Everything is odd on the stack in set_syspalette. Here is the assembly:
.even
.globl _set_syspalette
_set_syspalette:
add.w #-12,sp
movm.l #0x3c20,-(sp)
move.w 36(sp),d5
move.l 38(sp),a2
move.w _screen+12,d0
...
Here it is called (stack even):
.even
L366:
cmp.w #8,_screen+12
jbgt L380
pea -48(a6)
pea _screen+68
move.l _C+166,a0
move.l 16(a0),a0
move.w 4(a0),-(sp)
move.w _C+148,-(sp)
pea LC13
clr.w -(sp)
jbsr _bootlog
pea _screen+68
move.l _C+166,a0
move.l 16(a0),a0
move.w 4(a0),-(sp)
jbsr _set_syspalette
add.w #24,sp
jbra L380
There's no char involved anywhere.