Were The T’au Artificially Engineered? - 40K Theories

Within just five to six-thousand years, the T’au would rise from a Stone Age race of hunter-gatherers into an interstellar super power. But was this rapid technological development solely achieved by the T’au themselves, or was the race’s very evolution guided by the hands of others?
This is an updated and remastered video with additional information and correcting a few minor errors.
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[@40KTheories]

Hope everyone enjoys this video. As I mentioned in my channel update video, I'll now be taking a little time off just to recharge my batteries. You'll still have episodes of Adeptus Podcastus, Homebrew of the Week and at least one Patreon QA in the meantime however. Take care everybody!

[@MrBluman999]

Rest well.

[@Thebonesoftrees]

Remember sun screen when you are relaxing.

[@mobiusZero2]

Rest well

[@nikoclesceri2267]

Even if we only get one video a month I’ll be fine because we will still be getting something

[@deadmanwalking971]

Take care, mate.

[@TheLastRaven]

Rest well lore master rest well.

[@theemissary1313]

I can picture a tau somehow being exposed to the pure warp and having a vision of those who engineered his species in a surprisingly small and mundane room on the homeworld of the humans in a large settlement called 'Nottingham'.

[@jack1701e]

Or the world of the same name, i'm sure in an old rulebook it had an entry for it.

[@casbot71]

*Nicholas Angel:* How could this be for _the greater good?_ *Neighbourhood Watch Alliance:* _The Greater Good._ *Nicholas Angel:* Shut it! - Hot Fuzz

[@jagnestormskull3178]

Cain - "This does not serve the Greater Good." Tau - "What do you know of the Greater Good?" Cain - "Not much, I just heard the term by chance from one of those lizards you employ like... yesterday. I do know that shooting each other out of paranoia and not catching the real killer doesn't sound like the Greater Good!" Tau - *grumbles in corner* ~For the Emperor

[@1973Washu]

The Greater Good.

[@ZeroGs2232]

i always liked the idea that the ethirials found early golden age humanity if not pre golden age tech, just one of the many prototype ships with a experimental warp drive that undoubtedly got lost due to warp drive testing

[@cegesh1459]

Too lame

[@Destroyer_V0]

It would explain their tech development being so quick if they had a fully functional stc from a lost colony ship. The ultimate irony if they were heavily mutated humans

[@adamjones9354]

I subscribe to the idea that they are engineered to be hosts for the reborn Necrontyr, once they figure out how to reverse Bio Transference. They have almost no warp presence or soul so they can be overwritten, they are conditioned to subservience to their overlords just like the necron, and their adaptation and use of technology and AI could be being guided towards the goal of merging their biology with tech. Give them another few thousand years of advancement and you'll have a prosperous and biologically healthy race of intelligent yet soulless people that are already open to the idea of merging with their AI allies, who already do what they are told by their benevolent leaders. Necrons turn up, ethereals say "this is for the greater good" and suddenly the necrons have new and healthy bodies with a built in advanced civilisation to match.

[@piero6252]

That's an interesting Theory, the "Necrontyr" (the name of the Necrons when they were biological) have much in common with Tau: a very short lifespan and rapid technological developmend. In addition Necrons recently helped many times Tau against Tyranids, for a non specificated purpose.

[@edmundthespiffing2920]

@@piero6252 I subscribe to this theory

[@skalgrimfellaxe5796]

Your theory is probably the most logical even, the Tau even have a physical (atleast facial features) similarity to the Necrontyr if we are to belive the art of the Necrontyr that exists. Makes sense that they would pick the one species closest resembling their old forms, that is far of from the galactic centre (of attention) and then let them grow in numbers and power all the while having absolute control via the Ethereals. That Necrons have fought them on a few occasions might just be minor skirmishes, test-runs, or non-involved dynasties, while the one dynasty behind it all (probably Silent King affiliated) keep the bulk of Necron forces in check so as to not wipe the Tau out by accident.

[@adamjones9354]

@@skalgrimfellaxe5796 Exactly! Their extraordinary leaps in technology could be a result of carefully planned advancement programmes and even their inability to use the warp isn't that big of an issue as it keeps them mostly out of trouble and also allows the necrons to swoop in with their Dolman gate tech later without any fuss. Considering the huge guilt and regret the Silent King feels for his part in the betrayal by the C'tan I can see this being something he'd do to atone.

[@jacob5700]

The whole warpstorms enveloping the system speaks against this. The necron have not and never had any warp powers as far as I know. I’m more inclined to think it’s Eldrad having a bit of fun.

[@svagglaorde4387]

The Tau are Lord Kroak's self insert faction for Warhammer 40k. He maybe in Warhammer Fantasy but that doesn't mean he can't play the great game with the Chaos Gods and The Emperor of Man in their universe.

[@robertnelson9599]

Then why does he not use the Slann?

