hey. imagine your rook doing a magical girl transformation

There's a Varric/Blackwall banter in Inquisition that is probably my favourite quote to come out of the dragon age series and also says so much about Varric and also about Hawke but reframed in the context of Veilguard also says so much about Rook and why those people complaining about Rook 'not being a main character' or Rook 'not having any right to be the leader' are so completely missing the point of Rook.

Blackwall: You can't really think Reeve Asa is a better knight than Honorine Chastain. Her record's flawless. Four hundred jousts, never unseated. No one's ever come close to it.

Varric: Oh, she's easily the most skilled, that's a fact. It's just that 'scrappy' is better than 'flawless'. I like heroes who try their damndest, even if they fail a lot. It's easy to be valiant when you always win and everything goes your way. There's nothing great in that.

In Inquisition, obviously Varric is talking about Hawke. Hawke, the tragically doomed hero who tried and failed to save Kirkwall, but who tried. Now explain to me why Varric would pick anyone other than Rook to be his second? To look after the team while he talks to Solas? Varric is, first and foremost, however much he tries to be something else or pretend he isn't, an idealist. An author. He lives and thinks in terms of stories, it helps him deal with and make sense of the world. So why would he go and try and recruit the type of hero he doesn't like? Yeah, Rook is a nobody. They're probbaly not the best at what they do and the only reason Varric notices them is because they get cast out of their organisation for going against orders to save people. They might not be the most skilled, but goddamn if they don't try. Rook is the definition of scrappy, the prologue and first couple of cutscenes basically hit you over the head with it multiple times. They're exactly the stuff heroes are made of, according to Varric. And sure, they need some help, but what good would a story be if the hero was perfect all the time?

God I love Rook. And I love Varric and the way he thinks. And you know what? You know what the game says?

He's fucking right.

this taash and u'lea commission done by @nen-the-pigeon is adorable as hell and absolutely stunning thank you so much 🥰

A Davrin and Rook (U'lea) tarot commission I received from artist nevtheartist a few months ago 💜

DA Veilguard was really fun! Also Emmrich is top tier romance choice ✨

Okay, can I be honest? I'm so so so tired of some of y'all parroting gamer bro talking points when it comes to Taash and pretending that you're being progressive. I am so tired of the "why didn't they use a different term for nonbinary? It's so cringe to hear them say that! They should have made up a new word! They shouldn't make their identity so on the nose and in your face."

Not a single person has complained that the terms man, woman, male, female, etc. all exist in this world. Why should the writers have to dress up and make subtle and palatable the existence of trans and nonbinary people when other genders can be discussed in real world terms?

Transphobia is rampant on a global scale right now, not to mention in the very country part of Bioware is based in which is seeing a huge rise in fascism and anti-trans and anti-nonbinary laws and public opinion. What's wrong with trans and nonbinary writers, developers, VAs, etc. (many of which have been subject to transphobia fromthis very fandom) making it blatant and clear that nonbinary people exist and won't be made subtle and quiet and hidden in concealing terms to make people comfortable?

You don't have to like it or see it as the representation you personally need, but seeing a game that isn't afraid to say "Hey, we are part of the world and we exist and we're not some subtle little thing that only exists in certain cultures and can only be discussed in made up Dragon Age words that no one has ever heard of" is actually so sick and refreshing.

I may not be in time but I wanted to contribute to @datvcompanionweeks 's Taash Week <3

post-game emms and rooks