Editing Setting:Brighthammer 40,000/Tau (section)

== History ==
The Tau were first noticed by the automated Imperial survey probe ''Olivaw XXIV'' in M34. As they had just mastered fire, the probe categorized them as "pseudo-neolithic culture". Immediatly after sending the information, the probe was inexplicably lost. An expedition had to stop short of the probe's last known location, as terrible warp storms had enveloped the sector, cutting it off from the rest of the galaxy.

As the storms finally abated in M40, another expedition found the scorched remains of the probe - and the newly forged Tau Empire. In only six millennia, the Tau had been transformed from a peaceful but primitive civilization to a fascist, expansionist, star-spanning empire possessing advanced technology and insatiable bloodlust, making them one of the greatest threats facing the galaxy.

Apparently, a hostile force had come across the young Tau and proceeded to manipulate and mold them into creatures more to their liking. As the Imperial Secret Service had since learned, the Tau Empire rose through the enforced leadership of the Ethereal Caste, which had only appeared after millennia of bloodshed between petty kingdoms.

Further study suggests that blasphemous bio-engineering is responsible for the Ethereals, as they possess the pheromone gland of an insectoid xenos race, which is only known in another galactic arm. This pheromone gland, while already potent in its native species, grants the Ethereal Caste absolute control over other Tau, which they have used to spread their brutal, rigid rule across many other systems.

The secret masters of the Tau are unknown to this day; suspects involve the Exodite [[../Eldar|Eldar]], the [[../Slaan|Slaan]], and the [[../C'tan|Necrontyr]].  For now, all that can be done (short of genocide) are attempts to limit and counter the corrupt influence of the Ethereal Tau and their minions.