Taako

Taako Tacco, better known as just Taako, is a player character in The Balance Arc campaign. He is controlled by Justin McElroy He is a high-elf wizard with a chaotic good alignment. Taako often plays the role of an aloof trickster.

He is originally from New Elfington. Prior to joining up with Merle Highchurch and Magnus Burnsides he hosted a traveling cooking show, 'Sizzle It Up with Taako', but fled after forty people died in the show's final episode.

Personality
Taako is a disaffected and aloof trickster throughout the series. The elf is a bit of a kleptomaniac, looting corpses. He is willing to steal from a corpse, but not from a bank. He rarely shows an emotional state beyond frustration.

While a smooth talker, Taako has little actual charm. He tends to do things because they are funny, regardless of how this may affect strangers. He can be considered both cruel and callous towards those he does not care for. However, Taako has shown the capacity for empathy and kindness towards those he appears to respect. For example, he gives Ren a certificate at the end of The Eleventh Hour.

Intelligence
Towards the beginning of the series, Taako is played off as stupid, as Justin believed this would be "funnier". However, it becomes clear throughout that Taako is extremely competent. It can be assumed that Taako pretends to be a "simple idiot wizard" in order to keep people off-guard."I am but a simple idiot Wizard." During the final Lunar Interlude, Taako figured out they were trapped in a mind prison. This was due to him being clever enough to simply understand what was happening and pull out of the thrall of the experience.

Issues of Abandonment
It can be assumed that Taako's traumatic past has given him some issues of abandonment. During a date with Kravitz, the bounty hunter asks why Taako does something so dangerous. Taako replies that he is "afraid no one else will have me".

Gender and Sexuality
Taako is a gay "dude". This is considered "100% canonical", according to Justin.

He may or may not be a man, but uses masculine pronouns. He has stated that he's "not a man" under Merle's Zone of Truth. It's unclear if Justin objected to Taako being called a man as that implied he was human or if Taako does not identify as a man. In other instances, Justin has referred to Taako as a "male fellow", but doesn't appear to have explicitly stated if Taako is a man.

History
Not much is known about Taako's life. This is mostly due to the Voidfish's interference with the memories of the Tres Horne Boys.

It is known Taako is over sixty-five years old. It can be assumed that Taako is over one hundred years old, since elves are not considered adults until that age. There is a possibility that Taako went by another name before he reached adulthood. Upon reaching adulthood, elves choose their own names.

Early Life
Taako is known to have lived with his grandfather on a farm before a war. He learned cooking from an aunt. Taako and his twin sister, Lup, were passed around between family members, never sticking with any for long, after the age of 12. They learned to only trust each other.

Taako and his sister had been on the road since the age of 12. He made his living with troupes of performers and mercenaries, trying to find a place where he belonged. Taako served as a chef with these travelling crews in order to pay his way. During this time, Taako internalized an avoidance to physical conflict. It is assumed this is due to Lup defending her twin during combat. During this time, he picked up enough magical techniques from wizards in the party to be dangerous.

Taako and Lup graduated top of their class at the magic academy they attended.

Not much else is known about Taako's early life before The Stolen Century and he does not appear to be keen to share.

The Stolen Century
Taako joined the Institute of Planar Research with his twin sister, Lup, after reaching adulthood, presumably after the age of one hundred, to become part of his world's first group of explorers. They acted as both chefs and arcanists during the expedition, being sources of magical information.

Before leaving their home world, the crew goes to a biker bar to party and fight. Taako and Lup spend their time hustling people at pool. They take the losers' magical shoes since cash is worthless to them at this point.

On the day of the launch, Taako chose to wear both red robes and a red jacket. As the storm starts to consume their world, the crew catches sight of The Hunger. They decide to evade and not return until after the danger has passed. When they touch back down, they realize they're not in the same plane they left.

Cycle One
Being good at languages, the twins spend their first year talking to the animals and learning history in The Animal Kingdom. The first animals they are able to speak to is a family of mongooses. It is possible this led to Taako's identification with the animals. The animal language is only learned by Taako, Lup, and Barry Bluejeans. The crew goes with Magnus to try to gain access to The Light of Creation. After causing a scene, Magnus and the rest of the crew enter the animal's High Court. While translating for the crew, Taako tells the animals that they are called "Taakos".

