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|cellpadding=2 cellspacing=1 style="font-size:85%;font:85%"|[[Nicassar]], [[Demiurg]], <br> [[Human#Human CivilizationsCivilisations|Human]] ([[Gue'vesa Auxiliaries|Gue'vesa]]), <br> [[Galgs]], [[Tarellian]]

The exact date of founding of the Tau empire is unclear, however the reasons behind the foundation are. In their prehistory, the Tau 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 skilful 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.

Growing pains, caused by their unusually rapid technological development led to the invention of sophisticated weaponry. The Tau of the river valleys developed stone fortresses and crude blackpowder weapons to ward off the aggressive Tau of the plains. These fledgling fledgeling skirmishes led to the darkest period in Tau history, the Mont'au.

During this time, the 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 plain warriors would settle for nothing less than the annhilliation of the city annihilation 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 plain Tau, exuding a quiet authority that no Tau was able to resist. Soon, the leader of the plains plain 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 Ethereals spoke of the importance of peace and understanding between all Tau. They described a Greater Good that each Tau must strive towards. The besiegers and the besieged quickly agreed with the Ethereals and a truce was reached. Across the land, Ethereals emerged, each with the same quiet authority and message of harmony and cooperation. With the Tau united, a great civilization civilisation began.

The Tau empire soon expanded its border through a series of Expansion Phases. The Tau empire has gone through 3 phases of expansion already. These phases are a period of several Tau military campaigns during which nearby worlds are colonizedcolonised, conquered, or sometimes peacefully persuaded to join the [[Greater Good]].

At some point, the Tau sent an expeditionary force to the planet [[Malbrede]] where they came into conflict with the [[UltramarineUltramarines]]s [[Chapter]] in 936.M41. However, the world proved to be cursed when their fighting awakened the sleeping [[Necron]]s from their tomb beneath the surface. In an effort to combat this threat, the Tau and the Ultramarines combined forces to defeat the Necrons. Once the conflict was over, the Tau were allowed to evacuate their forces by [[Marneus Augustus Calgar|Marneus Calgar]] who proceeded to destroy Malbrede through an [[Exterminatus]].⁵

In [[M41|966.M41]], the Tau fought against the [[Space Marines|Adeptus Astartes]] of the [[Space Wolves]] [[Chapter ]] during the War for Kvarium Alpha. On that water -clogged world, drop pods landed deep in the oceans where their occupants made a move to engage their enemy. On the surface, the battle was fought between the two sides with an equally deadly conflict erupting in the depths of the sea between the Space Wolves and Tau Battlesuits. [[Thunderhawk ]] Gunships were used to great effect against Hammerhead tanks and Manta gunships with torpedoes, prop-bombs and missiles being used against the Tau. Ultimately, the Space Wolves proved to be the victor in the conflict where hundreds of Tau and Space Wolf corpses floated to the surface. With their mission complete, the Space Wolves made the long trek back to land across the sea bed.⁴

The Tau Empire was invaded by [[Hive Fleet]] [[Gorgon (Hive Fleet)|Gorgon]] in 899.[[M41]]. Gorgon was exceptional for its ability to quickly adapt on a biological level to new circumstances of battle, such as evolving immunities to Tau weaponry. This rapid pace of adaptation may have been unique to Gorgon, or it may have been a response to conflict with the Tau, who are also highly adaptable but on a technological level. Combined The combined forces of the Tau and the [[Imperial Guard]] destroyed Gorgon in 903.M41, albeit after losing several trading partners and colony worlds.⁶

Kroot society is divided into tribes, known as [[Kindred|Kindreds]]s. Each Kindred is an extended family group of Kroot and is led by a Shaper, one Kroot with an intuitive understanding of the DNA absorption process all Kroot possess, and responsible for guiding the evolution of their Kindred. The Shaper, upon identifying a beneficial genetic trait, will instruct his Kindred to hunt and consume that animal, and then control the breeding of the Kindred to ensure that the offspring are born with the selected trait. Often, Kindreds will band together, and the Shapers will form a Council, of which the most influential Kindred's Shaper will be made leader of the group. On rare occasions, a Chief will unite a large number of Kindreds underneath him.

Kroot dwell in warm, temperate conditions on the worlds they inhabit, and construct large tree houses from animal hides, bound together by regurgitated dead wood. Some Kindreds reside in the ruins of the hive cities. There has been no obvious industry on Pech since the coming of the Orks[[Ork]]s, but Tau Research Teams have detected strange energy emissions, emanating from a collection of hills near their base.

The Tau Empire hosts a growing population of [[Human]]s or Gue'vesa ([[Tau Lexicon|Tau]]) who were once a part of the Imperium of Man. Ranging from ideological defectors to captured guardsmen and their children, they have been incorporated into the empire. While the Humans from recently conquered worlds are often bitter, they do have Tau supporters among them from the start, and the number of those only grows larger. For the most part, the Humans are content and treated well, even being allowed to worship the [[Emperor of Mankind|God Emperor]].

The most commonly-fielded Cadre is a combined-arms formation, though more specialized specialised Cadres exist. Three to six Cadres will often fight together as part of a '''Contingent''', similar to an Imperial Guard regiment and commanded by the most senior Cadre commander. Three to six Contingents may be grouped together into a '''Battle''', though this is only a temporary formation. All Fire Caste forces in a given location, whether a planet or star system, is grouped into a '''Command''' under the leadership of a High Commander, with the four Commands (Fire, Earth, Water and Air) grouped into a '''Coalition''' under the command of the local [[Ethereal]]s.

The Tau prefer long-ranged combat over close-quarters fighting, and use the speed and agility of their anti-gravity vehicles to fight a war of maneuverabilitymanoeuvrability. Pinpoint destructed is favored favoured over massive barrages, hence the preponderance of laser-guided missiles as artillery. The destruction of the enemy's forces is considered more important than the capture of territory, and the Tau will willingly give ground in order to achieve a more advantageous position. Battle plans are complex affairs, with each Cadre given specific targets and launch times, and if the initiative is lost the Tau will fall back to plan a new strategy. The Tau military has neither the inclination nor the numbers to fight a war of attrition, and so much choose its battles carefully.

The idea of a static defense defence is foreign to the Tau's military philosophy. If forced to defend a location, the Tau will still use offensive maneuvers manoeuvres in order to keep the enemy off-balanced while important assets are removed. Bunkers and other defensive emplacements can be constructed, primarily to defend against long-range bombardment, but as a rule Tau cities are rarely fortified, and will often be evacuated in the face of an enemy attack.

* [[Sa'cea]], another military centercentre, this sept has a very high proportion of very disciplined and honourable Fire Warriors.

* [[Ke'lshan]] has suffered several raids by several alien races. Tau from this sept have grown mistrustful, solemn, taciturn, unfriendly and sometimes openly hostile to alien races. Ke'lshan was invaded by Hive Fleet Gorgon and played an essential role in stopping it ⁶.* [[Elsy'eir]] is known for its poetry and artwork. Its citizens are considered intellectuals and well -respected for their creativnesscreativeness.

Two recognized recognised septs from the Third Sphere Expansion are:

* [[Fi'rios]] whose pioneers are recognized recognised for a tenacious refusal to accept defeat, tempered by a stoic acceptance of the price all must pay in the furtherance of the Greater Good.