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Tau Portal

The Nicassar are an alien psychic race who were the first addition into the Tau Empire.¹

Physiology and Biology

The Nicassar are highly psychic, and because of this the Tau have carefully kept them hidden from the Imperium for fear of igniting the worst excesses of human xenophobia.¹

The Nicassar are driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore and travel, becoming semi-nomadic and most content only when traveling. The Nicassar can put themselves into states of hibernation in which they can survive for long periods. They are described as having limited mobility and being unfit for ground combat, and so find their means of furthering the Greater Good by providing ships for the Tau fleet, especially for the roles of scouting and exploring.¹

Technology

A Nicassar Dhow

The Nicassar ships known as Dhows are small maneuverable yet elegant yachts propelled by the psychic powers of the captain. But they lack any real interstellar capability. As such, they are often towed by Tau ships, and also provided with upgraded Tau weaponry, or they will travel slowly for centuries while in hibernation. Often for a longer journeys a Nicassar family will join together to form a larger community, with crew alternating between hibernation.¹

Sources

• ¹: To Unite the Stars: Tau Vessels, p.107. Battlefleet Gothic Resources (site accessed 2009.11.01)