I know it’s been talked about before but can you imagine being Lucanis(or any love interest) hearing Rook cry out your name as they vanish into the Fade Prison?
You see Rook dragged into the Fade, disappearing into thin air, with a look of terror on their face.
For Lucanis, you see the first person to show you kindness in at least a year, the person who loves you unconditionally, disappear as they scream your name. Imagine Spite’s reaction, him a whirlwind of emotion, so angry and confused. Where’s Rook? Are they alive? How will we get them home? And burning anger at Solas for doing this. All while clinging to the things Rook left behind because even though the smell is fading over the weeks, it still smells like them.
For Davrin, you’re a protector, it’s your job, the one thing you’re good at. And you fail. Imagine Assan cawing softly, sniffing and scratching in Rook’s room and across the lighthouse, searching for Rook. You start a carving depicting them both to honor them in case they never return and to ensure you never forget their face.
For Emmrich, you’re an expert on the Fade, but you’ve never even heard of something like this. Imagine Manfred, confused and searching for Rook, asking you constantly “where Rook?” You know that if they can’t be found, you won’t have a body to bury/entomb. You won’t have a place to go and visit them. You constantly reach out to the spirits, but none of them can find Rook either.
For Neve, you’re a detective, you should have seen the signs that Solas was going to betray you. But you didn’t. Even the wisps that follow you seem upset, constantly nudging you and moving things that belonged to Rook, trying to ask you what happened to them.
For Harding, you feel powerless despite your new abilities because you couldn’t protect Rook. You pour over every detail, contacting old friends from the Inquisition, but you turn up nothing. Solas has time and time again hurt those you love, has taken those you love from you. You won’t let him get away with it.
For Bellara, you once again lost someone you loved, and once again you feel it’s your fault. You throw yourself into your work on ancient artifacts, you demand answers from the Nadas Dirthalan, but find nothing.
For Taash, you finally find someone who truly sees you for who you are. But in an instant, they’re gone. All your strength, your skill, your fire, you couldn’t stop Solas from dragging Rook away from you. Your fist slams into the punching bag again and again, as you imagine punching Solas, but it doesn’t help. It doesn’t ease the pain.
We need more Taash content.
Definitely don’t picture him standing there in shock for a few seconds. Don’t imagine that split second he needs to process Rook is gone. Really, don’t delve into the way Spite came to realize it, too. Given the demon originally has no sense of space/object permanence (banter with Emmerich) and has to very quickly come to terms with the sudden grief, and fear, and unbridled rage overcoming his host.
Probably the closest they’ve ever come (apart from Illario’s betrayal) to going full demon and almost everyone was on eggshells around him. Guaranteed, Harding and Belara were keeping those enchanted arrows close. Just in case he fell too far into himself to come back as the Lucanis that they know.
The Lucanis who was willing to kill any god Rook wanted in the name of safety he could no longer provide…
Reality so utterly out of their control, again…
But can you imagine. Lucanis on the high of finally landing his shot at ghilan'nain. That moment of anxious disbelief thinking "I did it, we did it, she's dead, Rook is safe" only to have Rook suddenly ripped away just gone into nothing, the Dread Wolf carving his way out in their place. Solas gives his "price of winning" speech to Rook but it's Lucanis who was left untethered in his fear and anguish.
Imagine how feral he probably went in those hours after. Spite howling at the forefront, wings thrashing, throat hoarse from yelling. This isn't something he can fight- it's not even a cloud face, it's just nothing. A void where Rook was meant to be. Taash is too lost in their own grief to bring Spite to heel and so it's left up to Davrin and Neve to keep Lucanis from mauling Emmrich as he rages with two voices at the mage to FIND THEM. FIND ROOK. BRING ROOK BACK (they were supposed to be safe)
Sooooo I've finally played and finished Dragon Age: Veilguard (I cried so much it's actually not funny). Anyway I've seen a lot of hate towards the game, except for the obvious (Fuck you BioWare), and I wanted to put my two piece in that nobody asked for because I absolutely love Dragon Age and I have put so much time and effort into the games over the years.