Taako and Lup were the first to flee when The Hunger caught up to them in The Animal Kingdom. While Lup took time to take potshots at The Hunger, Taako bolted without heeding the status of the other.

Sizzle It Up with Taako
Six years before the Eleventh Hour, Taako was a TV cook on the show 'Sizzle It Up with Taako'. As television does not exist in The Adventure Zone universe, this was a road show that traveled from town to town.

When he noticed that audiences were flagging, he began learning magic in order to spice up his performances. He taught himself magic from books he picked up and from wizards he traveled around with. He toured with Sazed, who acted as his driver, roadie, stage manager, and right hand man. Sazed thought Taako "hung the moon" and learned how to cook during their travels together. As the show grew in popularity, Sazed asked to do more and more with the show, even asking to co-host the show and change the name to Sizzle It Up with Taako and Sazed. Taako said no, due to merchandising issues and maintaining his brand.

For the final episode, the show entered Glamorsprings. The town had enjoyed the show before and fourty people attended the show that day. He prepared his famous 30 Garlic Clove Chicken for his audience that day. During the show he showboated his magical skills. Unbeknownst to Taako, the chicken he had prepared has been poisoned by Sazed. When the first person began to die, Taako and Sazed ran. He assumed that the garnish of elderberries he had used on the chicken had been unwittingly transmuted into deadly nightshade. The two of them drove for two days together, but Sazed abandoned him as soon as he had the opportunity.

The Balance Arc Campaign
Taako entered The Balance Arc campaign not long after the failure of his TV show, 'Sizzle It Up with Taako'.

Known Components of Tacos
Taako is on a noble quest to find a perfect alternative to a sandwich in all of its cheesy goodness.

Angus McDonald
Angus McDonald meets the boys on the Rockport Limited. During that time, they play tricks on him, but are endeared to his can-do detective attitude. Taako, in particular, takes a liking to the boy. He begins teaching Angus magic.

Taako reveals his backstory to Angus as a cautionary tale about transmutation. It's noted as a particularly vulnerable moment for the normally aloof elf. He shows considerable pride in Angus's developing magical abilities.

During the events of the "Reunion Tour" interludes, Taako states that Angus is the only person he truly trusts and considers him "precious".

Kravitz
Kravitz is currently considered Taako's romantic interest, if not significant other. Clint McElroy provided the shipping name "Taakitz".

Kravitz began hunting down the boys in the Crystal Kingdom arc, managing to steal away Merle's arm. However, when he appeared in his "handsome" material form, Taako immediately began flirting with the bounty hunter.

Emergence as a Love Interest
After the Eleventh Hour, Kravitz confronted Taako about the numerous deaths that occurred in Refuge. Unable to complete their conversation due to a call from the Raven Queen, Kravitz gave Taako his far-speech frequency so they could complete the conversation about what should happen.

Taako takes Kravitz on a date to the Chug n' Squeeze to attend a couple's pottery class together. While Kravitz is late for the meeting, he's flustered by the seemingly romantic location. Taako states that he thought the public setting would be "less weird" and that he was afraid to put himself into private with someone so dangerous. Kravitz reassures him that he's not interested in hurting the elf.

At the end of the night, Kravitz asks if the date was for "business or pleasure", and Taako answers, "a little of both". When Kravitz transforms into his skeleton form while detecting an evil presence, Taako states, "Love this". It can be assumed that he found this attractive.

Love Interest Canonical Context
Justin and Griffin have stated that the relationship is probably canonical. Justin has stated he does not wish to detail any dates between the two, as he believes it's important that the fandom should be left to have the discretion. However, he has said "it seemed like they had a fun time, I guess, they seemed to really enjoy each other's company". Justin has also said that roleplaying future dates would be strange due to the fact that Griffin, who plays Kravitz, is his brother. "It is ... weird to go on fantasy dates with my brother".

