Commander Farsight (Warhammer 40,000)
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Commander Farsight is a Tau character from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe.
Farsight, also known as Shas'O Vior'la Shovah Kais Mont'yr or O'Shovah, is a Tau Fire Caste commander from the Vior'la sept. He was highly respected as a commander during the aftermath of the Damocles Crusade led by the Imperium of Man, where he won fame fighting Orks. Unlike most other Tau, Farsight believes that close combat is a vital part of warfare, possibly because of his ongoing battles against Orks. After Farsight's Ethereal was killed during the reclaiming of Tau planets, he came upon the Dawn Blade (a large artifact sword found on Arthas-Moloch, a dead world). Farsight is said to still be leading the Farsight enclave (a group of faithful Fire Warriors), though this would make him more than 300 years old, far longer than the average life expectancy of a Tau of the Fire caste. It has been speculated that the Dawn Blade is of daemonic origin, while others believe that it is a C'tan artifact, or even the hundredth blade created by the Eldar god Vaul, Anaris the Dawnlight.
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[edit] Name
Farsight's name in the Tau language is broken down thusly:
- Shas (member of the Fire caste)
- 'O (Commander, highest rank attainable)
- Vior'la (the sept, or world, where Farsight was born)
- Shovah (Farsighted, the core of his name)
- Kais (Skillful)
- Mont'yr (Blooded ) (lit. seen battle)
[edit] Modelling/Gameplay
In game terms, O'Shovah can be taken as an HQ choice for a Tau army. Farsight Enclave armies are trained more extensively in close combat, especially against Orks. Several units in the army are restricted, capable of using only one single unit of each type, and none of the alien races allied to the Tau. O'Shovah may take a bodyguard of up to seven Crisis Suits, making his army boast the largest number of Crisis Suits ever. Due to the restrictions O'Shovah's forces are often forced into assaults, as his armies are almost always lacking in long range weaponry. O'Shovah is also hated by many Tau, mostly by Commander Shadowsun and Aun'Va, therefore cannot be in the same force as the other two aforementioned heroes.
[edit] True Side
O'Shovah's true nature is one of the most debated subjects within the Tau playing community. Some believe he is doing this ultimately for the greater good, while others think he is tainted. So far the answer seems to lean towards taint, as O'Shovah has done some things that are less than acceptable within the fictional Tau community. Even the source of taint is also debatable. This is due to the fact that no Tau ever registered psychic abilities, making them almost non-existent in the eyes of the Chaos Gods. The only ones ever speculated to have psychic potential was the Ethereal caste. However this cannot be the case, as all of O'Shovah's Ethereals were killed. Others speculate this to be the work of the C'tan. Others believe that the Ethereals release a control pheromone from the organ on their foreheads to control other Tau, and that once O'Shovah's Ethereal died there was no means to keep O’Shovah in check; it is figured that he realized this and turned renegade. It is said that he now fights for personal gain rather than that of the greater good.
[edit] Notable Quotes
"Learn to shorten your reach! If your foe can come close enough to negate your striking power, all stratagem is lost and when all stratagem is lost, the battle is lost." (3rd edition Codex: Tau)
“Each must find their own way, if those in our heartland had witnessed the savageries of the void as have we they would know this. The hand of each of the great starfarers is turned against the other, none will join their strength together just to see their ancient enemies prosper. Neither should we." (4th Edition Codex: Tau Empire)
[edit] Trivia
- 'Sho'vah' is the word used by both the Jaffa and the Goa'uld (from Stargate SG-1) to describe a traitor.
[edit] References
- Thorpe, Gav (2001). Kill Team. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 0-7434-1175-7.
- Chambers, Andy; Haines, Pete, and McNeill, Graham (2001). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tau. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-098-6.
- Spurrier, Simon (2006). Xenology. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-010-6.
- http://uk.games-workshop.com/tau/converting-farsight/1/
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