30: Tau Introduction Part 1 | Warhammer 40K Lore

We launch our penultimate episode on the Badab war with a look at the transformation of the Astral Claws from a group of frustrated warriors to heretics. We follow the loyalist forces, beginning their final assault on the Badab sector at Piraeus, fighting a costly battle against a secessionist counter attack. The ring of steel is taken down in typical Fire Hawks style, opening up the path to Badab Primaris, the homeworld of the Astral Claws. We detail the final planetary assault and fall of Huron's Palace of Thorns. We close out with the pursuit of Huron and his bodyguard by the forces of the Star Phantoms.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠⁠Listen Ad-Free⁠

The imperium brings its full weight to bear on the Badab conflict. We look at the initial deployment of four further loyalist space marine chapters to the war under the leadership of the Red Scorpions. The initial probing attacks result in an offer of parlay at the cheerfully named ‘Grief’ system but somewhat predictably it was a trap, though set by whom? We discuss further battle fronts and campaigns opened up by the arrival of a further four loyalist chapters before the sudden combo of Ork WAAAGH and Chaos Raiders brings a brief interlude. We close out the episode with the arrival of the Minotaurs, the destruction of the Lamenters and Cral's inevitable nose bleed. Phew!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

The imperium brings its full weight to bear on the Badab conflict. We look at the initial deployment of four further loyalist space marine chapters to the war under the leadership of the Red Scorpions. The initial probing attacks result in an offer of parlay at the cheerfully named ‘Grief’ system but somewhat predictably it was a trap, though set by whom? We discuss further battle fronts and campaigns opened up by the arrival of a further four loyalist chapters before the sudden combo of Ork WAAAGH and Chaos Raiders brings a brief interlude. We close out the episode with the arrival of the Minotaurs, the destruction of the Lamenters and Cral's inevitable nose bleed. Phew!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

We launch into the opening salvos of the Badab War proper. We examine the tactics and temprement of the Fire Hawks and their penchant for genocide, and the expanding ambitions of the Karthan lords. The Marines Errant join the fray for the loyalists and the Executioners reluctantly join for the secessionists. We look at the hit and run tactics of the Mantis Warriors and the ultimately ill-fated battle on and above Bellerophon's Fall. With the space marine chapters engaging each other, the Karthan lords launch a final tithe raiding fleet, which ends in “hilarious consequence”. The failure of the loyalist forces draws attention from the High Lords of Terra itself, which dispatches a Triumvirate of Legates to adjudicate who is at fault and what needs to happen. We close out the episode with the “local issue” being upgraded to an official “rebellion”.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

We whip the plaster off the general 40K lore journey with a look at the first hot marine-on-marine campaign published a mere 6 months after 40K Rogue trader was published. We start with a generalised look at the Maelstrom zone and the establishment of the Maelstrom Wardens. We look at the many crusades, invasions and Xenos purges in the centuries before the rise of Lufgt Huron and the supremacy of the Astral Claws. We dive into the trade wars with the Karthan lords and the programme of fortification Huron embarks on while withholding the Imperial tithes. Finally someone blows up a fleet and THEN the Badab War starts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

Perhaps the most convoluted faction, at least in their publication history, we dive into the saga of the Squats. We look at their initial formation taken from a direct port of fantasy dwarfs into the Rogue Trader era 40K, touching on their origins as generational colonists sent to the galactic core. We touch on their social structures and methods of warfare. We take a sharp turn as their society is defined again via the Epic gaming system, before their ultimate demise at the claws and teeth of the tyranids… Only to be reborn as the AI loving cloners of the Leagues of Votann, which largely keep to their original lore. Finally we breakdown the tabletop forces of the Leagues of Votann from their commanders to their vehicles. Thus ends our introduction to Warhammer 40K. Cue fireworks! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

In this episode we continue our dive into the Tau. We start with an exploration of all 6 spheres of Expansion together with some of the hijinks that ensued and the impact of the Tau Goddess on a certain Death Guard army, the fate of the 4th expansions fleet and the liberation of the Startide Nexus. We take a brief look at the Supreme Ethereal Aun’Va and its manipulative and deceitful ways before moving onto the mysteriously long lived rebel of the Tau empire; Commander Farsight. We look at the establishment of the Farsight Enclaves and their Anti-Ethereal stance. We close out the episode with a brief rundown of the units available to the Tau players on the tabletop including the Vespid Stingwings and the Tau Empires Human members. Turns out Cral’s not a fan of the Tau after all… ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

Finally, a light in the grim darkness! We dive into all things Tau, Cral’s newest favourite faction, starting with their introduction into the games and their social structure A.K.A.  the Tau Caste System and how that affects their position and skills within the overall Tau Empire. We explore the role and purpose of Tau Ethereals together with their mysterious origins and the concept of “The Greater Good”, and what that means for tau and non-tau alike. We close out the episode with a discussion on their most common weapons and their allies and auxiliaries, in particular the Kroot. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

In this episode, we take a further look at the Necrons of the 40K universe (as opposed to the Necrons of other universes...). We start with a discussion on what happened during the 60 million year Great Sleep and the origins of some of the more aggressive necron troops. We then run through the most recent events from the return of The Silent King to the uncharacteristic Blood Angel Brofest. We close out the episode with a brief look at the most notable dynasties and the troops a Necron Overlord can field in battle. Job done! ⁠⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Quartermaster ⁠

In this episode we have a brief look at the entire history of the 40K universe. We start with the C’tan and the Old Ones before diving into the Necrontyr, a down on their luck race from the radioactive Halo Stars. We look at their galactic expansion, their encounters with the Old Ones and their numerous succession wars. The War in Heaven is started and nearly lost by the Necrontyr before aid comes from the “Star Vampires” and their entire race becomes Bender Bending Rodriguez. We then follow their victory against the Old Ones, the Enslavers, the rise of the Aeldari, Krork and others before ending with a bit of a nap. Phew…. It’s a lot. ⁠⁠Show notes⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Merchandise⁠⁠ ⁠Quartermaster ⁠