Building on last week’s premiere of The Exodite, Warhammer+ is continuing in a very T’au Empire fashion, with a Loremasters episode dedicated to the intricacies of the caste system.
There are four main castes in the T’au Empire, one for each primary element – the Earth Caste are builders and technicians, the military is made up of the Fire Caste, with the Air Caste as pilots and explorers, and the Water Caste act as administrators, diplomats, and merchants.
In turn, these castes are ruled by the mysterious fifth caste, the Ethereals. Serene masters of strategy and politics, these stately individuals inspire the rest of the T’au to incredible feats on the battlefield with their charisma and rousing words.
But, in the words of other, more nascent civilisations, they're a bit sus, aren’t they? Let’s balance the facts and try to get to the bottom of this.
They Live Suspiciously Long Lives
The T’au are a short-lived race. Their accelerated metabolisms and rapid evolutionary advances make this a positive overall, but for some reason Ethereals live far longer than their comrades. The simple answer is that the T’au pour their medical research into ensuring that these gifted individuals deliver their peerless guidance for as long as possible.
On the other hand, while the absurdly long lifespan of Ethereal Supreme Aun’Va has become part of his legend, the truth is that he is long dead, replaced with a hard-light Hologram and an advanced personality AI. If they can’t even be honest about that, what else are they hiding?
Undocumented Methods of Control
Ethereals possess an absolute monopoly on the truth in the T’au Empire, allowing them to orchestrate grand campaigns of propaganda via their advanced communication technology. Good press is a powerful tool in their arsenal, but do they release the whole truth?
Imperial biologians have proposed several ways the Ethereals might exercise control, from the popular theories of veiled psychic domination to pheromonal manipulation. Some outliers have even proposed mass hypnosis or invisible organic nanites to control their subjects. Either way, the extent of their sway over the empire is mythical and utterly alien to the Imperium – who secretly wish they were even half as good at it.
The Empire’s Greatest Hero Doesn’t Trust Them
Commander Farsight – O’Shovah to the T’au – is the greatest warrior born to the Vior'la, a master of Mont’ka, legendary military hero, and ultimately a traitor. Chastised for his diversion from the Greater Good to conduct a crusade against Orks, he has since ceased communications with the ruling class.
Some suspect that Farsight is distrustful of the Ethereals, thanks to his knowledge of the empyrean. But this courageous hero of the Empire also finds his life extended by the energy of the ancient sword known as the Dawn Blade.
So, it’s not precisely cut and dried – the T’au undoubtedly love their Ethereals, but no one knows how natural this is.* One thing is sure – the division of the T’au Empire into castes has its advantages – but it all hinges on the existence of the Ethereals and their uncanny ability to control the masses.
This week’s episode of Loremasters will go into even greater detail on the castes and their functions, giving you plenty more evidence to work with. There’s more great stuff on Warhammer+ this week, including a Citadel Colour Masterclass all about painting crystal weapons – perfect for that esoteric (and possibly eldritch) Dawn Blade.
In addition, the Warhammer Vault is expanding to include issues 383 to 385 of White Dwarf, classic issues covering Necrons, monsters, and vampires – timeless subjects all. Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss out on all this and upcoming releases.
* The Ethereals do, but they ain’t telling.