Harlan Tzara was an impetuous and stubborn mage known for his bald head. He, along with fellow Rissberg Mage Pinety, commissioned Geralt to investigate and eliminate a demon which was suspected to be responsible for the massacre of 36 coal workers and lumberjacks in nearby villages. As it turned out, the mage Sorel was responsible for the killings, and Harlan and Pinety had hired Gerald to put an and to Sorel's actions as they couldn't bring themselves to murder their associate.
Once the Sorel scandal reached the chapter, with the support of Ortolan, Sorrel escaped punishment by the claim of temporary insanity. With Ortolan siding with Sorel, Harlan and Pinety were asked to resign from Rissburg castle. Harlan planned to serve in the court of King Rhyd of Poviss, but he was murdered by Sorel and his severed head was found by Geralt in the citadel, preserved in formalin as a trophy.