[@gamer65688]

@@robertnelson9599 because they're dummy thicc and the clap of their ass cheeks would alert the Chaos Gods to their presence within the 40k universe.

[@NemFX]

"We discovered the race known as the Tau, and the planet called Tau.. We really blew the naming budget that day, let me tell ya.."

[@40KTheories]

Eh, it's no different from the Vulcans coming from Vulcan xD

[@deadmanwalking971]

@@40KTheories You're certainly not wrong, Mate.

[@rosskwolfe]

That's why in Babylon 5, non-human species call humans "Earthers".

[@Oliolli3]

This is known among Imperial scholars as the Iron Hands Naming Convention.

[@NemFX]

@@rosskwolfe I like futurama's earthikins myself

[@mphoramathe1801]

Silent King: Really glad I unlocked the accelerated evolution perk on the Tau, looks like we're going to need those new bodies

[@gryphonofmight]

Enjoy your time off Remleiz, you have more than earned it

[@donperez8774]

(Ancient Tau wise ones, on seeing Imperium of Man vessels and warp storms, approaching a sacred, hidden cave) "Ancestors said, break glass in case of this stuff ..." (Ancient tomb opens filled with Necrontyr technology and an AI hologram greeting them with "Hey cousins, guess what? Got a few centuries to sit down, listen about the family tree history, learn to play with some cool toys and try out an experimental biology tank?") /Cheers to a vacation, Remleiz. You've entertained this writer and gamer well.

[@cosuinofdeath]

“Holy Emperor….This isn’t fair…. Wait…why can’t I move or speak” “Welcome to the collection”-Trazyn The Infinite

[@seanread5556]

could really do without them retconning yet ANOTHER thing to be 'necrons did it'. they already butchered the war in heaven so badly that now there were two, do we really need EVERYTHING to be necrons?

[@AsbestosMuffins]

@@seanread5556 War in Heaven 1 had such a shitty treaty that it lead to War in Heaven 2

[@anothga]

Tau homeworld just so happened to get protected by Warp storms right when the Imperium was about to colonize it, thus granting the Tau society a chance to evolve and reach for the stars? That's awfully *convenient.*

[@zerlichr426]

We call it plot armor

[@custink22]

Just as planned

[@kieranweller8523]

Elder interference?

[@guardsmanlars6797]

Hmmmmmm

[@LexYeen]

@@custink22 The Farsight books heavily imply you're right to suggest the Tau are Tzeentch's fault.

[@-Big_Big]

i think the warp storms when they vanished, "awoke" the ethereals to their "power" as it might have been forced into not working. but once they could use and understand their power they gathered together and took control over the planet.

[@Ironclad17]

That would imply the ethereals are psi sensitive.

[@-Big_Big]

@@Ironclad17 they did not need much other than to be able to compel their own species. even if it just makes them more charming and then combined with a strong doctrine system.

[@dralord1307]

@@Ironclad17 We know that when "forgot his name" and his forces got away from the main Tau homeworlds and their ethereal died the realized they had been manipulated and created their only split empire. Considering the Etherials ended the war with just 1 word it seems most likely they do have some form of "power" over the others. The others feel compelled to follow their orders beyond just admiration. Smells very much of psionic powers to me. Maybe there is a version of "powers" that dont need warp energy, that are purely biological

[@ClydeC]

The Firewarrior Menu Theme.. Damn, brings me back to '02 days, waking up early to play on the PS2..

[@Spartan878455]

What if the organ allows the Ethereal to affect the tau's soul? Ethereals have souls stronger than almost all tau, and no biological nor psychic means have been discovered so far. So that leaves the soul.

[@LexYeen]

Saying Ethereals have stronger souls than all other Tau is like saying a 15-watt bulb is brighter than a 10-watt bulb: Technically correct, but not nearly as much of a difference as you think.

[@Matt-md5yt]

I remembered this one, glad to see it updated

[@hughtonne1775]

What If, The Ethereals are actually Tau time travelers, by using the Warp Storms that saved them from Humanity, or by some other means ?

[@matenzo]

I smell time-travel shenanigans. Ethereals could be future tau that travelled back in time during the warp storms.

[@Dogdrule]

Given that there is canonically a warp phenomena within T'au space called Al Rashaq (mentioned in the Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker novel), which is purported to be a stable corridor through time that would allow time travel to the past, this is certainly not out of the question.

[@chenli9778]

Last Time I was that early, Tau just mastered how to use arrow (at least fire class)

[@MagicNumberArg]

My bet, it's the Necron Silent King trying to restore Necrontir race before the K'tan enslavement. But he liked the control protocol enough to make his own version.

[@schoenperkins8210]

Tau where created by the remnants of the Men of Iron. Drones are the ones really in charge and the ethereals are just Vox casters/Radio antennas

[@iantorres145]

Gotta admit this is probably one of the more original theories out there. Thanks @Schoen Perkins

[@kerbal666]

Plot twist: A tribe of Tau found some of the tech the Mechanicus left behind and played around with it enhanced themselves and thus gave the Tau as a whole a huge technological boost.

