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The '''Tau''' are a young race of technologically -oriented beings from the [[Eastern Fringe]]. [[T'au]], the Tau home planet, was discovered in 789.[[M35]] by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] ship ''Land's Vision''. Adeptus Mechanicus records indicate that at that time the Tau species had mastered the use of simple tools and weapons, as well as fire. Before the planet could be cleansed and colonized by the Imperium however, a violent [[Warp Storm|warp Warp storm]] erupted around the planet. This continued for 6,000 years, making the Tau's homeworld utterly inaccesibleinaccessible.

It was not until the [[Damocles Crusade]] that the Imperium again contacted the Tau. The [[Imperium]] found the primitive Tau had advanced considerably. In six thousand years the Tau had advanced from spears and fire to colonizing planets and [[Pulse Riflepulse rifle]]s.

The Tau are a plains -dwelling race. In their prehistory, they lived in tribes on the desert plains, hunting and gathering their food. As their race aged, they expanded to all environments. The Tau of the plains became strong and skillful hunters, larger and stronger than most other Tau. The Tau of the mountains developed the ability to soar high above the baking deserts on thermals. The Tau of the river valleys developed agriculture and metallurgy, forming the first true settlements. The development of settlements led to the need of trade, and wandering Tau began to negotiate and mediate between the disparate tribes.

The numerous wars that broke out lasted for years. Each year thousands died as squalid conditions and lack of access to fresh food and water created a plague that killed more Tau than were dying in the wars. The Tau were on the verge of wiping themselves out. Out of the destruction and darkness of the Mont'au, came a guiding light: the [[Ethereals]].

Out of the destruction and darkness of the Mont'au, came a guiding light: the [[Ethereals]]. Tau legends tell of the first appearance of Ethereals at [[Fio'taun]]. The fortress city of Fio'taun was under assault by the warriors from the plains. Though negotiation had been attempted, the fierce plains warriors would settle for nothing less than the annhilliation annihilation of the city of Fio'taun. For five long years the inhabitants held off the savage assaults with their thick walls and plentiful cannon. However, disease and starvation began to take their toll. As the tide of the siege turned, two mysterious Tau appeared. One made his way into the camp of the plains Tau, exuding a quiet authority that no Tau was able to resist. Soon, the leader of the plains warriors was persuaded to parley with the Tau of Fio'taun. Similarly, the other mysterious Tau made his way deep into the fortress. Within a few short hours, the gates stood wide open, and the Tau stood ready to talk.

The introduction of the Ethereals to Tau society led to the creation of a rigid [[Caste Systemcaste system]], with each Caste caste taking on the name of an element that is close to them. Thus, the warriors of the Tau Empire became known as the Fire (Shas) Caste, due to their fiery temper. The artisans and scientists became known as the Earth (Fio) Caste, being the most pragmatic of the Tau. The diplomats and administrators became known as the Water (Por) Caste, as water flows through all life, uniting it. Lastly, the Tau messengers and spies became known as the Air (Kor) Caste, traversing the land on top of gusts of wind. With the invention of aircraft, and later spacecraft, the Air Caste would become the pilots of the Tau Navy.

The Tau are currently in the process of securing their Third Phase colonies, while fending off remnants of [[Hive Fleet Kraken|Hive Fleet ''Kraken'']] and the occasional [[Ork]] raid. They have a rather uneasy relationship with the Imperium, which is far more concerned with more important conflicts, like [[Armageddon]] and the [[13th Black Crusade]].

 [[Image:tau_planets.jpg|none|thumb|Tau Planetsplanets]]

Tau '''society and physiology''' revolve around the sept Sept they are part of. Each caste could almost become a subspecies of their own, such are the variations between the Caste caste members.

The [[Caste Systemcaste system]] organizes all Tau into 5 five different castes and each one of them has a defined social role, be it military, trade, diplomacy, or leadership. The members of a caste are further classified by a specific rank.

Thus, the Tau named '''"Shas'O Vior'la Shovah Kais Mont'yr''' " ([[Commander Farsight]]) would be broken down as follows:

* ''Shas'' -- The individual is a member of the Fire Caste...* ''O'' -- ...Who is a high-ranking Commander and hero...* ''Vior'la'' -- ...Who comes from the Sept of Vior'la...

Every Tau is humanoid in shape, with two arms, two cloven feet, and a single head. Their greygray-blue skin is leathery and tough and exudes no moisture, owing to the generally dry conditions of their homeworld. Their faces are flat, wide around the eyes, and their olfactory organs are located inside their mouths. Their eyes can see into the infrared and ultraviolet. Tau eyesight is good, but they focus on distant objects slower than humans. The Tau are not very good in [[close combat]], as they find the whole concept uncivilized.

It has also been suggested in several Black Library books that Tau blood is a bluish purple, explaining that the blood contains trace amounts of cobalt, rather than iron as common in humansHumans.

The Tau achieve faster -than -light travel by "diving" into the warp Warp and being subsequently flung out a great distance from where they entered. There are positives and negatives to this method of travel. Because their ships have such minimal contact with the warp Warp and are in a sense just skimming the surface, their travel is relatively safe, but a flaw in this design is that their speed is greatly reduced in comparison to races which immerse themselves fully in the warpWarp.

