Editing Ta'aun, Hand of Oryx

{{Tabbed infobox

|title1= Taken

|content1=

|species= [[Cabal]] {{c|formerly}} <br> [[Taken]]

|faction= [[Skyburners]] {{c|formerly}} <br> [[Blood of Oryx]]

|rank= [[Primus]] {{c|formerly}} <br> [[Ultra]]

|class= Taken [[Colossus]]

|mission= [[Last Rites]] {{c|briefly}} <br> [[Regicide]]

|ability= Summon Taken <br> High Durability <br> Rapid Movement <br> Quake Attack <br> Berserk Mode

|rank= [[Primus]] <br> [[Ultra]]

|ability= High Durability <br> Rapid Movement <br> Immunity <br> Quake Attack

 

'''Ta'aun, Hand of Oryx''', formerly known as '''Primus Ta'aun''', was the [[Primus|commander]] of the [[Cabal]] [[Skyburners]]. He was bonded with the [[Shield Brothers]] [[Valus Tlu'urn]] and [[Valus Mau'ual]] and regarded as the mightiest cabal in the Solar System at the time.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YClPCoRGeL8 '''Youtube''': Destiny The Taken King Reveal Livestream Tower Tour]</ref> Nonetheless, he was [[Taken]] in action in front of the [[The Guardian|Guardian]] and reshaped into a servant of [[Oryx, the Taken King]]. He was slain, alongside [[Baxx, Hand of Oryx]], while defending the path to the Taken King's chambers.

When the [[Hive]] fleet commanded by [[Oryx, the Taken King]] was detected entering the [[Solar System|Sol System]], Ta'aun suspended all mining and recon operations on [[Phobos]] to focus on investigating the approaching threat.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost Scans]]: PHO-FBK-6''</ref> When the [[Taken]] assaulted [[Fleetbase Korus]] he quickly ordered his forces to evacuate from the onslaught.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost Scans]]: DNT-DE6-1''</ref> His intelligence officers filed a report on the ineffectiveness of conventional Cabal forces against the [[Guardian]]s, and suggested that the technology aboard Oryx's [[Dreadnaught]] might be co-opted by the Cabal to nullify Guardian [[Ghost]] regeneration.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal|Cabal]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal#Ghost_Fragment:_Cabal_4|Ghost Fragment: Cabal 4]]''</ref> This report was sent up the chain of command to the [[Emperor]] himself, [[Dominus Ghaul]], who ordered Ta'aun to personally board and capture the Dreadnaught by any means necessary.<ref name=GFC3>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal|Cabal]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal#Ghost_Fragment:_Cabal_3|Ghost Fragment: Cabal 3]]''</ref>  

Shortly after receiving those orders, Ta'aun commanded the defense of one of the Cabal's frontlines on [[Mars]] alongside one of his bond brothers, [[Valus Tlu'urn]]. Together they went from bunker to bunker to encourage and bolster their soldiers and call artillery fire upon the advancing Vex. As they took cover behind a destroyed [[Interceptor]] and fired upon their foes, Tlu'urn questioned if Ta'aun intended to follow through on his orders, arguing it was madness and suicide. As he pulled his bond brother out of the line of fire of several [[Hobgoblin]]s and back into cover, Ta'aun revealed to him that Ghaul himself had approved the order, shocking Tlu'urn. As a [[Minotaur]] breached their lines, Ta'aun unloaded his [[Heavy Slug Thrower|weapon]] into it, screaming a war cry as he poured out his fears and concerns over the upcoming mission. As his legionaries cheered the machine's destruction, Tlu'urn noted that they were only scouting legions and did not have the numbers for such a mission before suggesting that they mutiny. Although the prospect of doing so appealed to Ta'aun, he felt that refusing his duty would be worse than death and refused.<ref name=GFC3/>

The [[Awoken]] armada was destroyed by the Dreadnaught's main weapon in the [[Battle of Saturn|Battle]] of [[Saturn]], but it halted the fleet's advance due to the heavy casualties inflicted. Ta'aun took this opportunity to ram his [[Cabal warship|warship]], the ''[[Dantalion Exodus VI]]'', into the Hive vessel to land his troops. Tlu'urn and [[Valus Mau'ual|Mau'ual]] both offered to join him in the battle but, out of love for them, Ta'aun refused to bring them to their deaths.<ref name=PT>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire:Enemies/The Taken|The Taken]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/The_Taken#Primus_Ta.27aun|Primus Ta'aun]]''</ref> Pushing out from their crash site, Ta'aun led a unit of [[Skyburners]] into the [[Mausoleum]], seeking to secure and enter the rupture that led to the realm of Oryx. However, they were overwhelmed by the Hive and Taken before also being assaulted by a [[The Guardian|Guardian]] who had also infiltrated the Dreadnaught. As his Legionaries perished around him, Ta'aun himself was Taken by Oryx.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Enemy of My Enemy]]''</ref>

Now transformed into a Hand of Oryx, Ta'aun was paired with another Hand, the [[Taken Ogre]] [[Baxx, Hand of Oryx|Baxx]], and placed by Oryx to guard the Rupture that led to him. The two Taken champions were confronted by the Guardian and despite his new shape and strength, Ta'aun was defeated and killed, freeing him of the Taken King's control and allowing them to reach and slay Oryx's physical form.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Regicide]]''</ref> However, Ta'aun's fate was unknown to his Bond Brothers. Mau'ual and Tlu'urn eventually followed his path to the Dreadnaught and threatened to detonate the Dreadnaught's power core to either avenge Ta'aun or force the Hive to surrender. This plan would fail as the Guardians who killed Ta'uan would defeat the Bond Brothers as well, bringing an end to the triumvirate of Skyburner commanders responsible for many Guardian deaths.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Shield Brothers]]''</ref>

==Personality and traits==

Primus Ta'aun is first seen in the story mission [[Enemy of My Enemy]], where he is seen leading his attack force in a battle against the [[Hive]] to get to the rupture. He tries to mow down incoming foes with his heavy weapons but becomes Taken and turns into Ta'aun, Hand of Oryx.  

Returning in [[Regicide]], he fights alongside Baxx to keep the Guardian out of the portal that leads to Oryx's altar. In battle, his Heavy Slug Thrower retains the deadly power and accuracy of those of regular Colossi, and although he cannot fire missile swarms, he can still hammer the player with long-range suppressive fire. If Baxx is killed first, Ta'aun will go "berserk" and chase the Guardian until he can either land a hit with his ground smash or is killed himself.

*Before being Taken, Ta'aun has the same roar and grunts that a [[Taken]] Cabal boss would have.

File:Destiny The Taken King Concept-Art RD01.jpg|Concept art of [[Baxx]], a [[Taken Ogre]], Ta'aun without a helmet, and a Taken [[Dreg]].

File:Ta'aun.jpg|A frontal profile of Primus Ta'aun before being Taken.

*''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]]'' {{1st}}

{{Bosses|D1}}