[@irondarknessdarkness8900]

the Etheral Tau are plainly to me Tzeentech's work oldest trick in the sorcery book --use mundane tools to mask your hand.

[@Lleanlleawrg]

My bet is Tzeentch too. He's the chaos god of change. Warp storms protected them from the empire, and they underwent insane evolution (change) in a short time.

[@LexYeen]

@@GrungleSnomk There's more than _just_ that in those books.

[@Themannis93]

I always thought it was possible a left over old one might be left over and is trying to manipulate events to try and get revenge on the necrons

[@goldengod5284]

Yours is an impressive youtube library my friend I for one value your work greatly. Supercharge those battery's brother

[@Codeman1930]

Ordo Draigo reporting! We bring the HAMS!!!

[@updfdrakkell143]

Custodies reporting! We have brought the baby oil!

[@DivineErdrick]

I've always wondered, especially considering lore that hints the violence in the Damacles sector helped provide a path for the Cicatrix Maladictum, if the Tau are actually Warp altered. The affect of the Tau on the galaxy is the kind of thing Tzeentch delights in. The fact that they have a smaller presence in the Warp not only works as a misdirection, but also helps prevent other Warp entities from interfering in that kind of long term plan.

[@screamingcactus1753]

My only issue with the Tzeentch theory is that the Tau aren't internally chaotic. Sure, they bring change to the planets they envelop once, but once a planet becomes part of the Tau empire, things become very uneventful. As a society, they are very stable and rigid, and they aren't so cruel to their people as to breed rebellions by the hundreds like the Imperium does. Things just don't change internally for them all that much.

[@_NIKOS9_NIKOS]

@@screamingcactus1753 yes and no, sure living in the Tau Empire is rather peacefull and uneventful compared to other planets but I'd argue that change does occur on very regular bases if nothing alse due to the new species that join and the new technologies that are constantly being invented. I mean those guys went from being cavemen to starting their own stellar empire in what might as well be the blink of an eye to an immortal god. That's some serious change, pluss the shenanigans they get themselves into when they try to bite a bit more than what they can chew (remember the 4th sphare of expansion?) sure provides some decent entertainment if nothing alse.

[@Kingneo0053]

Happy holiday. You've earned it. Also there is another theory people had about the Tau's origin. They are Necrotyr. Necrotyr crash land on a world. They can't repair their ship, SOS fails, etc. Time passes. They become hunter gatherers and farmers. Lacking the equipment and infrastructure to set up more advanced settlements. More time passes. Everyone forgets where they came from. Things from their past become legends, folklore, etc. More time passes. Their societies begin to form into the Tau Clans, those Tau Clans are united by one of those Clans, and it's the story that we're more familiar with. That rapid technological growth could be 100% natural, the result of their ancestors' artifacts being discovered and reverse engineered, or a combination of the two. An alternative idea that some have had for this origin is a genetics project to bring back the species (as a biological species). So why do some people think the Tau might be Necrotyr? Both are short lived. Both lack psykers (even before the Necrotyr became the Necrons they lacked psykers). Both had the FTL problem. Both had deep interspecies conflict (divided into Houses/Clans that are trying to kill each other to the point of potential extinction for the species). Both were united under a single ruler for the achievement of a goal. It explains how the Tau might have technologically evolved so fast (reverse engineering of primitive Necrotyr tech. Primitive by Necron standards). And it adds an additional reason as to why the Tau have a weak presence in the warp (Slannash's consumption of Eldar souls affected the Dark Eldar differently than it did the rest of the species. The C'Tan's consumption of Necrotyr souls, despite not making physical contact with this lost colony, could have had similar effects on those living on this lost world.)

[@iainengle-roe2861]

Love all your theory vids. Keep it up

[@crypteknoname6669]

Sorry for the late comment, just catching up on some videos. Consider this, it could have been the necrons who guided the tau. Hyper advanced tech? A caste that has almost absolute control? And almost no presence in the warp? Sounds like a perfect race to try and reverse bio-transferance with.

[@keithmatthew5578]

Love your channel never quit your channel

[@derekburge5294]

"Galactic super-power" Okay, sure, let's go with that. Calm down, blueberries.

[@JayAndNightASMR]

I wonder if it was the same thing that happened with the imperium in the age of technology. Rapid development and expansion that will end up with it causing their destruction. It would be cool to see a mirroring of the imperium downfall

[@Duppyman695]

The dreaded AI wiil rise and rebel against there Tau slave masters! a 2nd cybernetic revolt!

[@cawlsthirdfoot1982]

Good vacation, good video have a nice rest

[@kingbaldwiniv5409]

Great theory video! I think that it is perfectly within the realm of probability that the Eldar or Dark Eldar simply took samples from the other xenos race before the queen incident. The queen could have been part of a faster expansion plan instead of being necessary for the initial etherial infiltration.

