Who Are The T’au Empire?

The T’au Empire is a young, rapidly expanding interstellar xenos empire that is located on the Eastern fringes of the Milky Way galaxy, on the very edges of the Imperium of man’s sphere of influence. They are characterised by their use of highly-advanced technology, assimilation of other species and desire to introduce the entire galaxy to their utilitarian ‘greater good’ philosophy.

Origins of the T’au Empire

The T’au Empire was founded upon the planet of the same name. It’s unclear exactly when the now burgeoning empire began, but in the 35th millennium an Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator fleet discovered the planet T’au. Their investigations discovered an intelligent but primitive xenos species who were operating at a stone-age level of technology. However, in the six thousand years since the T’au peoples have progressed from having just mastered fire to an expanding space-faring empire. 

In their earliest history, a period known to the T’au as the ‘Mont’au’ which translates to ‘The Terror’ in Low Gothic, the population of T’au was divided into constantly warring factions. The T’au’s adaptive physiologies, and restrictions in inter-caste breeding, meant four different sub-types of T’au had emerged, which would later form their rigid caste system. 

• The Fire Caste – These were the warlike hunters and warriors of the T’au plains. Generations of warfare and valuing the biggest and strongest fighters meant these T’au became adapted to battle. Now they form the majority of the battlefield forces of the T’au and are the most commonly seen members of the empire.
• The Earth Caste – These were the first T’au to practise agriculture and build settlements. This has led to adaptations that make them suited for labouring and building the settlements and technology of the T’au. Often seen as stoic and dour they are by far the most populous members of T’au society. 
• The Water Caste – The diplomatic caste of the T’au the water caste for the merchant, bureaucratic caste of the empire. They have developed an ability to rapidly learn languages and practices of other cultures allowing them to undertake diplomatic missions for the greater good.
• The Air Caste – Rarely if ever seen on planetary surfaces the air caste are adapted to low gravity. Slender-limbed and tall, with hollow bones, they originated as messengers and previously had membranes between their limbs to allow them to glide on air currents. Now they crew the freight and combat navies of the empire. Their biologically more sensitive depth perception and g-force tolerance make them more naturally gifted than human pilots, though they lack the combat flying experience.

The final caste emerged during the Mont’au, first appearing when an alliance of Fire and Air T’au were fighting a long, protracted siege against the Earth caste inhabitants of the city of Fio’taun. This caste is referred to as the Ethereals, and whilst no one knows for sure where they came from, they negotiated a peace between the warring factions at Fio’taun. Introducing the concept of ‘The Greater Good’, this peace treaty paved the way for the full unification of T’au and the formation of their empire. With the entire population of their world focused on the roles they were most adapted to they developed at a blistering pace, and soon expanded beyond their humble home planet.

T’au Society and Culture

The concept of The Greater Good governs every aspect of the T’au’s society. The philosophy is designed to unify the castes and have the entire empire working together for a more successful, prosperous future. This drives T’au expansion as they seek to draw more worlds, and their populations, into The Greater Good. While many of these expansions are military conquests, the T’au are open to assimilation over aggression. Advancing armies broadcast pleas to their opposing counterparts to cease resistance and their planet will be spared further bloodshed. The water caste diplomats negotiate alliances with worlds where they maintain their own identity and beliefs as long as they serve the overall aims of The Greater Good. Even isolated human planets and Imperial Guard regiments have foregone their allegiance to the empire in favour of serving this new philosophy. 

The extreme utilitarianism of the creed has led to the rapid advancement of the empire. From earth caste engineers who will do anything to develop new technologies to fire caste warriors who form blood pacts with their squad mates (known as the Ritual of Ta’lissera) and vow to protect each other and give up their lives for the mission to succeed. The Ethereals govern both bureaucratically and spiritually, and are obeyed without question. If an Ethereal tells a T’au to jump they wouldn’t even ask how high – even if it’s over a cliff.

Technology and Innovation:

Whilst the T’au’s philosophy and willingness to expand their empire through diplomacy certainly stands out in the grim darkness of the Warhammer universe their technology really sets them apart from the other factions at play. While they haven’t faced the full might of any one faction just yet, in the skirmishes they have had their tech puts them leagues above their opposition.

Every T’au fire warrior is kitted out with the most advanced weapons the earth caste can produce, giving them firepower to overcome their comparative lack of physical fighting ability. While ranks of these Fire Warriors lay down withering fire, advanced battlesuits and hard hitting hover tanks move across the field obliterating targets and advanced fighters fly overhead. The battlesuits are potentially one of the more iconic T’au units, ranging in size from little bigger than a standard fire warrior (the experimental pilot suits) up the the towering KX139 Ta’unar Supremacy Armour Ballistic Suit designed to target Titans and super heavy tanks. Most T’au armies favour fast, fluid attacks with precision targeting of objectives to finish the fight as quickly as possible. Unlike the Astra Militarum meat grinder the T’au are more than happy to give up ground and strategically retreat rather than sacrificing soldiers in futile battles.

The T’au’s willingness to engage in diplomacy to expand their empire has additionally led to a number of auxiliaries that have joined their ranks. The most notable being the Kroot warriors, fierce hunters who ritually consume their foes to absorb their genetic code and adapt their own biology to better hunt their preferred prey. 

Future of the T’au Empire

At present the T’au’s expansion has just begun to bring them into conflict with the other races of the galaxy. They are facing numerous threats and the success of their earlier expansions may have lulled them into a false sense of their own superiority. Will their advanced technology and tactics allow them to weather the hammer blows of the Imperial forces? Can they survive the ferocity of the marauding Orks or the inexorable advance of the Tyranids? Only time will tell.

Within the empire itself, despite the philosophy of the greater good, there’s division. Commander Farsight, one of the two greatest commanders ever seen in the Empire, has split from the leadership of the Ethereals and pursues his own objectives on the far side of the Damocles Gulf. Out of reach of the Etherals and communications from the T’au Empire it’s unclear if he still serves the Greater Good, but he has been denounced as a traitor by the Ethereals. The heavily fortified worlds he leads are labelled the Farsight Enclaves and it’s unclear what position they hold in the Empire.

Additionally, the very motivations of the Ethereals have been called into question by some – where did they come from, and what is the ultimate goal of them forming and leading the T’au with their absolute authority? 

With many questions to be answered the T’au continue to forge their path in the galaxy – but will their Empire be a candle extinguished by greater powers, or a raging flame that burns a path through the universe and alters the paths of history?

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If you liked this article you might be interested in learning about the one of biggest threat to the T’au; the Astra Militarum! Or for more Xenos lore check out our posts the Orks, Necrons and Tyranids!

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