Velhiro Tomasaran

**Velhiro Tomasaran** is a Witness *vel ama* for the Dead in Amalo, a prelate of Ulis, and apprenticed to Thara Celehar.

## Appearance

When Thara first saw Velhiro, she wore "a canon's frock coat and a plain black skirt, her hair in a smooth prelate's braid past her waist, a gray overcoat over one arm". She had pale green eyes and was around Thara's age or older.

## Personality

Velhiro had good instincts, and was polite and friendly. She was also curious and happy to learn. She was tired of politics, largely due to her husband's work.

Velhiro disapproved of execution as a punishment for murder, though she understood the purpose.

## Life

Velhiro was born to the Rozhemada in Eshvano, an unimportant family in comparison to the Tomasada, her husband, Mer Tomasar's, family. Eshvano was small. Velhiro and Tomasar also had a son.

Tomasar served on Eshvano's city council and aspired to be mayor, which made Velhiro weary of politics. The last time she spoke with Tomasar, they fought.

After Tomasar died, Velhiro discovered she was a Witness for the Dead when she touched his corpse and could hear him. She dedicated herself to Ulis as a prelate, and the Tomasada disowned her for it, and the Rozhemada wanted nothing to do with her. She was sent to Aiva Vernezar, who implied she might be sent to Cetho for study, and Velhiro didn't want to leave her family in Eshvano. Aiva then sent her to Thara for an apprenticeship, noting that she was too old to be a novice, and thus she was not given really any training in being a prelate.

Velhiro shadowed Thara during the investigation for Keila Osthonharad. Brenaro Osthonharad was the second person she Witnessed for. Velhiro also shadowed Thara for the investigation into Tomilo Ulzhavel's death. Afterward, Csenaia Ulzhavar offered her a temporary home at the Sanctuary of Csaivo. The next day, Thara introduced Velhiro to Rhadeän Nadin and Vinsu Nadaran, to give Velhiro a place to stay. Vinsu welcomed Velhiro as a resident at her boardinghouse.

Velhiro continued to shadow Thara, through the revelation that Esmeän Tativin had murdered Tomilo. She gave her first deposition to Mer Holvathar.

Velhiro shadowed Thara for the request of Ceiliän Bralisharan and the investigation of Neshiro Mulinaran.

Velhiro accompanied Thara on his further investigation into Pavalo Temin and her foundling school, and questioned the locals at Goshawk Street about the school. She later went to learn how to dig graves at Ulvanensee. When Velhiro went with Thara to see the body of Tedoro, Velhiro also Witnessed for Tedoro. Velhiro also helped Thara question the foundlings at Pavalo's school, including Kelmaru.

Velhiro shadowed Thara for the petition of Mer Honibar, and Witnessed for the ashes of Mer Vulathmened.

When Velhiro and Thara continued their investigation into Pavalo's school, they were captured by Pavalo and her co-conspirators, and the blackmailed foundlings. Pavalo had Velhiro kept hostage at the school while Thara went with her to the Hill of Werewolves. When Thara was freed, he obtained Azhanharad's aid to go rescue Velhiro. The Vigilant Brotherhood were cruel to Velhiro and the foundlings, and treated them like criminals.

The next day, Velhiro met with Thara, and he told her that she was unofficially Amalo's Witness for the Dead, now that he was burned out. Velhiro went with him to meet with Orchenis Clunethar to discuss everything that had happened, and the future. Orchenis assigned Ulthora Csathamar to Witness for the Tomb of Hasthemis Brulnemar, and Velhiro, Thara, and Ulthora went immediately on Orchenis' request, so that Velhiro could free the spirits there under Thara's guidance. Velhiro later went with Thara and Ulthora to visit Aäthis Rohethar and obtain his advice, but since the Hill of Werewolves was not accessible, and Aäthis was disabled, Aäthis recommended Lisava Ormevar. Velhiro, Thara, Ulthora, and Lisava traveled back to the tomb.

With Orchenis' blessing, Thara told Velhiro she was ready to take Thara's place as the Witness for the Dead, shocking her. The next day she was still worried about doing everything alone. While they discussed meeting with the Amal'othala, Velhiro, with Thara's aid, took the petition of Danavo Tozharharad for the murder of Danavo's brother Molinis Tozharharad.

Velhiro later took lunch with Rhadeän, Vinsu, Thara, and Camilo Lethormin at Vinsu's boardinghouse, in part to cheer up Thara.

## Skills

Velhiro was taught how to give a deposition, about observing autopsies, and about exhumations. She had a great deal of practice Witnessing murders, suicides, and other deaths.

She could play argis.

## Relationships

#### Anora Chanavar

Anora helped train Velhiro, and seemed to like her, or at least having her help.

#### Azhanharad

Azhanharad and his Vigilant Brotherhood treated Velhiro and the foundlings like criminals.

#### Merrem Bechevaran

Bechevaran was a widowed clerk at the Prince Zhaicava building who was sympathetic to Velhiro and taught her about the geography of the city. Velhiro seemed to like her.

#### Camilo Lethormin

Velhiro seemed to be friendly with Camilo.

#### Csenaia Ulzhavar

Csenaia helped train Velhiro. He offered her a place to stay, and seemed polite and welcoming to her.

#### Erlenar

Velhiro was friendly with Erlenar, and they seemed to get along well.

#### Orchenis Clunethar

Orchenis was polite to Velhiro, and she was respectful to him.

#### Pavalo Temin

Velhiro seemed impatient with Pavalo, and annoyed that Pavalo was so focused on who had petitioned for Tedoro.

#### Rhadeän Nadin

Rhadeän seemed fond of Velhiro, and they got along well.

#### Tanzheio

Velhiro's sister who suffered from insomnia/poor sleeping. Velhiro worried about her.

#### Thara Celehar

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

#### Mer Tomasar

Velhiro's husband was focused heavily on becoming mayor, to the point that Velhiro was weary of politics.

#### Othala Veltanezh

Veltanezh taught Velhiro a bit about his duties at a municipal cemetery.

#### Velhiro's son

Velhiro cared for and missed him, but would not take him from his family in the Tomasada when she went to be a Witness.

#### Vidrezhen

Velhiro was friendly with Vidrezhen, and they seemed to get along well.

#### Vinsu Nadaran

Velhiro and Vinsu seemed to get along well.

## Quotations

* [Thara]:“I don’t want anyone to be hurt.” [Velhiro]: “That should include yourself".

## Trivia

* Velhiro handled 23 bodies in the Hill of Werewolves.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Addison, Katherine. *The Grief of Stones*, First ed., Tor, 2022.