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
Setheris 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.

He carried a pocket watch.

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." He had a great sense of self-importance.

Maia described Setheris as: "bitter, cunning but perhaps not wise." Setheris said that, "Cursing was for commoners . . . the recourse of those with neither breeding nor education."

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, and disdained corruption to some extent.

Setheris was fashionably agnostic, and was patronizing about mysticism and spirituality.

Setheris seemed to have no respect for scholars, as "it was rare for one to attain great wealth." Setheris seemed to dislike entertainment generally, as he forbade Maia from reading literature, and would have condemned the idea of seeing an opera.

Setheris seemed to be homophobic.

Life
Setheris was trained as a barrister, and served in the Judiciary. At some point he married Hesero.

Setheris had a bitter feud with Uleris Chavar, and wanted to be Lord Chancellor. Setheris seemingly attempted to turn Varenechibel IV against Uleris, 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 (treason), though he was not formally charged for anything. 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 forbade Maia from wearing mourning clothes after Chenelo's funeral, as Setheris "considered it unseemly."

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 aptitude for magic.

The staff at Edonomee often played dumb to deal with Setheris.

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 did not celebrate Maia's birthday, and on Maia's 16th birthday, when he came of age, and Maia confronted him about it, Setheris struck him and mocked him for thinking anything would change.

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 also biding his time to reassert control.

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

After Uleris 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, Setheris was surprised to see Clemis with Maia, then went to inquire to Captain Verer Orthema and Sehalis Athmaza about Maia's nohecharei.

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

The next day, Setheris attempted to enter the Alcethmeret and was denied entry, and sent an angry letter to Maia about it. Maia replied that he would meet with Setheris after the coronation.

Prior to the coronation, Uleris "suggested" that Maia take Setheris as one of his close friends to the vigil during the coronation, as Maia had no apparent friends at court and Setheris was one of his two nearest male relatives of age. Maia did not do so, as "he would under no circumstances allow Setheris Nelar to play a role of any ritual importance whatsoever in the process of his coronation."

The day after Maia's coronation, Setheris sent a letter 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 and Sheveän Drazharan's attempted coup, Setheris was arrested along with many other members of Uleris' office. Hesero went to Maia to plead for Maia to grant Setheris an audience, and to put aside Maia's grudge for him. Maia called Setheris to an audience, and Setheris swore he was loyal to Maia, because Uleris was an idiot and Setheris believed in the law, and that he believed that Maia believed in the law. Maia noted he hated Setheris, and Setheris swore he had not and would not speak to anyone about Edonomee. He begged to be given a job, rather than being left to rot. Maia promised to find something for him, and released him from imprisonment.

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.

Maia Drazhar
Setheris and Maia hated each other, and Maia wanted nothing to do with Setheris. Setheris was abusive, manipulative, and patronizing to Maia. but still expected to hold some authority in Maia's government due to their relationship. Setheris was also racist against goblins, and used cruel names for Maia relating to Maia's goblin heritage, and “Setheris had always been very pointed in his comments about Maia’s luck in inheriting his father’s elvish bones.”

Uleris Chavar
Setheris had a feud with Uleris, and thought Uleris was an idiot.

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.”
 * “And we would advise you to replace your Lord Chancellor as soon as you may. Uleris seems to be growing forgetful in his old age.”
 * “We had thought, Serenity,” Setheris said after a suitable pause, “that we were of more value to you than that.”

Trivia

 * Setheris hated chamomile tea.
 * Setheris and Uleris are of age with each other.