[@michaelhowell2326]

When one enters the Warp, what does it look like? Is it bright or dark? Monochromatic or vivid colors? Or does it change every time one enters? This was one of your better videos in a long time, Rem.

[@Duppyman695]

In the book 'Eye of Terror' it says the warp looks different to different people!

[@Icspiders247]

This mystery pretty much hinges on: #1 the origins of the Ethereal caste. #2 the incredibly convenient warp storm.

[@sussy_6998]

"Today on Ancient Aliens."

[@dmajor9982]

Perhaps the old ones did make the tau. But put them in an area of space that was warp riddled for awhile, functionally a stasis area. And they were made to come to power in time to fight the crons if the other races were gone. Could explains their incredibly quick ascension

[@monsterno.definablenever.3484]

I say yes-By themselves, time-travel style. Sometime in the future, they develop warp tech that allows them to go into the warp and exit at a previous time, then time travel back in time to genetically engineer themselves.

[@someguy669]

THIS THE TIME POLICE! You’re under arrest for creating a time loop.

[@Zakiriel]

I guess we should ask "Kitten" about all this?

[@Duppyman695]

We can't GW killed him ...... violently!

[@matichotujec6266]

Awesome theory :D

[@TheMalkavianmadman]

My theory for the tau is that each caste is a seperate but closely related species (similar to how in prehistory you had many homonid species on earth) and that they co evolved at what seems like a faster rate due to being trapped within the warp storms. Not sure why their homeworld didn't get screwed over by chaos though.

[@dralord1307]

We know the Tau were one race that has been diversified due to the cast system they have been forced into. The time fuckery does make sense though.

[@iantorres145]

The Tau were already separated into their subspecies before the ethereals instituted the caste system they have now.

[@scrubbyjanitor1704]

There were someone else that learned from the old ones, someone who don't care much for psychic abilities and likes cast structures. One who is dedicated to learn more about biology but does not talk about it out loud, for he is the silent king.

[@Warrior-Of-Virtue]

Considering that the planet was enveloped in warp storms, perhaps the appearance of the Ethereals was the result of Chaotic mutation. It may even have been done deliberately by the Chaos Gods to force the Imperium to commit forces to guarding the border of Tau Space that might have been better used in other theaters.

[@AwankO]

I like this one 🤔 📝.

[@sebcranston7981]

I like the idea of there being one old one left to shepherdthe Tau. It may of been hibernating/ meditating in a remote moutain or something and the found by the Tau who would become the ethereals. If the Void dragon was able to hide out in mars for tens of millions of years then there is no reason an old one couldn't.

[@alexpjp9082]

The Tau didn't really develop so unreasonably quickly. The etherials appeared during the Tau's gunpowder age. We first used gunpowder in 904 (not until 1267 in Europe). Look how far we have developed in 1000 years. Now imagine that every human was under the same common philosophy and all striving for the greater good of mankind. I personally don't think the Tau's technological development is particularly surprising.

[@bloodangel19]

6000 years affter we discovered fire we could barelly build functional comunities , if even that, while the tau are a threat to the galaxy

[@alexpjp9082]

@@bloodangel19 That is fair. I though they were potentially late Neolithic when they were first discovered. If they didn't do an us and keep having their major bronze age civilisations collapse they could have powered through a lot quicker. Them having only just discovered fire is quite a big difference though, so yeah, certainly something else afoot.

[@_NIKOS9_NIKOS]

pluss the fact that they have relative short lifespans probably speed things up as well

[@tavernburner3066]

The problem with this theory is Competition breeds innovation. A hyper collectivist and unified species like the tau should have regressed not advanced technologically.

[@alexpjp9082]

@@tavernburner3066 In our world yes . But if you are supper indoctrinated and spurred on to produce ever increasing greatness for the collective greater good it might be different. Regardless it depends on the degree of competition. They say 500 years of progress was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire, and who knows how much was lost with the fall of many of those Bronze Age empires. I think its more to do with Governments only pumping a huge amount of money into research when the situation is dire (such as in war). There is no reason why they couldn't do the same in peace time. In fact we are currently in an era of peace in the West, and technology is still developing faster and faster. (arguably due to the competitive nature of capitalism though- so who knows)

[@ltcinsane]

I mean it's claimed that the old ones were entirely wiped out ... but it's usually pretty hard to sipe out a galaxy-spanning species, perhaps they went underground & have just been working from the shadows since the war in heaven.

[@briankuczynski6884]

Watsonian hat says no: the [wrong-timed] eldar absconding with one planet's equivalent of a Rachni Queen does make the Tau Ethereals uplifted. If the eldar had such a creation to their credit, why aren't they able to synthesize new organisms, like counter-Tyranids? Doylist hat: there are already a number of progenitor race shenanigans afoot, as you documented. Making the Tau yet another instance of that doesn't actually add delicious lore diversity to the grimdark future. The ethereal caste just being mysteriously good loci of coordination is already a finger in the eye of the Eldari and Imperium alike.

