[11], Fueled by the newly discovered ZFR Horizon Accelerator Engine that allowed Tau ships to push out into further trips than they had previously been limited to, this period of Tau history is characterized by their first ventures across the Damocles Gulf. It is customary for many Tau Commanders to choose the most experienced warriors from amongst the XV8 Crisis Teams to become their bodyguards -- their saz'nami, or literally translated from the Tau Lexicon, their "close protection officers." A notable summary of some of the greatest Tau Commanders includes: A Tau Commander utilising an XV81 Crisis Battlesuit while leading a, Shas'O Shien, also known as Commander Swiftwing, of the.
[8f][10d], The Tau are the most open and tolerant of the races in the galaxy, which means that they prefer not to destroy all other races on sight and are nowhere near as xenophobic as the Imperium. The Ethereals, realizing that the Empire must quickly regain the initiative to bounce back from this loss, declared that this would be the catalyst for renewed vigor in their expansion efforts. [13], The Fourth Sphere of Expansion was launched shortly after the formation of the Great Rift. [Needs Citation], The two primary Tau tactics (known as metastrategies[16]) are the Mont'ka (Killing Blow, metastrategy of the perfect strike[8a][16]) and Kauyon (Patient Hunter, metastrategy of patience and ambush[8b][16]). Shas'El Tash'var D'ka Cha'ro is a Tau Commander who serves under Shas'O Tsua'Malor'Aloh'shas Elan'nan in the D'Shas'Ka System of the Jericho Reach. Enter your email to get the very latest - news, promotions, hobby tips and more from Games Workshop. Shas'El Kai'Aun led a Hunter Cadre during the Taros Campaign. Across the land, other Ethereals emerged, each with the same quiet authority and message of harmony and cooperation. Their faces are flat, wide around the eyes, and their olfactory organs are located inside their mouths. Becoming a Shas'o means going through several Trials By Fire and progressing up the ranks from Shas'la to Shas'ui to Shas'vre, then becoming a member of another commander's bodyguard, to Shas'el and then finally to Shas'o. Tau eyesight is good, but they focus on distant objects slower than humans. Commander Dawnstar, of the Dal'yth Sept, keeps his bodyguard outfitted in the rare XV8-02 Crisis Iridium Battlesuits -- a luxury that few other Commanders can arrange. They also prefer to fight offensively, concerned more with the destruction of the enemy than the taking and holding of ground. [10b], The two Ethereals spoke of the importance of peace and understanding between all T'au. Whilst input from lesser Tau Commanders within his forces will always be considered, it is up to the Shas’o to make and implement the final tactical plan. Commander Farsight was a former Tau Commander during the Tau's, Commander Shas'O Vior'la Suam Eldi, or to give him his more commonly used, Commander Longknife was the Fire Caste's commanding officer on, Commander Quickstrike is a Tau Commander and hero of the, Commander Puretide was a Tau Commander who led the armies of the, Commander Shadowsun was the overall Tau Commander of all Tau Fire Caste forces during the Tau Empire's, Following her successes in the Second Sphere Expansion War, Ja'Vra was promoted to Shas'o and given command of a Breakthrough Contingent involved in the fighting in the. Like a Tau Commander, Bodyguard Team members also have access to special issue items from the Battlesuit Armoury for use in combat. It is considered a great disgrace for a Bodyguard to survive whilst his leader is slain; any who suffer such indignity often spend their remaining lifetime atoning for that which can ultimately have no forgiveness.
The T'au that remained on the plains became strong and skillful hunters, larger and stronger than most other T'au. Main article: Mont'au The primitive T'au were a plains-dwelling race. Fire Warrior teams make up the line troops while forward scouts known as Pathfinders scout enemy positions and provide fire support with Rail Rifles and markerlight target designators. A Tau Commander piloting his personalised XV8 Crisis Battlesuit. Under the expert direction of their Shas’el Commander, the coordinated fire of the Broadsides’ Railguns can demolish even the most heavily armoured target with comparable ease. However, disease and starvation began to take their toll. [10f] The Tau of the Fire Caste are the warriors of Tau society, and are the most massive and physically powerful of the Tau, generations of breeding having weeded out infirmity. Some of these are:[12], Tau personal names, unlike those of humans, usually mean things in their language, depending on the deeds in their lives.