Thara Celehar

Thara Celehar was a clerical Witness for the Dead and is a prelate of Ulis. He was instrumental in rooting out the Tethimadeise Conspiracy, and later became the Witness for the Dead in Amalo, where he worked on many cases. He is the protagonist of The Cemeteries of Amalo.

Appearance
Thara is an elven man who looks 30 or younger. He is very thin in a sickly way and has dark circles under his eyes. He has bright blue eyes and fine white hair. After renouncing his prelacy, he cut his hair to jaw length, but he grew it out long enough to braid back into a prelate's braid after he began serving as a Witness for the Dead in Amalo. His voice is rough and gravelly due to an illness.

His clothes tend to be worn and patched. His favorite frock coat (before it was destroyed in a ghoul attack in Tanvero) is black with gray embroidery.

In Lora Selezh, he wore "plain silver rings in his ears", and had "dark-shadowed but vividly blue" eyes. By the time of The Witness for the Dead he wore brass earrings and glass hairpins that looked like pearls.

Personality
Thara is highly self-deprecating, and often fails to look after himself properly.

Life
Thara is descended from the Velverada, at least on his mother's side. His Velveradeise grandparents inducted him into their cult of Ulis at age 13, which believed in praying silently. Thara began his service to Ulis as a novice shortly after he turned 13.

Thara once had a lover named Zhemena, but the relationship ended, possibly due to lack of interest on the latter's part.

For a time, Thara lived and worked in Aveio, where he took a lover, Evru Dalar. Evru was married to Oseian Dalaran, who abused him. Thara was unable to do anything about it, and the local head prelate refused to help, as he was homophobic and would not help marnei. Eventually, Evru, "in fear and hatred and utmost despair . . . killed his wife and flung her body in a dry well, hoping it would not be found, and no questions would be asked.” Her family located the body, and Thara was called in to Witness for her. Thara saw clearly that Evru as the murderer, and told the truth to the authorities about what he saw. Evru was beheaded. Thara resigned his prelacy and put himself at the mercy of his cousin, Csoru Drazharan, at the Untheileneise Court.

When Maia Drazhar wanted an alternate perspective he could trust to investigate the murders of Varenechibel IV and his sons, Csevet Aisava suggested Thara, and Maia agreed. Thara Witnessed for Varenechibel IV and his sons, and went to the ulimeire where the crew of the Wisdom of Choharo were buried for further information. After finding nothing in Cetho, he had a dream of Ulis, and took an airship to Amalo, and continued his investigation, where he uncovered the Curneisei who had planned the murders with the help of a group of Tethimada, and how they did it, which partially spurred Eshevis Tethimar to desperation: an attempted assassination of Maia. Thara returned to the Court after the death of Eshevis, blaming himself for being too late. Maia assured him it wasn't his fault.

Thara later requested a new assignment outside Maia's household, and Archprelate Teru Tethimar, with the request of Orchenis Clunethar, placed him in Amalo as the Witness for the Dead, as there were none there, and he was paid a small stipend by the Amalomeire for his services. Many of his cases were referred to him by the Vigilant Brotherhood of Amalo, but he also accepted petitions from anyone who asked. He had an office in the Prince Zhaicava building in the Veren'malo.

About a month after he took up office, Vineän Brenhazin came to him for help investigating the biological father of Lora Selezh.

He investigated the murder of Arveneän Shelsin, which led to his meeting and befriending Iäna Pel-Thenhior.

He invested the murder of Tomilo Ulzhavel, largely alongside his new apprentice, Velhiro Tomasaran, which led to his uncovering the photography and blackmail conspiracy of Pavalo Temin and her supporters, as well as the mysteries under the Hill of Werewolves, and resulted in his burning out, and passing on his duties as Witness to Velhiro.

Skills
Thara is trained in being able to listen, which allows people to say more than they plan.

Thara is quite knowledgeable on many different subjects, particularly when it comes to different belief systems.

Thara was previously a very strong Witness for the Dead, and able to listen to the dead shortly after their passing, to learn their names and often how they died.

Aiva Vernezar
Aiva did not like Thara, in part due to a belief that Thara was reporting to the Archprelate, and Orchenis' maneuvering around him to get a Witness in Amalo. Thara was wary of Aiva.

Amiru Chonhadrin
Amiru and Thara appeared to be friends, and Amiru looked after him. Thara seemed to enjoy talking to her.

Anora Chanavar
Anora and Thara are close friends, and care for each other. Anora dislikes Thara's lack of interest in his own continued existence. They often go to meals together, where Thara confides in him.

Subpraeceptor Azhanharad
According to Thara, Azhanharad did not like him. Thara suspected that the root of Azhanharad's dislike was the belief “that a disgraced prelate was not a suitable person to uncover Varenechibel’s murderers.” Despite their disagreements, Azhanharad was the only member of the Vigilant Brotherhood Thara trusted to take him seriously. Azhanharad later showed worry for Thara, and said that he trusted Thara's probity.

Csenaia Ulzhavar
He seemed to get along well with Thara, and Anora noted they were friends.

Csoru Drazharan
Csoru has a low opinion of Thara, and seems to enjoy having him at her mercy, in part for gossip potential. Thara dislikes her.

Ediro Zanarin
Ediro hated Thara for many reasons: the odd position he held in Amalo and who did or didn't hold authority over him, the sound of his voice, and his connection through marriage to Maia (via Thara's kinswoman, the widow empress), which Ediro perceived as giving Thara an attitude of false importance. Ediro also disliked that Thara didn't care about rank, and she was skeptical of his work. She also thought it inapropriate that a disgraced prelate had investigated the murderers of Varenechibel IV.

Evru Dalar
Thara loved Evru, and was broken-hearted over his death.

Iäna Pel-Thenhior
Thara and Iäna are close friends.

Maia Drazhar
Maia considers Thara a friend and ally, and Thara deeply respects Maia.

Teru Tethimar
Thara greatly respects the Archprelate, and the Archprelate seems fond of Thara. The Archprelate has comforted Thara over the things Thara has had to do in the course of his duties in the past.

Velhiro Tomasaran
Velhiro and Thara had a friendly, supportive relationship, and Velhiro thought very highly of Thara.

Trivia

 * His favorite type of tea is orchor, which is dark, bitter, and strong.
 * In Amalo, he feeds stray cats. He reads the newspapers and Barizheise novels when waiting for petitioners; it is unclear how much he enjoys either.