[@iantorres145]

Honestly, I agree with Doyle's assessment on this one. At the end of the day, the Tau are leading their own path at this point, whoever's it was probably don't matter in grand scheme of things

[@worldlinezero4783]

Enjoy your slumber, Lore Daddy. You deserve it

[@christofferthorsson7657]

Just had a thought. If Tau is the name of the race, and Tauva means "Greater good" does that mean that they named their race "greater" or "good"?

[@nedeleavitt]

The T'au were engineered by the Harlequins, as a joke

[@Duppyman695]

Dark humour! but a very funny practical joke!

[@asaenvolk]

Engineered? Likely no, uplifted? yes.

[@VeeTOHFan]

Perhaps the reason they’re so accepting of humans is that they’re a subspecies of human That’d be cool

[@MercurialStatic]

@@VeeTOHFan maybe they just aren’t utter xenophobic jerks like the rest of the 40k factions.

[@wammert]

By whom??

[@cosuinofdeath]

@@wammert GENESTEALERS

[@updfdrakkell143]

@@MercurialStatic Choas is the most inclusive oddly... but I see 40k as a 70-30 hate to Eh.. the enemy of my enemy...

[@dominikfittschen2955]

The T'au have many culture similaritys with the La'er , maybe their evolution at the time of the warpstorms was a "gift" of slaanesh.

[@davetycho8330]

Tau: achieves galactic superpower status in 6000 years. Tau’ri: hold my beer.

[@TheMasterPandaBear]

Enjoy your R&R Rem! I hope you get better

[@tavernburner3066]

My best guess is that it was the cabal who made the tau so that the Galaxy would be Ruled by a species with weak souls to fight chaos. A backup plan if Horus didn’t win.

[@austinbeale4372]

In an older codex the fact that imperials were abandoned on tau with the warp storms or at least imperial weapons and technology left behind giving the tau a huge leg-up earlier than they should hav been aware of such tech. Probably retconned by ward and/or kelly

[@iamkrohn]

I honestly think the Tau are cloned Necrons

[@johnbeck1978]

Cloned or started as an enclave of necrontyr that turned its back on their races war like way and degenerated.

[@iamkrohn]

@@johnbeck1978 something like that. There are only two races that rely solely on tech. The Necrons and Tau. Both have no Psychic capabilities

[@dirtyblonde1011]

Would the necrons recognize them as an offshoot then? I'm somewhat new to the lore, so I don't know if there were any interactions between the two. I do think the theory holds weight though, since the silent king spent the whole time awake and trying to find a way to undo their...curse, I guess you could call it

[@iamkrohn]

@@dirtyblonde1011 I honestly don't know about any Tau and Necrons interactions

[@johnbeck1978]

@@dirtyblonde1011 if the current necrons could think straight they might recognise the tau. However as we all know biotranference wasn't kind to the necrons.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Probably "uplifted" more

[@thelardmaker6806]

Everyone keeps pointing out to this diagram but read the description of the diagram. Unknown 'diamond-organ', in the forehead of the Tau Ethereal. Ridged carapace contains ultradense chemo/hormonal fluids (overpowering scent). Rear ganglia connect to cerebral lobe. Polyp-structures vaguely reminiscent of 'pheromone' glands amongst Terran invertebrates (cf. silk worm). (Spec: Perhaps a pheromonal communication system? The sensitivity of Tau olfactory senses would certainly support a process of airborne chemical 'signifiers'. Perhaps the Ethereal asserts a measure of control over lesser castes? Results are INCONCLUSIVE, and the purpose of this organ REMAINS UNKNOWN.)

[@iantorres145]

Yet you still find fans who obsess over the ethereals using those pheromones to control client species when it would do diddly squat to non-tau anyway

[@dstubby82]

In my head canon Rem has been called into the field by the inquisition as a subject matter expert on some obscure but vitally important matter on which the future of the imperium hangs. 😊

[@thenewwaydevil]

Hey man enjoy ur time off

[@johnmackay6323]

Certainty brings a new light to the Tau. Got to admit, I am intrigued.

[@robertcain7630]

Let me first admit that I do not know a great deal about the T'au, they have never really atracted my interest in the same way as other races. That said, this is a very interesting video which raises some equally intriguing questions... Perhaps some great ecological catastrophe effected the T'au home world which all but destroyed their civilisation? This could have scattered and greatly reduced their population and forced them to de-evolve from a technical prospective? They could have regressed from a bronze or even iron-age culture back to the stone-age and have to rebuild, and this is the culture that the Imperium discovered 6 thousand years ago? If that had indeed been the case, then perhaps the Ethereals are an isolated tribe who survived the catastrophe intact and continued developing their technology until they felt it was time to take charge and lead their people? The Ethereals' greater knowledge could have led to a seemingly rapid advancement in T'au technology, especially if they were driven to advance by a singular purpose (an example of "what we could achieve together" sort of thing) driven by a greater hunger to advance quickly from their shorter life-spans?

