Guide:How to make a fanon Tau Sept

The Thirteen Commandments of IronFile:Placeholder|right|300px]]

A how-to on Tau Septs was suggested, so I started this page: I'm not very familiar with the Tau(less than I am with Marines and Traitor Marines), so I hope people more familiar with the Tau will expand it.

If you do, please don't try making some sort of 'ultimate guide'; just a few friendly tips to help make a canon-friendly Sept. Jochannon 09:53, November 2, 2010 (UTC)

Note: much of the text here has been copied from Lexicanum under the Fair Use doctrine

What is a Tau Sept?
A Sept is how the Tau refer to a particular star system, and all its inhabitants.

Each sept has its unique cultural identity wholly integrated within the greater Tau culture. This cultural identity seems to mainly derive from which Tau caste is more numerous and influential in the given sept. Currently there are over twenty fully developed septs.

Each sept has its own sept symbol.

The Tau Empire
The Tau empire is loosely divided in 'Expansions' or 'Spheres' denoting when the Sept was founded, when the world was conquered, and how advanced the Sept is, loosely centered on T'au, the Tau's homeworld.

First Phase Expansion
The Tau homeworld and the First phase colonies are of major importance and form the hub of the empire.

Second Phase Expansion
The Second Phase Expansion began shortly after the end of the Damocles Crusade (742.M41); there are many Humans here who have joined the Tau: Tau forces here are likely to contain Human auxiliaries, and it is possible that Imperial loyalists still hold out in secret.

Third Phase Expansion
The Third Phase Expansion was convened on 977.997.M41 on the word of Aun'va.1 Commander Shadowsun was placed in command, and has secured at least two new septs for the Tau Empire. During the Zeist Campaign of 999.M41, Space Marines forces counterattacked against the expanding Third Sphere, drawing the Third Sphere to a, perhaps temporary, halt.

Smaller Tau worlds
Besides the populous septs, there are also sparsely populated colonies. Of which only a few names are known.

Non-Tau Worlds
There are a number of non-Tau worlds allied with the Tau Empire, including the Kroot and the Vespid, and even some Human empires, such as the The Collective of Tau Allied Worlds.

History
When was your Sept conquered and added to the Tau Empire? what have they done in the past to advance the Greater Good? What setbacks have they had? What victories have they achieved?

Characters
Who is the commander of the Fire Warriors? The lead Ethereal? Who are the heroes and villains, the visionaries and pioneers who drive your Sept onward for the Greater Good?

Allied races
While no single Sept would make any alliances separately from the rest of the Tau Empire, some do have better or worse relations with certain races than the average.

Sept symbol
For a few examples, I suggest you go check out Lexicanum: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Sept_Symbol

Sept Colours
Each Sept has its own colors and variations on the standard Tau uniform

To help work out your Sept's colors and uniforms, I suggest the Bolter and Chainsword's Fire Warrior Painter: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?autocom=pages&do=show&id=2

World description
What is the world of your Sept like? Is there more than one?

Military
The Fire and Aie Castes; what is your Sept's army and navy like? What ships and equipment do they have?

Castes
Your Sept's character will derive largely from the Castes it is made up of, so here's the quick lowdown:

Shas - Fire caste
Members of the Fire caste are the warriors of the Tau Empire, and as such are most often seen on the field of battle. They are taller and stronger than the members of the other castes, although still weaker and shorter than the average human. These warriors are known as Fire Warriors; they do almost all the fighting.

Fio - Earth Caste
This caste provides for the manufacturing, agricultural, industrial, and engineering needs of the Tau Empire, being the builders, farmers, scientists, engineers, etc. They are often described as plain and dour, possessing a rather stoic outlook on life in general.

Kor - Air Caste
The Air Caste is charged with holding the Tau Empire together through the Kor'vattra, the Tau Empire's merchant and warfleet. Formerly functioning as messengers, these days they are the Tau Navy. The Tau of the Air Caste are the tallest and most slender of all Tau, with long, skinny limbs and hollow bones developed due to lives lived mostly in low- and zero-gravity ships and space stations.

Por - Water caste
The Water Caste serve the Tau Empire as traders, merchants, public servants, diplomats, and ambassadors. They interact with other races when such affairs are not handled by the Fire Caste. The Water Caste tend to be tall and slender compared to other Tau.

Aun - Ethereal/Celestial Caste
The Ethereals serve as "philosopher kings", and guide the other castes, as well as alien member-races of the Tau empire, towards the enlightenment of the Tau'va; the Greater Good.