Greater Good

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This article is about the Tau philosophy; for the Novel by Sandy Mitchell, see The Greater Good (Novel).

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The Greater Good, or Tau'va (literally, "Good Greater"), is the founding principle of Tau society. The Tau'va system is based on a Caste System and is designed to allow for the advancement of the entire Tau society together towards a more successful, prosperous and easier existence in the future.^{[Needs Citation]}

History

The Greater Good was first introduced to the Tau during the Mont'au (literally, "Death Age"), a civil war. It was during this time that the first Ethereals came to the Tau and united the Tau tribes under the idea of the Greater Good, which involved perfect harmony and the combining of each Caste's strengths to counter the many weaknesses their culture had. Within a few years, Tau culture had become dominated by the Greater Good and they began the long march towards technological advancement.^{[Needs Citation]}

The Greater Good now guides the Tau in their conquest of the galaxy. The principle forces the Tau into a two-minded state, one to expand their empire for the Greater Good, and to absorb other races and their cultures into their own, which could have disastrous effects. The ideal of the Greater Good seems to be appealing to some races, and stranded units of the Imperial Guard soldiers are said to have surrendered themselves and now live in the Tau empire, being named Gue'vesa.^{[Needs Citation]}

During war against other races, Tau Commanders often urge their enemy leaders to stop resisting the Tau Empire and promising that they will be allowed to retain their faith as long as it works in accordance with the Greater Good.^{[Needs Citation]}

The Greater Good in the Farsight Enclaves

The Tau of the Farsight Enclaves follow a version of the Greater Good which eschews the the Ethereal caste. Instead it emphasis that harmony between the four other castes is to be achieved 'naturally' by dialogue and co-operation. and the epitome of this is the ideal that is self-sacrifice, so that others might live better lives. Sept worlds of the Enclaves are governed by a democratic system rather than by Ethereals. ^{[Needs Citation]}

Ritual of the Ta’lissera

This ritual bonds the members of a team together in a microcosm of the Greater Good, wherein each individual sheds his individual identity in favour of his role in the group. Those who undertake the Ta’lissera are said to be “bonded,” and the ritual is a solemn one indeed, in which each Tau spills a portion of his own blood as a sign of his devotion to the whole. Those who are not bonded view those who are with awe, seeing them as the ultimate adherents of the Greater Good. The Ritual of the Ta’lissera is carried out in many areas of Tau society, but is most frequently undertaken amongst Fire Warrior teams, who enter the crucible of war together and often stand or fall by one another’s deeds. The members of a bonded team will go to any length to aid one another, sacrificing their very lives if needed that the team might succeed in its mission. Members of a bonded team often carry ceremonial knives, while those piloting battlesuits paint a stylised knife device on their armour.^[1]

Related Articles

• Tau Lexicon

Sources

• 1: Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos, ^{[Needs Citation]}

Uncited

This article purports to rely on sources which are not cited in the body of the text. For help on citation see the citation guidelines. You can help Lexicanum by fixing it.

• Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), ^{[Needs Citation]}
• Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), ^{[Needs Citation]}
• Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, ^{[Needs Citation]}
• Farsight Enclaves - A Codex: Tau Empire Supplement ^{[Needs Citation]}