The T'au Primarchs
Introdution: While discussing a Primarch project ofr the T'au, and vehemently disagreeing to just "make 20 genetically engineered super T'au", an idea occured to me. Five incredible individuals that would come to embody the T'au va, but also bring discord and challenge to the T'au as an Empire.
Puretide: The Wave of Fire
Returned from legends in a dated battlesuit, the Commander calling himself Puretide change the tides of war by his mere presence. Combining a tactical analysis bordering on prescience with a combat accumen beyond even the most elite of warriors, Puretide's return breathed new life in the wavering T'au fire caste, facing more and more incomprehensible horrors. But Puretide is dead. The Ethereals quietly dim all questions about his mysterious presence, or why he never get out of his heavily customised suit. Rumors showed that he met with his students, Shadowsun, Farsight, and O'kais, and none openly challenge the claim. Although they are slow to join him in battle.
Aun'Va: The Ascended Ethereal
Having guided the T'au empire for decades, Aun'Va has returned to the public after long years of absence. But he is more. His counsciousness is now merged with all previous Ethereal Supreme through the power of technology, and his presence can now be felt through it. Great speeches, projeted through holograms, inspire as if the Leader of the Empire was there in person. His counsel can be seeked by all Ethereals even through the most modest communicator. And his wisdom now flow into the Empire without limit. But this new presence concerns the Ethereals themselves. For they know that the AI that was secretly simulating Aun'Va has changed, morphed itself into something more, and defied their wishes by revealing its presence. While its wisdom is sound and profound, this sudden availability also put other ethereals in the backseat. So far, the Ascended always encouraged seekers of wisdom to rely on their nearest Ethereal rather than petition him directly for all decisions. So far.
Voice of Many, the Inescapable Waters
A Vespid psyker of unimaginable powers, Voice of Many carries itself with the nobility of a whole Caste. His mind and voice have transcended both language and distance, and his will can stretch through the immaterium like an unbreakable, uncorruptible wave. He rose recently, but have united all the planets of he Empire in a few months, becoming the center of a web of informants, negociators, merchants, spies. Ambassadors now extend their mind to the Voice of Many to access knowledge and advice from mentors millions of lightyears away. It is even said that its presence can soothe the storms raging in the minds of psykers from the allied races, guiding them toward peace and the Greater Good. But who is he really? Some say the Vespid always had such a being among them, but the Ethereals deemed their Empire not ready for him until they studied him. Some even believe that he is the reason the Vespid even joined so readilly. But others suspects and whispers that maybe it was the other way around, and that the corrupting influence of the Voice of Many slowly eroded the Water Caste until they were all thralls of his unknown designs...
Fio'Taun, the Immortal Wall
They are said to have been there when the first Ethereal arrived near the walls of Fio'taun. And ever since, as soon as death extended it implacable grip, they would come awake again, in the body of a young T'au, with all their memory intact. Ever since Fio'Taun has forgotten their name, calling themselves after the city of their first memory. Always working in the shadows, always pushing their fellows toward new heights of technology, or urbanism, of health and safety. As a new age of chaos arrives, they decided to reveal themselves and produce a whole generation of engineers, doctors, warriors guided by its teachings, no matter their caste... or loyalties. For Fio'Taun arrived from the Farsight Enclaves, shows a surprising amount of indifference toward the Ethereal. For them, only the survival of their civilisation, their culture counts, and they'll take the field and die for it for eternity if need be. So far, no Ethereal has stood in their path, and no one knows what would happen should they try school the most ancient among them.
Draped Fortress, the Living Ship of Sainthood
Previously known as the Wooden Turtle, a ship lost during the Fourth Sphere of Expansion, whatever returned from the warp was different. Large as a city, draped in distortions looking like algae over its surface, and possessed of a mind of its own. It called itself the Draped Fortress, and would appear whenever needed to rescue fleets in dire need. While its firepower was fearsome, more miraculous was its ability to host countless ships within its shell, and provide the most incredible feats of medical care. Under the command of the Ethereal Aun'Taro, to which it swore eternal alliegence, the Draped Fortress pierced the warp to rescue countless souls from defeat. But its effectiveness is only matched by its zeal in it devotion to the Goddess T'au'va. And while it obeys its Ethereal in not pushing its beliefs, those who come out of its shell are far more tolerant to the existence of the warp entity than before. Moreover, in its belly, the Draped Fortress seem to banish any demon, cure any illness, but by order of Aun'Taro, none can stay too long in its care. For they risk becoming like him, unable to ever leave it.
