edonomee, where Setheris served as a sort of caretaker for Maia. Varenechibel IV believed that Hesero drove or at least schemed with Setheris, and so would not allow her to accompany him into exile, to avoid them scheming together.

Setheris and Maia "had disliked each other from the moment they had met", and they resided at Edonomee "in mutual antipathy". Setheris was verbally and physically abusive to Maia, and extremely sparing in terms of education, though he was Maia's only tutor. Setheris also drank metheglin heavily, which made his abuse worse. Setheris "had been relentless in maintaining and enforcing court etiquette", which helped train Maia to prepare for Court. At some point Setheris indicated that Maia had no skill in magic.

Hesero sent Setheris "weekly letters with all the gossip and intrigue she could gather" and when Setheris was "in a particularly good humor", he would "relay choice tidbits of scandal over the breakfast table".

When Maia was 15, Setheris knocked Maia "into the elaborate . . . wrought-iron antlers that adorned the fire screen in Edonomee's main hall", giving Maia a permanent "scrawl of scars" on Maia's left forearm. The incident horrified Setheris to some extent, and he slightly lessened his physical abuse.

Setheris was surprised, shocked, and angered when Csevet Aisava arrived from the Untheileneise Court with the news that Varenechibel IV, Nemolis Drazhar, Nazhira Drazhar, and Ciris Drazhar had been killed in the destruction of the airship Wisdom of Choharo, leaving Maia as emperor of the Ethuveraz. When Maia went to Setheris for advice on what to do, Setheris noted that Maia had to act quickly, or else likely be killed by Uleris. Setheris pressed Maia to take the Radiance of Cairado, which Csevet had arrived on, back to the Untheileneise Court, and get crowned as soon as possible. Setheris accompanied Maia. Setheris was furious when Maia invited Csevet instead of Setheris to the cockpit to view the sunrise.

Once at Court, Maia asked Setheris' advice for advice on a room for an audience room to meet with Uleris in private, and Setheris replied with the Tortoise Room in the Alcethmeret. When Setheris continued to be patronizing to Maia, Maia reproached him, which infuriated Setheris, but Setheris backed down, realizing that things were different, and began treating Maia as his emperor, though only biding his time to reassert control.

Setheris nervously requested to speak to his wife, and then to introduce Hesero to Maia.

After Uleris Chavar arrived at the Tortoise Room, Maia gave Setheris leave to ask Csevet to fetch Hesero. After Uleris' departure, Maia asked Setheris to fetch Maia's Master of Wardrobe. After Clemis Atterezh arrived,

and then went out to inquire to Captain Verer Orthema and Sehalis Athmaza about Maia's nohecharei.

Setheris presented her to Maia, and then left with her.

Over the next few days, Setheris sometimes sent letters to Maia, asking what Maia's plans for him were. Maia wished for nothing to do with him, but not to punish him, so he had Csevet find a placement for him.

Setheris ambushed Maia outside Maia's first meeting with the Corazhas, scaring Maia. Csevet stepped between them, protecting Maia. Maia told Csevet to arrange an audience for Setheris later.

Csevet worked with Uleris' office, and found a position for Setheris: the liaison to the city of Cetho. When Maia presented this to Setheris, Setheris was unhappy, having expected to have more power in Maia's government, but Maia did not back down.

After Uleris Chavar and Sheveän Drazharan's attempted coup, Setheris was arrested along with many other members of Chavar's office. Hesero went to Maia to plead for clemency on Maia's behalf. She insisted that despite what Setheris had done, Setheris didn't deserve to be punished for a crime he didn't commit. Maia called Setheris to his office, told Setheris he hated Setheris, and demanded Setheris present his own case. Maia then released Setheris from prison and dismissed him.

Skills
Setheris was trained as a barrister, so he had some skill in debate and logical thinking.

Setheris had glossily perfect court manners.

Csevet Aisava
Setheris had a low opinion of Csevet.

Hesero Nelaran
Setheris and Hesero seemed to care greatly for each other.

Varenechibel IV
Setheris overstepped the boundaries of their relationship by pressuring Varenechibel IV to turn on Uleris, resulting in Setheris' imprisonment. Setheris said of Varenechibel IV, "At least he is not personally corrupt".

Quotations

 * "Thou must be emperor, boy. Must rule all the Elflands and banish thy kindred as thou seest fit. Why com'st thou whining to me of what thou must do?"
 * “The dead are dead, and they care not for the honor Uleris prates of, as well he knows. It is the living power that must concern thee, as it concerns him.”
 * “I raised thee!” Setheris said, all injury and indignation.”