[@jekabsviksna]

What if they're remnants of Necrontyr that got separated from the rest of the race and didn't undergo the robotification? After eons of regression they might be found by Necrons and accelerated in their development by their now robotic cousins/ancestors?

[@Douwest1]

My theory about the t'au is that they were once a powerful empire back is around M20-M25 and were beaten down to the point that they had to enact a doomsday protocol of some sort akin to SPC-3000, the protocol would have turned the planet barren and started to terraform the planet to what T'au is now and once the planet was able to support life again the T'au peoples were re-introduced to the planet. For the Ethereals, they were a specialty selected group that was to lead the T'au to where they are now and try to rebuild their Ancient empire. Basicly I'm just saying that the T'au are the biological analog of the Necrons.

[@bigz4339]

Last time I was this early, the Tau were still known as Necrontyr.

[@Boxfortress]

I wonder if the warp storms pulled the planet into the warp but did the usual time displacement thing. Outside very little time passed but inside enough time passed for them to advance.

[@vortex_1336]

The Mechanicum. They found a nice stone age race they could tinker with. Maybe the warp storm was a lie so the experiment could continue(or maybe just the someone on that particular research vessel got a little to attached to their subjects and caused the warp storm).

[@danesorensen1775]

I feel like if the Eldar really did manufacture a new sentient species they wouldn't make one with next to no warp signature. They'd make one with a huge warp signature that was delicious to boot so She Who Thirsts would take his eye of them for a few warp-damned minutes already.

[@Corsair-Mandrake]

I remeber a while making a personal theory that the tau were a evolutionary cousin of necrons, that some did not what biotranspherence and fled to the eastern fringe. The little evidence I had many holes in it tho

[@grimslayer8499]

I was deepdiving inside the 40k Fandom wiki and i had a question. Are the Slann and the Old Ones the same thing in 40k?

[@40KTheories]

Technically no, but the reason as to why I use pictures of the Slann to visually represent the Old Ones is due to the fact that in 1st edition lore, the Old Ones technically didn't exist, and all of the achievements were attributed to "the ancient Slann". The 5th edition Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen book also mentions how the Slann were spawned by the Old Ones, pretty much linking the two together.

[@grimslayer8499]

@@40KTheories That i understand, but multiple wikies refer to them as diffrent and the same species. Thats why i was a bit confused

[@davehood2667]

Every race the old Ones created were high if not ubiquitous in psychic power, the Tau's unheard-of lack thereof has me thinking the Necrons or their former masters, much about the Tau reeks of the Deceiver. Their rapid technological development however shows every sign of being reverse engineered from Dark Age Human tech, though whether they looted that pre-Imperial ship themselves or had it handed to them is unknown.

[@aredjayc2858]

I think the Etherials are the "Engineers" of the other sub-species, which would explain the deference shown by the others for them. They wouldn't be viewed as "superiors" but rather as something akin to elder siblings

[@MyTomServo]

Someone had to have created them because no species could have evolved plot armor that thick by natural means.

[@thomastakesatollforthedark2231]

Humans.

[@MyTomServo]

@@thomastakesatollforthedark2231 Old lore suggested humans were a Necron experiment because of Pariahs, so you might be right lol

[@ethansams883]

Szarekh made them to be the redemption of his sin. It is just not time yet, but one cannot ignore the striking similarity between the T’au and the few renderings of Necrontyr that we have.

[@sickofwashington]

I like how the word "T'au" is used as literally a noun, verb, or adjective in their language with complete different translations for the word's meaning. It's like the writers have an inside joke going on where they're the "Space Smurfs". eg. "Smurf you, Smurfette! Smurf that again and I'll smurf you in your smurfing smurf!"😜

[@Digitaaliklosetti]

thay's smurfed up man

[@Snakedude4life]

Completely unrelated but for some reason I thought tau had green or blue colored blood. Chances are I was actually thinking about the elites or grunts from Halo. 🎩 🐍 no step on snek! 🇭🇰🇺🇸

[@40KTheories]

Depending on the source, the colour of T'au blood is either blue or purple (or a blueish-purple in some more pedantic examples xD)

[@Snakedude4life]

@@40KTheories Ah, So the discord people I was talking to were entirely wrong. I was worrying that I was having another Mandela effect moment.

[@40KTheories]

In the novel "Fire Caste" for example, an Earth Caste engineer has his head blown apart in a "purplish spray"

[@cosuinofdeath]

“Nods”

[@updfdrakkell143]

@@cosuinofdeath your the one who shot him aint ya...

[@lwangsness9734]

I wouldn't exactly call the Tau a superpower.

