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| Screen Capture taken in game by me. |
There are some issues with their character as a whole. And before anyone gets all uppity about it because Lord Elgar'nan knows someone will try, it has nothing to do with "the non-binary stuff".
Taash is young. They do a pretty good job of making them out that way though we aren't entirely sure exactly how young. And the fact that, even though they have lived a pretty exciting life thus far what with the dragon hunting and all - Shathann has, for the most part, kept them pretty sheltered. So, it's hard to pin down a real age for them and while some may think that doesn't matter, it does. Maturity of a character does matter and when it comes to Taash and certain interactions they have, they were clearly written as rather immature. Perhaps it was to showcase either how sheltered they have been or how young they are - either way, it's a stretch and sometimes they just come off being rude.
Now, this might just be me but the other thing I noticed is that Taash is... a bit of a know-it-all. They over explain things to Rook as if Rook couldn't possibly know them. Even if they are a Lord of Fortune Rook, they will explain Lord of Fortune stuff to Rook, such as how they do their treasure hunting and what they do with the treasure. Note however, Taash has only been with the Lords for four months, no idea what has been going on in their life before that - it's never actually said. Presumably, they've just been puttering around the Halls of Valor anyway. Also, they will explain the Antaam to a Crow Rook, as if Rook doesn't know anything about the Antaam that are currently occupying Treviso. It gets to the point where it's more like "mansplaining" than the devs using Taash as a mouthpiece to explain aspects of factions and Rivaini culture.
Then there is the blatant hypocrisy and double-standards that Taash seems to have. There's one instance where Taash reprimands Spite for smelling people without their permission (odd but okay) and then, within the same conversation, says that they know something about the exact same person because they smelled it on them. Spite, rightfully, calls them out on this but Taash doesn't respond. And yes, I am aware that this is all dialogue written by writers but it gives us a representation of their character.
Taash expects people to respect their decisions and their space, their preferences but doesn't extend that same curtesy to others, primarily Emmrich. Taash is insanely rude to Emmrich. So, okay, Taash doesn't like necromancy, that's completely fair and valid. However, it is Emmrich's life work and the way Taash explodes on him about it, just calling it wrong without even saying that it makes them uncomfortable is just straight up rude. Especially since Emmrich has tried to be nothing but accommodating. In that same dialogue, we find out that Taash has actively been calling Emmrich derogatory names (skull-fucker). Which is absolutely not cool and Rook should be able to call Taash out on this. Because a normal person would. I know I would have. I would have, rightfully, been like "what the actual fuck?"
This same conversation happening if you play a Mourn Watch Rook, you can ask Taash if your necromancy bothers them and they will straight up say no, that Rook's deals more with spirits. At no point, anywhere, has that been said or indicated in the game. The only thing Rook doesn't do is the corpse whispering thing - otherwise, it's fully insinuated that Rook does exactly the same thing that Emmrich does. They just don't show it. So, there's this huge double standard that is displayed but Emmrich is the target of Taash's disrespect. And Rook should be able to call them on this.
Taash also talks to Spite like he's a dog. They do. And while it's marginally funny, it's only funny when you don't consider Spite's feelings on the matter. And you completely ignore every single time Taash brings up the fact that "spirits are a part of Rivaini culture". Rook should be able to call Taash out on this, stand up for Spite, point this out and remind them that they shouldn't talk to spirits like this. Especially a Mourn Watch Rook. Or a Lords of Fortune Rook who is Rivaini. Because they don't talk to Spirits like they are lesser like Taash talks to Spite. That's decidedly not okay.
Now, this is not about the "non-binary stuff" but it is "non-binary stuff" adjacent. During the coming out conversation/very awkward dinner scene with Shathann, Taash shuts her mother down. Look, I get it, it's a very tense moment and Taash just wants her mother to accept it at face value and leave it alone. I get it. But Shathann is literally extending an olive branch saying "here is something in my deeply seeded brain-washed since the cradle culture that is exactly what you are saying so I can better understand this" and Taash just snaps at her. And that sucks. It shows a couple of things. It shows Taash's tension and anxiety. It shows Taash's trauma over their past relationship and interactions with their mother but it also shows Taash's self-centeredness. They don't care that Shathann is trying to understand it in a way that helps her. They want Shathann to just accept it as is. In other words, they don't want Shathann to actually understand it. And also, later, Taash refers to it as a fight when it's really not. I mean, I don't know what people think a fight is these days but that wasn't. Shathann was shut down and then left. She didn't storm out... she didn't yell... that wasn't a fight. That was Taash shutting her down and Shathann leaving. So... what fight? Or rather - Taash was expecting a fight and that was what happened in their head. They didn't give Shathann a chance to talk, expecting the worst. It's shitty and had Taash given Shathann a moment to speak, they might have actually gotten somewhere. But Taash was not in a place to listen, if they ever really were. Does that excuse the stuff Shathann had done in the past? No. Shathann clearly made mistakes. She's aware of this. But just because Taash is the "child" in the relationship, that doesn't absolve them of their role within that conversation either.
Now... ignoring the annoying ass "roaring" that Taash does (that's not the voice actor's fault or the characters fault - that's whoever decided that would be a good sound to add in's fault). Ignoring that - Taash does have some redeeming qualities and honestly, it's a shame that the flaws are so poignant - because they could have been a really good character.
The second Rook I played was a male qunari, mage, Shadow Dragon. And they romanced Taash. And 100%, again, ignoring the above, it was a great playthrough. There are so many points in Taash's story that are truly emotional and well written. Taash's struggles with who they are and why they feel the way they do (though I was disappointed that a they/them Rook didn't have a unique dialogue a few times when Taash was questioning a few things... seems like it would have been a great opportunity but whatever). And Rook being able to help Taash with those feelings, help support them through it, that's amazing. As either a friend or a partner. Of course, I head-canoned my Rook (Nells) as being completely comfortable and confident in himself so things like Taash picking him up? Didn't bother him at all. Never felt emasculated or anything stupid like that.
Encouraging Taash to lean more towards Rivaini culture is more of a 'knowing what the Qun really is' thing rather than a real choice, in my opinion. And while yeah, it'd be great to think of the Qun as something more religious and something that can be tailored, it really isn't. Simply because it's not just a religion, it's a whole way of thinking, a way of life. And Taash would not fit within that very strict structure. They've been raised in Rivain, they've been influenced too much by "bas". There's no way they'd fit within the Qun. And a qunari Rook would know that. The private conversations that Rook can have with Taash are heartfelt and they feel important. That's really where their character shines.
And "soft Taash" is just as beautiful as "strong, hard hitting" Taash. Vulnerable Taash is just as amazing as Tough Taash. They really did do a good job of making them multi-facetted. And it was very easy to see a certain kind of Rook falling head over for them. But there's just those issues that I mentioned above that make it such a shame. Shathann's death scene literally makes me teary-eyed because the voice acting done by Jin Maley is so on point and you can hear the heartbreak in Taash's voice. And afterwards, the vulnerability in Taash that we witness is very potent. Whether Rook is a friend or a partner, it's a very strong moment.
Every character has good and bad points. That's nothing new, but the issues within Veilguard are that the bad points of the characters should have never happened or could have easily been rectified by additional dialogue choices given to Rook to call them out on their bullshit. Hypocracy and disrespect are Taash's "bad" points. Disrespect towards Emmrich and Spite. Hypocracy in double standard thinking about Emmrich vs. Rook's necromancy and about what they themselves are allowed to do vs. what others can do. These are very big character flaws that were choices of the writers. Now, if they were intentional - that's a shame that we weren't able to address them in game. If they were unintentional - then that says something about the writer.
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