T'au Empire
The T'au Empire is an empire that features in Warhammer 40,000.
Contents |
History
The T'au Empire was an intergalactic empire founded by the Tau and was based on their homeworld of T'au that was located in the Ultima Segmentum near the Eastern Fringe.
Overview
Leadership of the empire was centred around the Ethereal Council that consisted of members of the ruling caste with the head of the group being the Ethereal Supreme.
T'au society was divided on caste lines that included:
- Earth Caste :
- Fire Caste :
- Water Caste :
- Air Caste : Originally, they had wing membranes that allowed them to fly but over time their bodies gradually evolved after living in low/zero gravity environments for so long. Vestiges of these membranes remained with the Air Caste possessing hollow bones along with tall, slender physiques compared to the other T'au. Long term exposure to lower gravity meant that they had developed a superior depth awareness along with a greater acceleration and gravitational tolerances when compared to other races. These traits made their pilots physically better suited for the rigours of air-to-air combat when compared to humans. Traditionally, they served as messengers with them becoming the sole source of pilots and ship crews of the T'au Empire. As they lived almost exclusively off-world in orbital stations or in space transit they tended to be referred to as the invisible caste as they were rarely seen on the ground.
The empire consisted of a number of member races that included:
- Vespids :
- Nicassar :
- Demiurg :
- Kroots :
In battle, the Air Caste was responsible for bombarding the enemy from the sky and providing air superiority for the ground forces. In addition, they worked alongside the Earth Caste and Ethereal Caste in developing new aircraft along with policies that ensured victory for the T'au Empire.
The Tau fleet was known as the Kor'vattra that was responsible for the empire's defensive and expansion.
Members
- Aun'va :
- Aun'shi :
- Farsight :
- Puretide :
- Brightsword :
Notes
- The Tau were created by Games Workshop and featured in the setting of Warhammer 40,000.
- Early development of the Tau came from Gav Thorpe as detailed on his blog where he intended to create a science fiction counterpart to the Lizard of Warhammer Fantasy. Initially, they were referred to as the Shishell that were divided into five castes based on the elements namely Earth, Air, Water, Fire and the final one being Spirit with the species led by Psykers. Eventually, the idea led to the early creation of the Tao with the name then changing to Tau.
- At the time, their chief designer was Andy Chambers who intended for the Tau, "to be altruistic and idealistic, believing heartily in unification as the way forward." He also described them as, "their proud, quiet but determined character [developed] to the point where they actually became a rather likeable, if slightly naive addition to the cosmos." Writer Graham McNeill was then responsible for much of the background material produced for the Tau and developed the concept described by Andy Chambers.
- Upon the release of the 8th Edition, the Tau faction were rebranded as the T'au Empire.
In other media
Video games
- In Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior, the Tau Empire featured in the setting of the video game. Players took the role of Fire Warrior Shas'la Kais who was dispatched to rescue the captured Ethereal Ko'vash from Imperial Governor Severus.
- In Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Dark Crusade, the Tau Empire appeared as a playable faction in the setting of the video game. The Tau Commander Kais led their forces on Kronus where he worked under the Ethereal Shi'Ores in quelling the strife on the planet.
- In Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm, the Tau Empire appeared again as a playable faction in the setting of the video game. The Tau Commander Shas'O Fal'shia Or'es'Ka led their forces in the Kaurava system under the direction of the Ethereal Aun'Ro'Yr. From the moon of Orridune, they established a fortified position and created a massive artillery emplacement known as the Ar'Ka Cannon that could fire at targets anywhere within the system.
Appearances
- Warhammer 40,000:
- Codex: Tau:
External Links
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