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I've been working on developing a back story for the Tau army I'm building. I know I eventually want to include some Gue'vesa that would be essentially Imperial Guard that have defected to the Tau Empire. I've read fluff stating that on many former Imperium Worlds that became incorporated into the Tau Empire, major parts of the human population defected to the Empire when the invasion fleets showed up.

Now the fluff stated that most of the worlds were backwater planets that were all but forgotten by the Imperium, so the majority of them were easy converts. I've been trying to find anything in the fluff that would support the idea of a Tech-priest, or some similar member of the Adeptus Mechanicus, would defect to the Tau Empire. Either sweet talked by some Water Caste diplomats or tempted with some Earth Caste machinery.

It would definitely be the machinery that would hook in a Tech-priest. Already there are theories that Tau Tech could be 'civilised' if proper respect to the machine spirit was paid. A tech-priest could start off with this, then be seduced by the clearly superior heretical design and technology.

It isn't likely but a Tech-Priest might stay behind to tinker about with Tau technology or more likely remain faithful to the Cult Mechanicus and the Imperium and only commit a little bit of tech-heresy by 'acquiring' Tau technology and studying them in secret.

Tau technology is deemed heretical in the Imperium-A.I. ¬¬-, so unless they were a techno heretic of the hightest order I'd doubt it-they may have a secret interest for the possibilities of xeno tech, but Abominable Inteligence are one of the main things that the cult Mechanicus seeks to destroy. Tech Priests would probably remain true to the cult's teachings when all of the other Imperial citizens turned traitor-they don't respect the same society as the rest of the Imperium does mind. So yeah, its a maybe. Perhaps its a young explorater wishing to know about all the things that their superiors forbid them to know about, or an older Magos desiring knowledge in the unknown to greater increase their knowledge-forsaking the ancient learnings of his culture that he barely grasps for the heretical, but complete science of the aliens. Meh, if you can make the fluff for it any thing can happen. ^^

No I highly doubt a tech priest would betray the machine god, all xeno technolidgy is inferior to the imperium and tech priest hate tech from other races,if a tech preist got hold of tau technolidgy he would probably want to see what makes it work but would be acompanied by xenoligist and members of the adeptus biologist

moonshine wrote:No I highly doubt a tech priest would betray the machine god, all xeno technolidgy is inferior to the imperium and tech priest hate tech from other races,if a tech preist got hold of tau technolidgy he would probably want to see what makes it work but would be acompanied by xenoligist and members of the adeptus biologist

Despite the changes in their bodies and limbs, tech-priests are still human. It's certainly not beyond comprehension that some may be tempted.

Some might be tempted, but I imagine they would be tech preist who want to know everything (Like Kelbor-Hal) but the chaos gods would probalby tempt them first. Tech preists think it's heresy to change their technolidgy and they would find it the most heretical crime ever for alien technolidgy to be used. Also beacuse they are mostly machine I doubt they would be compatible with tau technolidgy

Thanks for the input.

I've been thinking that it was at least a possible outcome. The only problem, as moonshine mentioned, is that the Tech-priests do consider all alien technology to be heretical.
The question would be if the tech was a large enough temptation to drive a Tech-priest to commit heresy.

Psychosaur wrote:The question would be if the tech was a large enough temptation to drive a Tech-priest to commit heresy.

It definitely would, there are repeated instances of xeno tech tempting Tech-priests. A large portion of the Ordo Xenos duties is to keep the tech-priests and Imperial citizens in line with this sort of stuff. Despite often utilising xenos tech themselves.

moonshine wrote:Some might be tempted, but I imagine they would be tech preist who want to know everything (Like Kelbor-Hal) but the chaos gods would probalby tempt them first. Tech preists think it's heresy to change their technolidgy and they would find it the most heretical crime ever for alien technolidgy to be used. Also beacuse they are mostly machine I doubt they would be compatible with tau technolidgy

I see the compatibly of Tau and Imperium Tech as a lesser issue. If a tech-priest did defect to Tau, they would in all likelihood be working closely with the Earth Caste. While working with the Earth Caste they would have accesses to the information and resources they would need to make Tau and Imperium tech work together.

I think the main issue would be is the Tech-Priest would commit heresy to work with Tau Tech, let alone defect.

The answer, like a lot of 40k type stuff, is ultimately: it depends. It depends on the tech priest. One that follows the dogma of the Cult Mechanicus to the letter would probably never do so, but those more curious, progressive-minded ones (they do in fact exist, hell entire Forgeworlds have been turned (by chaos)) would certainly switch sides.

I would deffinately say its probably already happened, there was a techpriest working with Dark Eldar in Nightbringer, and Tau are much more invasive, findable so any Techpriest who has more loyalty to discovering new technology than to the IoM would probably be inclined to join with the Tau

The Tau empire has no limits on technological developement, something a techpriest might find enticing in the imperium's limited environment.

it is tempting for some but not all tech priests will get seduced

Scorpionov wrote:it is tempting for some but not all tech priests will get seduced

True, the older tech priests wouldn't budge, but a younger, more ambitous adept would the greater freedom.

I would consider having the character gravitate towards the younger side definitely. Or at least some backstory where the character had positive experiences with Tau tech long before he became a member of the cult. (perhaps a reason he became intersted in tech in the first place).

There are occasions where human populations, over a long period of time, become tolerant or even friendly to the Tau. I don't know if all techpriests are trained on mars, but if they were trained on one of these worlds . . .

However the Tau do gaurd their tech very closely, so that may be an obstacle for the priest to overcome.

The trouble is, if a tech preist was interested in tau technolidgy he would probbably take a small force of adeptus biologist and force of skitari to a weak sept world and investigate.

Btw what I about compatabillity is, tech preist normally connect themselves to their machines and computers, it would be like trying to put a usb cable into a tv

moonshine wrote:
Btw what I about compatabillity is, tech preist normally connect themselves to their machines and computers, it would be like trying to put a usb cable into a tv

Or plugging an american device into a european outlet, not pleasent.

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Psychosaur wrote:The question would be if the tech was a large enough temptation to drive a Tech-priest to commit heresy.

It definitely would, there are repeated instances of xeno tech tempting Tech-priests. A large portion of the Ordo Xenos duties is to keep the tech-priests and Imperial citizens in line with this sort of stuff. Despite often utilising xenos tech themselves.

Indeed in one of the Commissar Cain books:

Well the void Dragon (one of the C'tan) IS the Omnissiah...

DarthLakey wrote:Well the void Dragon (one of the C'tan) IS the Omnissiah...

As is highly hinted at yes

But a lowly cogboy doesn't know of these things.

ironically enough though

Coincidence? I think not!

but the machine in him might have...

Yeah it's definately possible. As with the rest of the imperium the admech is made up of multiple all with different ideas. Some of the most opposing ideas are about xeno tech, some believe it is heresy and should be destroyed others believe all technology is important and want to use it.

There was a piece of fluff in an old WD (years ago) about two techpriests discussing how alien technology should be used, the radical wanted to study and use it the other wasn't sure but was worried because it was against the admech's laws to use alien tech.

As for compatability I am sure the Tau and Tech priest would be able to sort it out, the Tau are using accepting when it comes to this sort of thing.

The only problem, as moonshine mentioned, is that the Tech-priests do consider all alien technology to be heretical.
The question would be if the tech was a large enough temptation to drive a Tech-priest to commit heresy.

Baby steps. I don't think the Tech-priest would completely throw everything away and jump into the welcoming arms of the Tau. It might be that the Tech-priest is trying to find a way to counter this alien technology and thus, gathers some of it to study. Over the course of time, he slowly becomes consumed by knowing more about the Tau and their heretical technology and tries to find information on them. Then maybe he could actually go out and try to even speak with some of them to get firsthand knowledge.

I see it sort of like being seduced to Chaos; they most likely just don't suddenly become Chaos cultists but are slowly led into it.

moonshine wrote:Btw what I about compatabillity is, tech preist normally connect themselves to their machines and computers, it would be like trying to put a usb cable into a tv

Actually, there are already TVs with USB ports on them. I have one on my flat screen.

I'm sure that the Tech priest, over time, could probably tinker around with some Tau machines and find a way to hook himself up to it, especially if he is working with the the Tau.

Oh really thats a cool tv. but the point was a tech preist probably couldn't connect himself to tau techolidgy

I;m sure the Tau would take steps to accommodate him, The greater good and all that jazz

moonshine wrote:Oh really thats a cool tv. but the point was a tech preist probably couldn't connect himself to tau techolidgy

Well obviously not right away, after some tinkering a Tech-Priest or an Earth Caste Engineer could create "adapters" between Tau and Imperium tech.

Yes but I doubt tau would have much sucsses interacting with the machine spirit or understanding it. Tech preists struggle to understand let alone change imperial desighn so I doubt tau would do any better

Lucid wrote: I would consider having the character gravitate towards the younger side definitely. Or at least some backstory where the character had positive experiences with Tau tech long before he became a member of the cult. (perhaps a reason he became intersted in tech in the first place).

I don't know if all techpriests are trained on mars, but if they were trained on one of these worlds . . .

There is the problem. Tech priests are trained on Worlds belonging to the cult mechanicus, not at some backwater border planet.
So you get a indoctrinated brain and cold logic.
Temptations? Can be switched off.

Would anyone trust a defector? Would they ignore the possibility of a "trojan horse"?

1hadhq wrote:

Lucid wrote: I would consider having the character gravitate towards the younger side definitely. Or at least some backstory where the character had positive experiences with Tau tech long before he became a member of the cult. (perhaps a reason he became intersted in tech in the first place).

I don't know if all techpriests are trained on mars, but if they were trained on one of these worlds . . .

There is the problem. Tech priests are trained on Worlds belonging to the cult mechanicus, not at some backwater border planet.
So you get a indoctrinated brain and cold logic.
Temptations? Can be switched off.

Would anyone trust a defector? Would they ignore the possibility of a "trojan horse"?

Cases of machanicus defecting are not uncommon, or at least many stories make it appear so.