Tau Auxiliaries
When the Tau first came out back in the early 2000's the idea was that we'd get something never before seen in the war-torn galaxy of Warhammer 40,000.
No, not Mechas, they're cool, and no not just a faction that doesn't use skulls as its primary aesthetic. No.
We were told the Tau would be a rare coalition of dozens of alien species actually cooperating together to survive and thrive. There would even be humans who had joined this cause!
And we got a grand total of two purchasable units in the last two+ decades!
sad Tau noises
But in the face of adversity and the lack of attention from GW (sometimes I almost wish we had lieutenants) our community has risen to the challenge and come up with some absolutely incredible interpretations and inventions this hobby can contain.
Take a look!
Official List
Let's kick off with the official species mentioned over the years from Black Library to White Dwarf Community articles.
As a quick primer; not all species mentioned are fully integrated or even really a "part" of the Commonwealth. There appears to be several 'ranks' of membership, which, makes sense since the Tau break everything from hierarchy to colonial types into these categories.
All races seem to have full access to void-travel be it by their own vessels or the Tau commerce fleet. Additionally, all races seem to have an affinity for one Caste or another with the exception of the Gue'vesa (humans) who have adopted all of the Castes with the seeming exception of the Ethereals.
There are "Full-Member" species like the Kroot or Vespid. They get colonial rights like we see on Kronos. They also have a more liberal access to Tau weaponry and technology as well as the ability to lead Tau forces.
Then there are "Member" species which seems to be a little more restricted. These might include untested or newly incorporated Gue'vesa.
Lastly are "Client" species which seem to include ideal mercenaries and trading partners and seem to operate completely autonomously from the rest of the Commonwealth.
Incredible artwork by Nictanova
Anthrazods: A dim witted race that joined the Commonwealth in the First Sphere of Expansion. They are known for their asteroid mining and construction abilities and when they are directed by the Earth Caste or Demiurg, they can build city structures like no other.
Boaburi: Aided in the rebuilding of Dal'yth after the Damocles Crusade. They are a trading partner.
Charpactin: A people of sentient fungal growths and are a more recent addition encountered in the 5th Sphere of Expansion. They have powerful mind-influencing abilities which are so powerful that they can counter the effects of Chaos. They seem to operate as a full-member species.
Conversions robot_jones
Demiurg/Leagues of Votann: At least one of the Demiurg/LOV brotherhoods have had trade agreements with the Tau and Kroot for thousands of years. The two listed are the Thurm and Sry'tok but it is unclear which has done what. What is known is that it was the Demiurg that negotiated the destruction of an Ork Waagh! that could have destroyed the Tau before their First Sphere Expansion.
Since that time the Demiurg have traded Ion technology as well as assisted in the redesign of the Air Caste Fleet after the Damocles Gulf Crusade. They operate as trading partners but there are examples of Demiurg fighting and dying to protect Tau implying that at least some may have fully joined the Commonwealth.
Domati: An unknown species that utilize "Wyrmships" in space. Formosians: Joined the Tau in 896.m40 during the Second Sphere.
G'nosh: Known for cargo hauling.
Galg: A people best described as a mass of tentacles originating from the world Adummin. While their species fully joined the Commonwealth there have been evidence that some have rejected this and now operate as mercenaries and freedom fights.
Young galg oil is a hallucinogenic and narcotic prized by Dark Eldar.
Greet: An invertebrate species who's home world of Isla'su on the outskirts of the Fa'lshia Sept. Initially discovered by the Air Caste they negotiated a lasting relationship of mutual protection and new trade opportunities in exchange for technology.
The surface of their world and its planet spanning oceans is now dotted with floating factories and they provide the Commonwealth with food with extensive hydroponic and aquaculture farms.
They are known to have vessels called Lineships and Stealthers which were notably part of Farsight's Reclamation two hundred and fifty years ago.
Hrenian: Deploy "light infantry" for the Commonwealth and have seen combat with the D'yanoi Sept implying a potential location for their home world.
Jagordians: A race that is known for creating the "scepter of unity" for Aun'Wei the former Ethereal Supreme before Aun'Va.
Ji'atrix: Void farers, described as being "ethereal" which could mean they are non-corporeal
Kroot: Home world Pech and as such are known as Pech'vesa in Tau'sia but there are instances of them referred to as "Jikita" which could be in their own tongue. The Kroot joined the Tau after being saved from the Orks when their interstellar empire collapsed. They are a full membership species which have colonial rights.