I have a lot of pro and cons for the game but some seem nitpicky and just my personal opinion but I am only going to talk about a few things that I feel are important (For my anyway.)
So first things first, the thing that I loved about the game is the fighting style. It did take me a good minute to get use to it because I was so used to playing Inquisition, the thing I liked about the fighting style is:
1: I like that you can switch between 2 weapons which you can't do in the other Dragon Age games (unless you chose rouge) and I like that you can switch between them instantly
2: The fighting style itself. It made me actually feel like I was doing something instead of just holding down one button (Like Inquisition)
Now onto the next thing I love. Making your character. See I'm covered in lots of tattoos and piercings and apart from Cyberpunk I haven't found a game that lets you have facial and body tattoos so when I saw I could cover my Rook in tattoos it made me happy because I could make her look like me. Another thing that I found super important was the pronouns and the option to add top surgery scars. It doesn't apply to me, I'm a woman BUT quiet a few of my friends are Nonbinary or Trans, they like to game but as you know, most games don't have that option so the fact they finally feel. I want to say included (I'm not sure that's the right way to put it) to be able to make their Rook look like them
CLIMBING. ACTUAL FUCKING CLIMBING. In Inquisition there's a quest where you go and find shards and goddamn the amount of times I've tried to climb and fail to get these fucking shards pissed me off (lovingly) so to see you can actually climb makes me happy (Seems stupid I know)
Decisions. You're decisions actually matter!!!! SLIGHT SPOILER!!!!! So on my first playthrough I chose to be a Warden and you go to D'meta's Crossing do what you do and find the Mayor. I chose to save him and send him off to help the Wardens, that was that, didn't think about it much. Fast forward to Lavendel and you have to go and find some missing Wardens, because I chose to save the Mayor he was there to save said missing Wardens
Lastly the thing that just that made me happy was the companion quests. I don't know about anyone else but I did wish they were slightly longer but I love that every companion (In my opinion) got a well thought, decent companion quest. I found that it helped me get to know my companions a bit better
But. And hear me out.
WHY IS THERE NO SMOOTCHIE UPDATE!?!?!?!?!? I want to be able to go to my lover (Emmrich my love) and give them kisses but also I wish that there were more romance scenes.
Anyway that is quick rundown of what I thought about the game.
I would love love LOVE it if Taash wasn’t constantly misgendered!!! It’s genuinely really fucking insane that MONTHS after Veilguard has been released and people STILL can’t get it right.
Deadass i literally don’t care whether or not anyone here even likes Taash, but the BARE MINIMUM is to use their correct pronouns.
Apologies for sounding so angry about it but like I’m beyond tired of seeing it, especially since Taash is one of my favorite Dragon Age characters.
you guys keep hating on taash all you want meanwhile im over here getting tossed around like a sack of potatoes by the big beautiful qunari. more for me sorry you guys dont get it like i do.
My first Rook just wanted to be the meat in a RowanTaash sandwich. 😜
Reminder that my Veilguard stickers (and their keychain counterparts) are up in my shop! They were produced by Sticker Ninja so you know they're good 😘
jaderavenshop.etsy.com
Taash, the Dragon Hunter 🗡
The relationship between Lucanis and Taash is one of an extremely patient mentor and an eager and willing student. If Taash was injured, Lucanis would have the utmost faith in their ability to push through the discomfort and get back to what they do best.
Of course, Spite would interject but everyone ignores him anyway.
The Spanish phrase “Sana, sana, colita de rana” is a common saying used by parents in Latino communities to comfort children who have been hurt or fallen.
I love the fact that Lucanis interjects Spanish into his conversations with various companions. As someone who deeply understands 'code-switching,' it's extremely endearing to see him 'slip.'