Okay so here's the big headcanon I put together for the Tau civil war which is 99.9% debunked by what we saw at Tennocon (the 0.1% is me huffing copium)
As they grew in number and complexity the Sentients of Tau divided themselves into the four great houses, with each one fulfilling a different role.
The House of Earth, with governance over that which is built. They are the architects, the manufacturers, the extractors and refiners of resources. They build Tau with their own hands, skilled craftsmen who exist to assemble the materials and tools of Tau. This is the largest of the great houses of Tau, with countless laborers in equally countless roles.
The House of Water, with governance over that which flows. They are responsible for distribution, transit, and logistics. If the House of Earth are the bones of Tau then the House of Water is its beating heart. Making sure materials, goods, and energy are moved where they need to be and optimizing the process by increments each time.
The House of Fire, with governance over that which destroys. This is the Sentient military branch. The force that defends Tau from invaders and launches attacks into the Origin system. Hunhow was once a prominent patriarch within the House of Fire. This house exists for combat, to protect their people and to destroy their foes.
And lastly the House of Air, with governance over that which is intangible. These are the brilliant minds of Tau, their great thinkers. A house of imagination, philosophy, invention, and even art. The smallest of the four houses, the House of Air is responsible for inventing new technologies, refining old ones, and producing plans to be distributed to the other houses of Tau. Archimedean Itzam came from the House of Air during the era of The Old Peace, a scholar of great wisdom.
In the wake of The New War's failed offensive, the four houses are in disagreement. The houses of Air and Fire seek to continue the war, to push for humanity's extinction while the houses of Earth and Water are weary and seek to end the war and bring peace between the systems. The House of Fire is fueled by generations of bloodlust and resent, their purpose is to fight and they are disinclined to shed their one overriding duty. As for the House of Air, their decision was cold calculation. With their many minds thinking forwards and backwards they created maps of possible futures, and far too many of those maps led to a future where one or both races were wiped out. The math is clear, exterminating mankind is the most likely path to everlasting peace and prosperity on Tau.
The houses of Earth and Water saw the failure of The New War as a sign that humanity could not be conquered, and pursuing further conflict would only bring annihilation. When the houses of Earth and Water refused to serve the houses of Air and Fire in restarting the war the House of Fire declared martial law, forcing the peaceful houses to capitulate or be whipped into submission. To be oppressed by their human makers was an old scar for the houses of Earth and Water but to be enslaved by their own people pushed them to radical means. They risked everything to send a simple message to the Origin system, meant to be heard by their ancient ally-foes, their lovingly hated enemy-friends the Tenno. The message held only a single word filled the hopes and fears of half an empire:
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
2087
vaporwave
amandla
baratheonpilled
tangentwithtanner
izzy806
origamiaround
gracieabrams