[@gregconen]

If we're to take the rapid societal advancement of the T'au as evidence of outside engineering, that engineering must have started before the introduction of the Ethereal cast. If they went from pre-agricultural in 789.M35 to having gunpowder in 791.M36, that's the equivalent of (at least) 12 millennia of human development in a single millennium (ending at the equivalent of late M1 or early M2). That's not quite as much of a speedup as going from that to the equivalent of early Dark Age of Technology (circa M15) equivalent in time for the first sphere of expansion in 502.M37, but it's still a lot. Also notable, they're slowed down a lot since then. As I understand it, they didn't have FTL until they could reverse engineer human warp drives in M41, which means they were actually *slower* to make that development than humans: going from the equivalent of circa M15 to circa M18 human technology took them 4 millennia.

[@heavenbreaker3702]

I wonder when will the tau meet the adeptus custodes.

[@robertnelson9599]

That will occur when the Black Library writers want the Tau to be curb stomped to a ridiculous degree.

[@jackstrayfeald1007]

@@robertnelson9599 Hopefully. Sooner rather than later.

[@edmundthespiffing2920]

@@robertnelson9599 and Shadowsun will somehow manage to kill one of them

[@custink22]

@@edmundthespiffing2920 or sleep with... I can just see it now, the Emperor going "DAMMIT KITTEN! THAT BOY AINT RIGHT, I TELL YA HWHAT!"

[@risa123456789]

They were almost certainly engineered or uplifted. The question is who. Could be rogue Eldar/Necron lord to combat Chaos dues to no psychic presence. My favorite though is that this might be either a last-ditch effort or the first sign of resurgence for some Old One survivors...

[@Ben_of_Langley]

If the tau were in a warp storm for 6000 years because of how we know the warp works it might have been like twenty or fourty thousand years for them which would explain why they are so technology advance or at least that's what I like to think when it comes to them. Other than that interesting video thanks for the upload

[@AGS363]

1:45 OK. What is so difficult understand about "PURGE THE XENOS"? Seems to be a quite simple rule.....

[@40KTheories]

The Imperium was ready to do so. Then a series of Warp Storms said "no."

[@thomaschitham3487]

I am a believer in the idea from the Older fluff: that an alien spaceship the T'au found on own of their moon was a crashed Human Golden Age colony ship, and they've been reverse-engineering and repurposing the tech they research there.

[@40KTheories]

Which book was that from? That's the first I've ever heard of the T'au finding a derelict ship on their homeworld's moon.

[@thomaschitham3487]

​@@40KTheories I don't know the early fluff book that says the ship was Human, but the ship itself was mentioned (don't quote me if I'm wrong) in Issue 17 of the Battlefleet Gothic magazine, and which was complied into Battlefleet Gothic Armada rulebook. I think that might be where you find it. (Battlefleet Gothic Magazine Issue 17 page 4-5 & Battlefleet Gothic Armada page 96) *"On the innermost of T’au seven’s moons a routine geological survey discovered the remains of an alien vessel.* [...] No Tau commented on the sheer good fortune of finding the technology that they so desperately needed on their doorstep just when they needed it. *The Tau were able to duplicate the warp drive of the alien ship but the initial test flights were disastrous.* Achieving transition to the Warp required more than technology, it required psychically attuned minds and the Tau race boasted no psykers. Without them to guide the transition no amount of power could breach the dimensional barriers. The best the Tau could do was make a partial transition, forcing themselves into the void that separated Warpspace and real space before they were hurled out again like a ball held under water then released." I don't know which early book said the ship was Human. All I know is that it was a book that (incorrectly) said the Tau had toes and no nasal slits and that the Eldar secretly uplifted them through the Ethereals. But that's all of dubious canonicity. It's probably be best to start with the very early Tau books, then move up from there. So sorry I can't help more.

[@HunterSentinel]

They’re the second coming of the old ones!!!!!

[@cryptosporidium1375]

May humanity do what the Eldar didn’t to humanity, be mentors to the Tau.

[@Tacoguy1000]

Hmm, last I checked, humanity wanted to kill them off entirely like the rest.

[@spookyghostwriter3110]

They already have- and, as it so happens, so has every other xenos species. Lesson no1: you live in a galaxy where the nice people want you exterminated, and the mean people want even worse. Lesson no2: there are things out there that make even surrendering to the mean people mentioned in Lesson no1 look like paradise in comparison.

[@cosuinofdeath]

We having fish sticks tonight boys-nids

[@updfdrakkell143]

@@spookyghostwriter3110 Yep... Like my ex wife...

[@die1mayer]

Fear The Alien. Hate The Alien. Kill The Alien.

[@Knights_Oath]

I think the blueberries are genetically modified Necrontyr clones. Created by The Silent King upon his return to the galaxy. He is just waiting for there to be enough Tau to do a mass bio transference.

