Sha’ko’vash
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It has been suggested that this article or section be moved to Sha'ko'vash. |
| Title(s) | Twiceblade |
|---|---|
| Active Period | 700s.M41 - Early M42 |
| Species | Tau |
| Type | Shas |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation(s) | Tau Commander |
| Affiliation(s) | Tau Empire |
Sha’ko’vash, also known as Twiceblade, is a Commander of the T'au Empire and served as the first tutor to the future Commanders Farsight,[1] and Kais.He was originally named Sha'kan'thas before Commander Farsight changed his name to Sha’ko’vash (meaning "Fire's Worthy Cause").[3a]
Contents
History
Tutor
Twiceblade begun tutoring Kais at the age of four. When Kais acted out in class Twiceblade would publically reprimand him. Though Kais would look back at him with a fire in his eyes that would continue to scare Twiceblade for hundreds of years.[3a]
As he taught Farsight, however, the young Fire Warriors' actions and words, disquieted him. So much so, that he believed that Farsight would someday go against the Greater Good, and this led Twiceblade to repeatably report the Fire Warrior's behavior to his superiors. They ignored Twiceblade's concerns, though, and Farsight would go on to advance far in his military career. While Farsight knew of Twiceblade concerns about him, the two would put aside their differences during the Damocles Crusade.[1]
The Damocles Crusade
When the Imperium invaded the Sept World Dal'yth, Twiceblade was among the Tau Empire's forces that fought under Farsight's command. As the battle raged Farsight would give Twiceblade the name Sha'ko'vash - shortly before Twiceblade became a Monat. When the Tau heard reports that the Scar Lords Chapter was attempting to attack their High Command, Twiceblade was among the Farsight's forces sent to stop them. This led Twiceblade to clash with Chapter Master Durian. He nearly succeeded in killing the Space Marine, before Durian activated a Stasis grenade.[1]
Centuries in Stasis
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Redemption on Dal'yth (Short Story) |
The Stasis field then covered the two warriors for what seemed, to them, like seconds, before it deactivated. However two-hundred and fifty-four years[Conflicting Sources] had passed. During this time, longer than the average Tau's lifespan, Twiceblade and Durian were placed in front of a museum, and became a statue known as The Clash of Empires.[1][5a]
When the field failed the pair realised they were not on the battlefield that had been on, but now in a clean city, above ground, and in front of a museum. The two continued their fight. The weapon systems on Twiceblade's Battlesuit malfunctioned, and would not fire. Twiceblade, for his part, initally thought that Durian had teleported them elsewhere. In his mind this both explained the new location, and the weapon's malfunctions. It would also explain why he could no longer contact Farsight or anyone else, despite his repeated attempts to do so. These setbacks left Twiceblade at a severe disadvantage and even with the aid of nearby Fire Warriors, Durian could not be defeated. The Chapter Master was able to kill any other Tau he came across, which forced Twiceblade to lure Durian after him.[1]
This chase was soon joined by a group of Fire Warrior cadets, who convinced the Commander to follow them into a section of the museum that contained more Battlesuits. Twiceblade was then able to reach a Battlesuit before Durian could stop him. It was here he finally learned how much time had passed since the Stasis grenade was activated. To his dismay, the Damocles Crusade had ended long ago and they were now in the year 999.M41. Twiceblade's worst fears about Farsight had also come to pass, as the Commander was labelled a traitor for betraying the Greater Good and forming the Farsight Enclaves. Shortly after learning this, Farsight contacted Twiceblade's Battlesuit, after discovering his former tutor was trying to contact him on an old command channel. Farsight explained that he was nearby, taking part in the Prefectia Campaign, but Twiceblade interrupted him.[1]
Twiceblade bitterly exclaimed that his concerns about Farsight had been correct, but Farsight answered that he had abandoned the Tau Empire not the Greater Good. All this occurred, while Sha'kanthas fought Durian, and Farsight told his former tutor to use a feint on the Chapter Master, so that the Fire Warrior cadets could attack the Space Marine. Twiceblade refused to disgrace himself further by using Farsight's advice and instead continued fighting his own way. He attempted to get Durian to surrender by using Farsight's knowledge of the Scar Lords against the Chapter Master. The Commander told Durian that he was the last of the Scar Lords, as his Chapter had died out during their time in the Stasis field. Durian absorbed the news, but he refused to surrender. The Chapter Master answered he would fight until he died, as Durian believed that while the Tau Empire preached peace, he knew the Xenos would butcher Mankind if they had a chance to.[1]
The battle between the two then continued, but Durian turned away and killed a Fire Warrior cadet, when he attempted to aid Twiceblade by activating another Battlesuit. This led the Tau Commander to finally accept Farsight's advice and leapt into the air in order to attack Durian. As his Battlesuit descended, the Chapter Master blocked it with his shield, but the attack had been a feint. As his attention was on Twiceblade, the Fire Warrior cadet Kha'lithra was able to free a locked away pulse carbine mortally wounded Durian. This allowed Twiceblade to crush Durian's head with his Battlesuit's fists. In the aftermath of the battle, Twiceblade did not inform the Tau Empire of Farsight's involvement, but he vowed to soon visit the rebellious Commander's Enclaves.[1]
The War of Secrets
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Attention Adept of the LEXICANUM!
This article is being created or revised. |
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | War of Secrets (Novel) |
Twiceblade fought alongside his other former student, Kais, at the beginning of the 42nd Millennium.[3a] Due to his actions in the campaign, despite doing exactly what the Aun wanted, he would be sentenced to Malk'la.[3d] Whether he is one of the few tau to survive this, is so far unknown.
Trivia
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Notes
- The character's name has also been given as Sha'kan'thas.[2]
Conflicting Sources
- The ammount of between 745.M41 and 999.M41 is 254 years. Though in War of Secrets Twicebalde recounts that it was 300 years.[3a] This could simply be hyperbole on his part.
Sources
- 1: Redemption on Dal'yth (Short Story)
- 2: Blades of Damocles (Novel), Chapter Two
- 3: War of Secrets (Novel):