It is also true that the Tau are a race bereft of psykers. Whether it is due to their limited warp Warp interaction or something distinct about the Tau mind it means that they are unique amongst the dominant races of the galaxy. For while it does mean that the Tau do not possess the significant advantages that having psykers brings, it is also worthy to note that not one Tau has ever fallen to Chaos. In fact, as a species, the Tau register as barely more than a blip in the warp Warp and it may well be that this has been their saving grace, protecting the altruism and idealism their race shares from the destructive tendencies of chaosChaos.

==Tau Warfare, [[Tau Warrior]]s Warriors, and [[Tau Weapons]]==

The Tau have a formidable standing army but also make use of auxiliary units including the [[Kroot]], [[Gue'vesa Auxiliaries|Gue'vesa]] , and [[Vespid]], sometimes using them as the lure in the '''Kauyon''' attack method.

The Tau are very much a ranged-combat oriented army. A common tactic is to engage the enemy at the maximum range of their weapons, which typically have a longer range and greater firepower than the equivalent weapons of other armies. Tau players usually try to take out the strongest weapons of the enemy as well as keeping enemy troops from reaching the Tau lines, as most Tau units are weak in [[close combat]]. This tactic is common amongst new players of the Tau, who quickly realize that advancing their units toward enemy forces often leaves them exposed and completely incapable of fighting off a well-timed assault by their opponent. A more prevalent tactic amongst Tau veterans is the '"Mecha-Tau' " approach, which utilizes the inherent mobility and speed of Tau vehicles and Battlesuits battlesuits to confuse and overwhelm the enemy by engaging them at all levels of the battlefield.

The Tau army is highly specialized, with each element normally having a specific task in support of the rest of the force. [[Fire Warrior]] teams make up the line troops while forward scouts known as [[Tau Pathfinder|Pathfinder]]s scout enemy positions and provide fire support with [[Rail Riflerail rifle]]s and [[Markerlightmarkerlight]] target designators. The Tau also deploy [[Battlesuit#Broadside Battlesuit|Broadside Battlesuitbattlesuit]]s and [[Battlesuit#Crisis Battlesuit|Crisis Battlesuitbattlesuit]]s in supporting roles, providing specialized weapons to deal with any hot spots on the battlefield or providing heavy anti-tank fire. [[Battlesuit#Stealth Battlesuit|Stealthsuit Teamteam]]s operate independently of the main force, unleashing devastating fire from hidden positions.

The Tau also make extensive use of small AI, A.I.-controlled [[Dronedrone]]s, typically equipped with guns or forcefields. Drones can be used to protect teams of Fire Warriors and Battlesuits battlesuits or support tanks , and can even be grouped into independent squadrons.

The basic weapons of the Fire Caste propel particles that break down into plasma pulses as they are fired. This is commonly used in the long-range [[Pulse Riflepulse rifle]] and more portable [[Pulse Carbinepulse carbine]], the latter of which sports an underslung grenade launcher. A rapid-fire variation of the Pulse Carbinepulse carbine, known as the [[Burst Cannonburst cannon]], is also used on vehicles and Battlesuitsbattlesuits.

The Tau are known to use [[Ion Cannonion cannon]]s and [[Railgunrailgun]]s in their ships as well as their vehicles with various guided and unguided missiles. They also arm their Battlesuits battlesuits with a variety of weapons, ranging from Burst Cannons burst cannons and [[Missile Podmissile pod]]s, to [[Fusion Blasterfusion blaster]]s, [[Plasma Rifleplasma rifle]]s, and [[Flamerflamer]]s.

*[[Aun'va]], - High Ethereal and Master of the Undying SpritSpirit*[[Aun'shi]], - Hero of Fio'vash*[[Shadowsun|Shas'O T'au Shaserra]] (aka Commander Shadowsun), supreme commander - Supreme Commander of the Tau Empire's military forces. Student of Commander Puretide. *[[O'Shovah|Shas'O Vior'la Shovah Kais Mont'yr]] (aka Commander Farsight) - Leader of the break-away breakaway Farsight Enclaves and a student of Commander Puretide. *[[Shas'O T'au Dynerah Aloh'Kais]] (aka Commander Dawnlight) - Student of Commander Puretide.*[[Shas'O Kais]], leader - Leader of the Tau Force forces on Kronus in ''[[Dawn of War: Dark Crusade]] game''*[[R'myr|Shas'O R'Myr]] (aka Commander Longknife), supreme commander - Supreme Commander of the Tau coalition on [[Taros]]*[[Shas'O Sa'cea Lasa|Shas'O Sa'cea Lasa Aun'Kor Mont'yr]] (aka Commander Coldfire), hero - Hero of the Tyrannic War*[[La'Kais|Shas'La Kais]], main - Main character of the game [[Fire Warrior (game)|''Fire Warrior'']]*[[Shas'El Lusha]] - Tau commander Commander in the game [[Fire Warrior (game)|''Fire Warrior'']]

To learn a more about the Tau world-viewworldview, please go to [[Tau Quotes]].

* [[Codex: Tau (3rd Edition)|''Codex: Tau'' (3rd Edition)]]* [[Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition)|''Codex: Tau Empire'' (4th Edition)]]