Water Caste
The Water Caste (or Por) is one of the five Castes of T'au society, based around diplomacy, bureaucracy, commerce, propaganda,[11] espionage[13], history,[12a] art,[12a] and law.[1a]
Overview
The Water Caste serve the T'au Empire as traders, merchants, public servants, bureaucrats, administrators, diplomats, and ambassadors. The Water Caste are used as orators and propagandists for the T'au, hailing the exploits of successful Fire Caste Commanders.[12a] They have a keen sense of recognising beauty, and thus act as the T'au's artists.[12b] They also act as academics relating to history and the study of alien cultures.[12b] Members of the Water Caste are described as handsome and charismatic.[13]
The Water Caste interact with other races when such affairs are not handled by the Fire Caste, and often act as administrators of T'au worlds in the absence of an Ethereal governor. Like water, Water Caste bureaucrats fluidly move between other Castes and alien races incorporated within the Empire to make sure that it flows smoothly. The Water Caste are known for their great linguistic, diplomatic, and negotiation skills.[3]
Members of the Water Caste are often the ones who initiate first contact with new species encountered by the Empire, skillfully negotiating their union with the T'au.[1a] The members of the Water Caste have a gift for linguistics that has become more and more pronounced over time, so they are able to learn alien languages with ease and show a remarkable ability to emulate and pick up the subtlest nuances of communication.[3] Many Water Caste emissaries are in fact secret members of the shadowy Information Awareness unit dubbed the Hundred Eyes.[13a]
The Water Caste also provides an internal security role for the Tau Empire. The Caste employs criminal investigators known as Kar'tyr[5] and operates Re-Education Facilities for dissidents.[13b]
Ranks
The Water Caste ranks from lowest to highest are:[4]
| Rank | Translation |
| Por'saal | Assistant |
| Por'la | Bureaucrat |
| Por'ui | Envoy |
| Por'vre | Magister |
| Por'el | Diplomat |
| Por'O | Ambassador |
Notable Members of the Water Caste
- Por'O Dal'yth Kais Twi Lui'tan - aka the Golden Ambassador.[1b]
- Myen O’Res - Ambassador.[6]
- Por'O Volescur - Emissary.[7]
- Por'ui Fi'rios Kau'kartyr - Criminal investigator.[5]
- Por'o Dal'yth Kiv'rai - Explorer.[5]
- El'hassai - Diplomat.[9]
- El'sorath - Diplomat.[9]
- Por'vre T'olku Orr'es - Hundred Eyes operative[13a]
Sources
- 1: Codex: Tau Empire (6th Edition)
- 2: Specialist Games Catalogue, pg. 101
- 3: Codex: Tau Empire (7th Edition) (E-Book), pg. The Castes
- 4: Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), pgs. 56-57
- 5: Voice of Experience (Short Story)
- 6: Dataslate: Adeptus Astartes Storm Wing (Background Book), pg. 9
- 7: Deathwatch: The Achilus Assault, pg. 122
- 8: White Dwarf 263 (UK) — "Dynamic Expansion - Legendary Victories in T'au History" by Andy Chambers, Andy Hoare, and Graham McNeill, pgs. 18-20
- 9: For the Emperor (Novel), Chapter Five
- 10: Codex: T'au Empire (9th Edition), pg. 13
- 11: Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter (Novel) - Chapter 7
- 12: Farsight: Empire of Lies (Novel)
- 13: Elemental Council (Novel)
| Castes | |
|---|---|
| Allied Races |
Anthrazod • Boaburi • Brachyura • Charpactin • Demiurg • Domati • Formosian • G’nosh • Galg • Greet • Humans • Hrenian • Jagordian • Ji'atrix • Kroot • Morralian • M'uh'ja • Nagi • Nicassar • Ostense Council • Phosiab • Pohu-Agg • Ranghon • Tarellians • Thraxians • Vespid • Vorgh • Yabi-Yabi |
| Military |
Fire Warriors • Kor'vattra • Merchant Fleet • Auxiliaries • Information Awareness |
| Culture | |
| Notable Characters |
Aun'Va • Aun'shi • O'Shaserra • O'Shovah • Puretide • El'Myamoto • T'au Sha'ng |
