: Honestly the Scion was the least interesting bit to me, just because at this
: point I feel like the Klingons and Sangheili have made me just not care
: about "headstrong female defies warrior culture gender role"
: type characters anymore. She didn't have enough time to do much in this
: novella so that's basically where she stayed. I'd also wished that they'd
: spent a little more time on the implications of extending her a role in
: the Arbiter's forces, rather than just a shrug. It's just something we've
: seen before, even in Halo, and it's not really notable in and of itself to
: me.

As Rtas mentioned, women like Tul aren't uncommon. They just rarely don't have the chance to prove themselves in an official setting. The Blademaster's protest of Tul's enlistment only went as far as denouncing her as a female with regard to naval codes, not on account of her abilities as a warrior, or any lack thereof. Male Sangheili know their sisters can fight but they're so bogged down in traditions that they stomp their feet and raise their voice when they request a combat assignment like the Blademaster's did.

It wasn't so much Tul defying gender roles as it is the men in her life realizing that they're bullshit. Tul herself doesn't think anything of it. In her 20s she's already the captain of her Kaidon father's guard. She doesn't ask for special consideration when volunteering for Rtas's mission knowing that he could very well say no and be supported by state and cultural law. This girl knows that confidence speaks louder than any archaic traditions.

I agree that she didn't get very much time to herself but oh well. I didn't go in expecting her to be on equal footing with Half-Jaw or the Prelate as they're the leads in this novella. Either way this is likely just a taste of what we'll see with Tul 'Juran I suspect. Broken Circle seriously hinted towards breaking down strict gender roles and that was set some 3000 years ago. It's obvious something greater is coming soon in this arena.