It is worth noting that Kroot can 'terraform' planets and will slowly replace fauna with their own variants after subsumption.
M'uh'ja: Assisted in rebuilding Dal'yth, they are trade partners.
Phosiab: Can see in 9 dimensions and can operate or "slip" through the void unharmed. It is noted that they have provided this ability and are a boon to extra-orbital construction.
Morralian: Deploy "Deathsworn". Morralian young's skin are used as luxury robes by the Dark Eldar.
Nagi: Mindworms. Live in colonies of potentially hundreds and act as advisors, notably to Ethereals. Initially they fought a violent war against the Tau for unknown reasons but that eventually a peace was brokered.
Thraxians: chitin covered and multi-armed. Joined in the 1st Sphere. Known for lethality in close combat which utilized multiple blades.
Vorgh: Giants, known to be peaceful but can be roused to anger. Their size and resiliency allows them to prevail over even super-heavy combat walkers used by humanity.
Nicassar: The first race to join the Tau after being encountered on the edges of the T'au star system. Supremely advanced telekinetics that move their entire vessels with the power of their captains and empaths of a higher order so potent they can make a Space Marine remember the faces of their parents, the Nicassar are described both as ursine and birdlike in official sources.
By the Uncanny Cryptid
They operate in Lifefleet Caravans made up of ships called Dhows. Initially slower than light, they would drift for generations in suspended animation until arriving to new stellar regions. Now, they are towed by Warp Capable Tau starships and serve as expert scouts.
It is noteworthy that they are a galactic spanning species and not all have known, or potentially even know about the Tau. Those who have are full members and assisted in the design of the Commerce Protection Fleet with the Demiurg.
Yabi-Yabi: A space bound race.
Pohu-Agg: An extremely aggressive species found in the Batrazadji Cluster. Initially, due to the Pohu-Agg hyper aggression, war was inevitable between the Tau Commonwealth and them. With the invention of the Neuro-empathic Nullifier, Tau diplomats were able to finally convince them to join.
Ostense Council: a mercenary entity of unknown description.
Phoroki: Initially enemies of the Tau and known for their carnivorous and predatory nature. They were eventually brought into compliance.
Tarellian: Mercenaries, lizard species, known for cybernetics and hating humans for destroying their home worlds during the 30th Millennium Great Crusade. They are a Client species.
Vespid: Known to the Tau as the Mal'caor, they are considered the most respected allied race of all the auxiliaries. Insectoid and with the ability to see in three different spectrums, their "Sting-wings" are honored by being able to serve directly with the Crisis teams of the Fire Caste. Their home world is a gas giant in the D'yanoi Sept.
Vespid culture is divided into queens and princes along with strain warriors. They are full members and have colonial rights. Their society has vastly changed since their incorporation in the Second Sphere resulting in some Warriors becoming melancholic despite their high standing in the Commonwealth.
Official artwork... so who knows.
Nin'aenh: Aliens that posses the uncanny ability to scramble electrical systems with a single touch, they were defeated in a brutal war with the Tau Commonwealth, who has since integrated the Nin'aenh's ability with their technology. The research done by the Earth Caste has resulted in the creation of Advanced EM Scramblers.
Naga: A reptilian species technologically uplifted by the Tau.
Showcased in White Dwarf
Shea'shi: A felid species technologically uplifted by the Tau.
Ulumeathic: trade parters, single world left after empire destroyed by Hivefleet Gorgon
Gue'vesa: Perhaps the most multitudinous auxiliary species, humanity has been an active member species since long before the Tau's first contact with the Imperium of Mankind. Gue'vesa operate with all Castes and are the only known species to have XV-Crisis suit pilots. Since the incorporation of mostly Imperial worlds in the Third and Fifth Spheres of expansion their numbers have only grown.
Conversion by Community Member Gue'vesa Webb
That said, the confidence the Tau have in the Gue'vesa may have been shaken as many in the Fifth Sphere turned back to the Imperium after witnessing the holy acts of the Sisters of Battle against daemonkind.
If this article has inspired you, be sure to come over to the Discord and share you thoughts on what all these aliens could look like and, even better, if you've cobbled some together with your bitz box!
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