Powers and Abilities
Taako is a wizard high elf specializing in transmutation. He has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, immunity to sleep spells, and can perform minor alchemy. He is also right-handed.

Racial Abilities
It can be assumed that Taako has racial abilities most resembling elves from The Forgotten Realms. This includes darkvision and once needing four hours of trance-like rest to restore health.

Spells
The following are the spells known by Taako.

Please note, that most low-level spells can be cast at an additionally higher level for a stronger effect.

Cantrips
Cantrips are spells which can be cast at any time. Taako knows 5 of these.

1st - 6th Level
Taako has # of 1st spell slots.

Items
Items both currently owned and lost by Taako throughout the show.

Current Items
These are items currently within Taako's possession as of the most recent episode.

Former Items
These are items which were lost or given away.

Stolen Items
Taako has a propensity for stealing items. These are the items he has stolen so far.
 * Gold and Silver pieces (taken from a dead gerblin) - ended up splitting them with the rest of the party
 * Sack full of Golden Teeth (stolen from Yeemick's corpse, another gerblin)
 * Magic Boots of Striding and Springing (stolen from Thardin's corpse, later given to Magnus)
 * 320 Gold (stolen from a lock box)
 * Enchanted feather duster (stolen from Killian)
 * Bag of coins (stolen from Davenport)
 * Golden tiara (stolen from empty train car, later sold to Fantasy Costco)
 * Silver serving set (originally belonging to Angus, stolen from empty train car, gave 3 forks back to Angus, sold the rest to Fantasy Costco)
 * Briefcase (stolen from empty train car)
 * Stun baton (stolen from unconscious goblin ruffian)
 * Kravitz's heart

Known Physical Traits
These traits are mentioned in passing during conversations.

Official Outfits
Usually, Taako is dressed as a typical elf wizard.

Note on "Canon Appearance"
The Adventure Zone has emphasized that the creators do not subscribe to any particular version of their characters' physical appearances.

Deaths and Major Injuries
Taako has died and been knocked unconscious a number of times throughout the show.

Unconscious Count
Taako has been knocked unconscious 3 times.
 * 1) Knocked unconscious by Magic Brian during a wizard duel in Wave Echo Cave.
 * 2) Knocked unconscious by Sloane in the Goldcliff bank.
 * 3) Knocked unconscious by Lydia in Wonderland.

Death Count
Taako has died a total of 19 times.
 * 1) While he was traveling through other planes as a Red Robe, Taako died 8 times without crossing over to the Astral Plane.
 * 2) Taako died a total of 11 times during the events of The Eleventh Hour.

Trivia:

 * Due to a magical accident with his first spell, everything he drinks tastes like key-lime Go-Gurt.
 * Taako has seen Magnus's ass sometime between the Craig's List Ad and the Here There Be Gerblins arc.
 * While living in the dorms, Taako took the top bunk (above Magnus). Although he wears footie pajamas, Taako also sleeps in a sleeping sack due to his night terrors.
 * Prior to their adventure in Goldcliff, Taako had never been in a garage before.
 * The animal that most characterizes his state of being is a mongoose.
 * Taako's favorite candy is Ferrero Rocher.
 * Taako avoids cooking for people he cares about because he is afraid of poisoning them, a fear coming from the poisoning that happened when his TV show, Sizzle It Up with Taako, was still live.
 * Taako enjoys fishing.
 * Despite referring to the sweets he made for everyone during Candlenights as "macaroons," Taako's description of the ingredients used suggests he actually made macarons, which are almond-based unlike macaroons (coconut-based.) It is unclear if Taako is calling macarons "macaroons" (a common error) or if Justin does not know the pronunciation difference.
 * All of Taako's spells are exquisite.
 * Taako may be a vegetarian. He tells Magic Brian he is one, it's unclear if he may have been messing with him since he alludes to eating meat or if Justin forgot.
 * Despite being supposedly allergic to peanuts, he eats Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups.
 * Taako invented surfing after getting the idea from seeing a gift Merle made for Magnus get thrown into the ocean, and watching it ride the waves.