The Tau are a young and expanding race, who use diplomacy as well as force to achieve their goals. As such they are a natural candidate for the sort of action seen in the Inquisitor game. The possibilities are near endless; you could have a Tau trader secretly dealing with a Rogue Trader, or a Tau ambassador negotiating with a less than puritan Inquisitor. A Monodominant Inquisitor or Technomagus investigating rumours of alien technology. Desperadoes or Rebels seeking the favours of Tau military support, or Tau warrior teams sent out to recover a captured Ethereal or stealing (back) items important to the Tau. The Tau companies most likely to be encountered in the Inquisitor setting will be either an official or trader and his retinue/bodyguard or a covert Fire Warrior team sent to retrieve or track a certain something. But of course with such a vibrant and expanding race as the Tau, anything is possible…

General Tau Rules:
-Firing a Tau Plasma weapon is not a risky action.
-No Tau may take Close combat skills, except for Fire warriors, who may only take these skills with the GM/opponent's permission and at double cost in experience/Ready Reckoner points, and Ethereals, who may take these skills as normal.
-No Tau may EVER be a Psyker or Wyrd!!!

Fire Caste (Shas):
The Fire Caste is the Warrior Class of the Tau, charged with the sacred duty to protect the Tau Empire. As such they are the strongest and bulkiest of the Tau race. They are strongly motivated and follow a strict code of martial honour. As they have their origin in the hunter tribes of the steppes and plains of the Tau home world they have a deeply rooted preference for ranged combat, and see hand to hand combat as a primitive and brutal affair, better left to less civilised species. They are proud and resourceful warriors, highly disciplined and well equipped.

Shas'la

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
45	65	50	50	45	70	65	75	65	3
40+2D10	60+2D10	45+2D6	45+2D6	35+2D10	60+3D10	60+2D10	70+2D6	60+2D6	3/4

Shas'ui

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
50	80	55	55	55	75	75	85	75	4
45+2D10	75+2D10	50+2D6	50+2D6	45+2D10	65+3D10	70+2D10	80+2D6	70+2D6	3/4

Shas'vre

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
60	95	65	65	65	85	85	90	85	4
55+2D10	90+2D10	60+2D6	60+2D6	55+2D10	75+3D10	80+2D10	85+2D6	80+2D6	4

Equipment: all Tau warriors wear Fire Caste Armour. They will usually carry either a Pulse Rifle or Pulse Carbine. A rare few, more experienced Fire Warriors will also carry some sort of close combat weapon. Almost all Fire Warriors will carry a number of Photon Flash and EMP (Haywire) Grenades with them.

Special Abilities: All Fire Warriors MUST take either the Deadeye Shot, Hipshooting or Rock steady Aim ability. It is strongly advised NOT to give them Close Combat related skills. Decisive Fighter is also a highly suitable skill to represent the famous Tau discipline and dedication.

Water Caste (Por):
The Traders, negotiators and bureaucrats of the Tau, this caste is the most wide-travelled and cosmopolitan of the Tau species. They can often be found outside the Tau Empire, accompanied by a small retinue, negotiating with alien species for trade rights, safe passage and, potentially, absorption into the greater Tau Empire. They bind the Tau society, making sure all separate castes work together smoothly. As a result of their frequent exposure to alien societies, they are the likely to develop some small personal quirks and preferences. They will adapt easily to local circumstances and customs, knowing that “to blend in is to get a better deal”.

Por'la

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
40	55	45	50	45	75	75	80	65	3
35+2D10	50+2D10	40+2D6	45+2D6	35+2D10	65+3D10	70+2D10	75+2D6	60+2D6	3/4

Por'ui

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
45	60	50	50	45	85	90	85	75	3
40+2D10	55+2D10	45+2D6	45+2D6	35+2D10	75+3D10	85+2D10	80+2D6	70+2D6	3/4

Por'vre

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
50	65	55	55	50	90	95	90	80	4
45+2D10	60+2D10	50+2D6	50+2D6	40+2D10	80+3D10	80+2D10	85+2D6	75+2D6	3/4

Equipment: In the course of their travels and negotiations Tau from the Water Caste may pick up anything, but they will always prefer Tau technology. They will never wear visible armour, but few are foolish or naïve enough not to wear some form of hidden protection. They will rarely carry weapons except for the most basic self-defence weapons (a Pulse Pistol, for example) or local ceremonial weapons.

Special Abilities:Negotiate

Earth Caste (Fio):
The Earth Caste are the creators and builders in Tau society, all craftsmen, engineers, scientists and such belong to this caste. Hardy and practical people, they are not given to the mysticism of the Adeptus Mechanicus. They are constantly renewing and improving their technology, taking great pride in their works, as they are the pillars of Tau advancement. All technology the Tau have is built and maintained by them. Generally speaking they are an efficient and good-humoured folk, always managing to turn adversity into prosperity.

Fio'la

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
45	55	55	50	45	70	65	75	65	3
40+2D10	50+2D10	50+2D6	45+2D6	35+2D10	60+3D10	60+2D10	70+2D6	60+2D6	3/4

Fio'ui

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
50	60	60	55	45	75	75	85	75	3
45+2D10	55+2D10	55+2D6	50+2D6	35+2D10	65+3D10	70+2D10	80+2D6	70+2D6	3/4

Fio'vre

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
60	65	65	65	50	85	85	90	85	4
55+2D10	60+2D10	60+2D6	60+2D6	40+2D10	75+3D10	80+2D10	85+2D6	80+2D6	3/4

Equipment: All Earth Caste Tau carry a Tau multitool, which adds +5% to any check concerning Tau technology and may be used an Improvised Close Combat weapon with Shock properties.

Special Abilities: Due to their great technical expertise, all Earth Caste Tau receive +20% to all checks relating to operating or disabling locks, machinery etc.

Ethereal Caste (Aun):
The members of this mysterious caste are the undisputed rulers of Tau society. Their word is law. Aloof and wise beyond reckoning, the other castes hold them in reverent awe. They are the driving force behind the Tau Empire and Culture, uniting the Castes and directing them. Highly intelligent, quick to learn and with an innate ability to grasp concepts and see connections, they are natural leaders.

Aun'la

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
60	65	50	55	60	75	75	75	100	4
55+2D10	60+2D10	45+2D6	50+2D6	50+2D10	65+3D10	70+2D10	70+2D6	100	4/5

Aun'ui

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
70	80	55	60	70	80	85	85	100	5
65+2D10	75+2D10	50+2D6	55+2D6	60+2D10	70+3D10	80+2D10	80+2D6	100	4/5

Aun'vre

WS	BS	S	T	I	Wp	Sg	Nv	Ld	Speed
80	65	65	70	80	90	95	90	100	5
75+2D10	90+2D10	60+2D6	65+2D6	70+2D10	80+3D10	90+2D10	85+2D6	100	5/6

Equipment: All Ethereals will carry either their twin rods of office (count as short swords) or an Honour Blade (count as Halberd). Most will have some digital weapon concealed in a ring or bracelet or such. Tau Power Shields are also quite common. Outside of this, what they equip themselves with is up to each individual Ethereal.

Special Abilities: All Ethereals have the Force of Will and Leader Special Abilities.