[@ErikWarhammer]

My guess, the Warp. Eather by Tzeentch or by reality-warping of the storms changed or "speeded up" the evolution of the T'au. While this might not make sense due to their weak souls, It is possible that the T'au were planned to be the "Next dominant Race" in the Galaxy to supplant Humanity, much like how Humanity would become the dominant Race during the Age of Technology as the Eldar withdrew into their empire and began their decline into hedonism and debauchery. Ultimately leading to a repeat of history, where Humanity would withdraw to Sumentum Solar, As the T'au grew to greater dominance only for the Ethereals (or even regular) to "awaken" into True Psykers resulting in another "Age of Strife". With a fresh race of souls for the Dark Gods to feed upon.

[@Shatterverse]

"Superpower" is a bit generous. If the Imperium could ever be _bothered_ then curb stomping them would be trivial. That's not to mention that their whole empire would crumble before a full-on Tyranid fleet invasion or Ork Waagh.

[@Neeverseen]

A (too) rapidly evolving race with no soul/presence in the warp? Maybe an Eldari or Necron project to create future vessels for their kin trapped in crystals or living metal.

[@StealthNinja4577]

Isn't farsight immune to ethereals so you could potentially ask him what he feels when in their presence and I'm sure he has children so maybe his lineage is akin to blanks and the ethereals can feel them. I'm on the imperium side of purging the ethereal lead ones. Farsight seems cool.

[@iantorres145]

Farsight isn't immune as much as his past disagreements with the Ethereal has simply hardened his stubbornness in following their orders. Again, ethereals are not everywhere at once and there are plenty of tau systems that have no ethereals present and operate just fine.

[@CommanderBludgeon]

Personally I always preferred the Ethereals using psychic powers to control the Tau rather than pheromones

[@captainanopheles4307]

any one else auto double tap to get past the intro? love the vids though.

[@LordOmnissiah]

2 things people forget: 1). GW is notoriously bad at keeping their timelines straight as evidenced by them altering when the Plague Wars occurred. 2). Time travel due to warp shenanigans is possible as evidenced by the story of the Ork war boss who beat up his past self in order to get a second copy of his favorite weapon. So the Eldar going back in time to mess with the Tau is entirely doable. That or the Necrons engineered the Tau though honestly the former seems more likely given both Eldar and Tau have societies based on a caste/path based system.

[@40KTheories]

1) That was more of a deliberate retcon by Black Library in order to better coincide with the Dawn of Fire series 2) The Aeldari don't utilise the warp for faster than light travel (utilising the Webway exclusively), so the time distorting effects of warp space wouldn't be a factor. The reason why the Aeldari don't (and won't) travel through warp space is to avoid the attentions of Slaanesh, for as soon as an Aeldari enters the warp, Slaanesh immediately turns their attention towards them (not to mention their soul attracting scores of daemonic entities from all across the warp, intent on consuming such a potent soul)

[@Dragoth1337]

The age limits of tau makes a story gap now that had to be retconed. They originally said the plague wars lasted several centuries. That means farsite and other tau heros would have died of old age but still would have been playable in games. Even with the time retcon in 9th this still makes several tau heros too old. It makes me wonder how of gw will handle this as time is passing in lore faster then their life expectancy.

[@40KTheories]

In regards to Farsight, his lifespan is being unnaturally extended by the Dawn Blade, which adds the remaining lifespan of those he kills to his own. As for the other T'au heroes, when they aren't in combat they're kept in cryo-stasis, hence why they're still around.

[@Dragoth1337]

@@40KTheories was that in the new codexes? I was an original tau player in 3rd. I played through 5th and have not played them since. I honestly have not read the newer tau books. My gaps in cannon lore on tau have widened in recent years.

[@40KTheories]

Codecies and novels, yes

[@shiverman8]

What if the lost primarch that had a diamond on his forehead created the tau race and also created the ethereal ones who share a similar diamond on their forehead?

[@kleanthisxanthopoulos9670]

There is only one race that genetically engineered pretty much every other race, humans included; The Old Ones. The Old Ones had the modus operati and the power to do such a thing as well as shield the Tau from the Imperium. The Tau are part of The Old Ones' very very very long game of battling Chaos. As for the problem of the Old Ones race having disappeared, well all it required were a few individuals and not an entire race and there have been other hints of a few individuals having survived elsewhere as well (e.g. a member of the Cabal)

[@evilmiera]

I mean, which of the 40k races /weren't/ engineered? Space Marines and some humans, Necrons, Eldar , Orks, Tyranids, etc.

[@40KTheories]

Eh the 'Nids were only rumoured to be engineered. Nothing concrete about them, especially with older codecies referring to them as "evolution at its most extreme".

[@evilmiera]

@@40KTheories Well, in a sense they are engineered between generations, as the hive mind is seemingly practicing selection for it's beings and new fleets based on need rather than unthinking evolution, which is based around non-selective breeding/creation via external stimuli.