This is my take on a more expanded, fleshed out Warhammer 40k universe, pramarily Xenos factions like Aeldari, