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Since I play Tau I was wondering why Tau seem to never be tainted by any form of Chaos.
Examples,
Man can be tainted by any god of Chaos.
The Eldar, Slaanesh
And since the Eldar and the Imperium are the only psychic potential, mortal and civilised race in the galaxy that are
Tainted by Chaos, why aren't the Tau... They are mortal, civilised BUT they have no KNOWN psychic potential.
Unless the Ethereals are psychic as it rumours in the codex. But looking a every other race besides Grey Knights.
We're mortals practise Psychic ability, only Chaos will follow...

EDIT: Can anyone tell me why? Have I missed a detail or race?

In the novelization for he Firewarrior video game there is a demon who monologues a bit about Tau and Chaos. It comes down to the fact that Tau can fall, but only such a small minority can its pretty much not worth it to try. The one that does fall manages to break loose by recalling the meditations that all Fire Caste (and maybe all Tau) are taught.

So in essence Tau minds are too heavily ordered to become chaotic. Probably due to the Ethereals and an indoctrination that starts at childhood. Of course the greater the role the Tau wind up playing in the galaxy, the more interested in them Chaos will become.

Interesting side note, the Tau at one point warred with a race capable of mind control. The fact that they prevailed implies some sort of ability to combat mind control.

Would that cover physical corruption though? I get the feeling the corruption of the soul and physical corruption are two different things in 40K.

Tau also have such a small signature in the warp that they're almost invisible to demons.

Again that would be corruption of the soul due to psychic ability or lack of in the Tau case. But what about a Nurgle plague?

Thanks for giving reference to the game, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to do a bit more study into the 'making' of a fire Warrior, rituals etc.
Perhaps the Ethereals use there psychic power to block psychic potential among the Tau. This could explain why the Taus allies aren't psychic either. (Besides humanity) and the battle on a sept world against Hive Fleet Gorgan.

And can't Chaos just let the Tau prosper, I mean I like Chaos and all but seriously, that would be one of the stupidest moves GW could make.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
A Nurgle plague is only sickness and disease right?
Or can it also corrupt the body/mind?

Well Chaos can't leave anything alone to be honest.

One of the amusing thoughts in the back of my mind is that whatever power created the Ethereals intended to develop the Tau into the counter to Chaos. Think about it, what would do more damage to Chaos than the galaxy dominated by psychic blanks who can't be turned to Chaos? If I were Chaos I'd be trying to get the Tau snuffed before they get too powerful.

Of course, whoever created the Ethereas didn't realize they were plopping them right in the path of the Tyranids, but oh well that's the way the cookie crumbles.

In regards to Nurgle plagues. I suspect that they require a certain degree of psychic corruption that the Tau are more or less immune to for the plague to reach the appropriately epidemic proportions that the plaguefather prefers. With the psychic element snuffed, the plagues just become conventional diseases which advanced Tau medicine plus the general cleanliness and order of their civilization will more or less thwart.

Lavilla wrote:the battle on a sept world against Hive Fleet Gorgan.

Would you mind elaborating?

Jefffar wrote:

One of the amusing thoughts in the back of my mind is that whatever power created the Ethereals intended to develop the Tau into the counter to Chaos. Think about it, what would do more damage to Chaos than the galaxy dominated by psychic blanks who can't be turned to Chaos? If I were Chaos I'd be trying to get the Tau snuffed before they get too powerful.

Tau are absolutely positively not blanks. They have no more resistance to Psychic powers than the average Human. Much like the Necrontyr didn't, and the Necrons might but only because they're now robots and so tougher (and yes they have null fields but the Tau don't). And yes, they can be turned to Chaos, because anything with free will can be turned to Chaos. Nurgle's diseases would hurt them just like Humans only any Psychic element will likely be completely beyond their ability to combat whereas at least some in the Imperium will have studied such things before.

The Tau are the most vulnerable playable faction in the game to Psychic powers. Orks have the Waaagh! field and Weird Boyz, Necrons have Null fields, Tyranids have the Shadow in the Warp and their own Psykers and so on. The Tau would probably really struggle against a serious Chaos incursion which uses a lot of sorcery because they will have no idea how to counter it other than to shoot it. Which isn't generally the most efficient way of bringing down Warpy things.

Most has been said:
1.) Tau have almost no presence in the warp, so they are next to invisible to Chaos and Chaos has no handle. The Daemonhunter Codex lists no scenario of Tau being corrupted by Chaos.
2.) Chaos is fed by emotions. Tau are extremely rational/unemotional under the influence of ethereals. That is probably the explanation. Even the "one in a million who has the potential for corruption" Fire Warrior in the novel of the same name is not corrupted by Chaos, with a daemon trying his best.
3.) The controversial book "Xenology" hints at the fact that ethereals were created by Eldar to create a race immune to Chaos. Later books do not confirm that, but make slightly fun of that theory.

The Tau aren't immune or even resistance to Chaos, they just aren't very...interesting to it. A Tau soul in the Warp is about the most insignificant thing in there, not very interesting to the Dark Gods or their Daemons. Likewise, they don't feed it much being so small and under the influence of the Ethereals. That doesn't mean that they can't fall to Chaos or be warped/tainted by it, but their contact is limited and the predators of the Warp are interested in other things.

SomeRandomEvilGuy wrote:

Lavilla wrote:the battle on a sept world against Hive Fleet Gorgan.

Would you mind elaborating?

Sorry about that, Hive Fleet Gorgan was the Tau's first contact with the Tyranids, the tyranids quickly obliterated several forward outposts and the Tau realised that the Tyranids would eventually reach the sept world of Ke'lshan. The Tau sacrificed many lives holding the tyranids back on Sha'draig ( a neighbouring planet to Ke'lshan prime). But gave enough time for the Tau to bolster there defences on the Sept World with the newly founded ally the kroot, which were not psychic but rather more barbaric, like the orks. Whether the Ethereals made there choice as an ally with Kroot because they had no psychic potential... We don't know.
Shortly after an Imperial fleet arrived. And they both agreed to an uneasy alliance to destroy a common foe. Because the Tyranids could not evolve or adapt to two different races tactics and weaponry (specifically the kroot) they were obliterated. The Imperium forces losing to many decided not to attack and were allowed to return to where they came in peace.

Don't know if it's still valid since the release of the new Tau codex, but wasn't there some fluff hinting that Farsight might have been influenced by a daemon-possessed sword? If true, it would demonstrate that it's not entirely impossible for Chaos the affect Tau.

RE: Troike
It still hints in the codex... Somewhere I think in 6th that it could be alien, chaotic etc. But is likely Chaotic. If we take a look at artwork (I know it's not legit). Specifically a very detailed medium shot of Farsight the hilt of the blade has brass swirls and in the centre an eye, looking very chaotic red with a black dot. This has led me to believe that the blade is from Chaos, be it gift or burden.

@ Lavilla

There is much debate about the exact origins of the sword but most would argue it is either Chaos or Necron, of course with the new model I was hoping for GW to give a little more light on this. However they made the sword look like something the Tau would forge themselves. Personally I lean towards the fact that it was a Necron weapon after Farsight stumbled onto a Tomb World.

I agree with Kroothawk for the most part. But when it comes to the hints that the Eldar created the Tau, you can also argue that in some of the Heresy Novels it hints that the Emperor created the Tau.

I am however very interested with everyones opinion on this subject as I am writing a book currently about the Tau, and this subject is about to be presented into the book.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Most has been said:
1.)The Daemonhunter Codex lists no scenario of Tau being corrupted by Chaos.

The is a WD article that explains how and why Tau would be corrupted by Chaos. Even a studio conversion showing what it would look like.

2.) Chaos is fed by emotions. Tau are extremely rational/unemotional under the influence of ethereals.

Where does it say they are unemotional? Is that somewhere in the new codex? Could you cite a page number I'd like to read that.

3.) The controversial book "Xenology" hints at the fact that ethereals were created by Eldar to create a race immune to Chaos. Later books do not confirm that, but make slightly fun of that theory.

No more controversial than anything else from BL. It didn't hint so much as flat out explain (from an Imperial point of veiw). I don't believe anything was said about their reaction to Chaos.

Later books don't confirm? The new Tau codex has the same story about lights in the sky and the Etherials magically showing up to save the day.

Which books "make fun" of this? I'd like to read them.

The Tau simply are not worthy prey for warp entities.

Why would a lion waste his time chasing mice when he can catch a big fat gazelle.

@ deffdred
What I believe kroothawk was trying to say was that the race as a whole are guided by logical decisions rather than passion.
Tau do not understand the warp, instead of believing it is magic (excuse me for being vague) they simply pass it as technology that they as of yet cannot understand.
Rational.
Understanding that an individuals life is meaningless in comparison to the populus as a whole. Again this is rational.

By the way do you have a link to that white dwarf I have never seen it.

 Grey Templar wrote:
The Tau simply are not worthy prey for warp entities.

Why would a lion waste his time chasing mice when he can catch a big fat gazelle.

You know maybe chaos isn't logical like that. What if it's more chaotic?

 Vladamyr wrote:
@ deffdred
What I believe kroothawk was trying to say was that the race as a whole are guided by logical decisions rather than passion.
Tau do not understand the warp, instead of believing it is magic (excuse me for being vague) they simply pass it as technology that they as of yet cannot understand.
Rational.
Understanding that an individuals life is meaningless in comparison to the populus as a whole. Again this is rational.

By the way do you have a link to that white dwarf I have never seen it.

I don't have a link but it's the issue that has the Killteam rules for "Bosses".

It also shows a Tyranid possessed by a daemon.

 DeffDred wrote:
The is a WD article that explains how and why Tau would be corrupted by Chaos. Even a studio conversion showing what it would look like.

I am not aware of any convincing explanation. What WD is that?
BTW anyone can stick greenstuffed tentacles and spikes to a Tau miniature just to feel naughty. Doesn't prove anything. And AFAIK, if wasn't a studio person, just a random redshirt from a store.

Where does it say they are unemotional? Is that somewhere in the new codex? Could you cite a page number I'd like to read that.

1.) They are the only race that doesn't want to kill everything in sight. If it is rational, they offer a truce and peace treaties.
2.) If a vehicle is damaged, they just repair it instead of praising and singing to a machine god.
3.) The whole Greater Good thing is a metaphor for utilitarianism (see my sig).
4.) All Tau featured in fluff and even remotely under the influence of ethereals react calm and rational. If they see a hostile elephant, they rather shoot it than draw their bowie knife and charge. Only lately do we see more emotional Tau, but almost all are far from the next ethereal.

No more controversial than anything else from BL. It didn't hint so much as flat out explain (from an Imperial point of veiw). I don't believe anything was said about their reaction to Chaos.

The hint to Chaos is hidden in one of the documents. In the end, all is just the theories of a crazy Inquisitor.

Later books don't confirm? The new Tau codex has the same story about lights in the sky and the Etherials magically showing up to save the day.

This just confirms an unusual entry of ethereals, not how, why, and by whom they were created.

Which books "make fun" of this? I'd like to read them.

1.) Deathwatch core rulebook (IIRC) presents a Tau character, supposedly an ethereal that was caught by Inquisition. They knew the Xenology theory and desperately searched for pheromonic mind control organs, but found none. Conclusion: Those damn Tau bastards deliberately send a manipulated non-ethereal tau just to deceive the Inquisition
The new Codex refers to this, saying that even Inquisition found no evidence of pheromonic organs in captured tau ethereals.

Besides the low warp signatures Chaos is very much "idle hands are the devil's playground" type of corruption. No one's idle in the Empire, they're all working full time on that Greater Good thing. It provides them purity of purpose.

Only by the coincidence that they lack psykers and their connection to the Warp is feeble. They are to Humans what Humans are to Eldar in psionic terms.

Not to mention Tau are virtually automatons/puppets controlled by the Prophets, er, San'Shyuum, I mean Ethereals, so there's not much Chaos can dig in. For now...I imagine the Liar God at the least has his own cards to play with regards to the Tau.

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
Not to mention Tau are virtually automatons/puppets controlled by the Prophets, er, San'Shyuum, I mean Ethereals, so there's not much Chaos can dig in.

I smell Imperial propaganda ... not tainted by reading the new Codex

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
Only by the coincidence that they lack psykers and their connection to the Warp is feeble. They are to Humans what Humans are to Eldar in psionic terms.

Not to mention Tau are virtually automatons/puppets controlled by the Prophets, er, San'Shyuum, I mean Ethereals, so there's not much Chaos can dig in. For now...I imagine the Liar God at the least has his own cards to play with regards to the Tau.

"But I can no longer command Mantas.... Lead Firewarriors into battle...."

"Not as you are... But become the Riptide... and you shall be set loose against the humans with our blessing."

"What would you have your Riptide do?"

Fade to black....

 DeffDred wrote:

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
Only by the coincidence that they lack psykers and their connection to the Warp is feeble. They are to Humans what Humans are to Eldar in psionic terms.

Not to mention Tau are virtually automatons/puppets controlled by the Prophets, er, San'Shyuum, I mean Ethereals, so there's not much Chaos can dig in. For now...I imagine the Liar God at the least has his own cards to play with regards to the Tau.

"But I can no longer command Mantas.... Lead Firewarriors into battle...."

"Not as you are... But become the Riptide... and you shall be set loose against the humans with our blessing."

"What would you have your Riptide do?"

Fade to black....

"I AM THE UNDYING SPIRIT! I AM THE VOICE OF THE TAU!"

"So, you must be silenced!"

It says in the codex that the tau found a warp drive on an imperial ship... But did they ever end up using it?
Or do they realise that using it would make them more detectable to Chaos with the help from prisoners and Guav'esa?

As ever, then Tau are presented, cherry-picking and blind eye is turned everywhere then they are compared to the Imperium.


I suspect that Tau practically have no souls. A soul is a chain, a bound which keeps your body connected to your energy vortex in the sea of souls. A soul defines what are you and that is not. This is taken from ''Liber Chaotica" book. It's of course is written mainly for warhammer universe, but boundaries between those two universes are such small that you could ignore them at all without going into any fluff-rape at all. Even in this book those boundaries are being bypassed by visions and dreams which flood our unfortunate priest's mind.


So, without strong presence of soul they all remain unconscious after their death. Furthermore, energy vortex that each Tau individual has are so small that they simply remain undetected by demons until they almost step on them or pull them unknowingly using theirs passive "gravitational" pull.

Lavilla wrote:
It says in the codex that the tau found a warp drive on an imperial ship... But did they ever end up using it?
Or do they realise that using it would make them more detectable to Chaos with the help from prisoners and Guav'esa?

They took that warp drive and reverse engineered their inferior type of drive from it. It only half-skims the warp because they lack the ability to comprehend the warp due to having no psychic ability.

They also lack Navigators and a means to create a Gellar Field.

Xenology has a lot of problems in it that makes it suspect to use as a basis of comparison to anything else in-universe, and serves really only as an example of how Imperial research is done.

Based on Xenology, we're lead to believe that Tau actually have toes, Eldar males have no genitalia and the females no breasts (despite text descriptions of the same) and they poop rocks.

It's a fun read for a glimpse into the nature of the AdMech and the Inquisition, but I wouldn't take the information presented in it as gospel... or even vaguely accurate.

 Psienesis wrote:
Xenology has a lot of problems in it that makes it suspect to use as a basis of comparison to anything else in-universe, and serves really only as an example of how Imperial research is done.

That's the case with all BL material.

Based on Xenology, we're lead to believe that Tau actually have toes

Not "lead", flat out shown. There are several threads where I explain that those "toes" could also be concidered hooves or claws.

Eldar males have no genitalia and the females no breasts (despite text descriptions of the same) and they poop rocks.

Wrong. Eldar have a human analog genitalia. They just have sex multipule times to form an embryo. You're confusing the Tau breasts for Eldar. It's just a pic. Not all women are DD. The Eldar poop crystaline spoor.

I wouldn't take the information presented in it as gospel... or even vaguely accurate.

I certainly hope not, you didn't seem to read it in the first place and are just going by what you've (inaccuratly) heard.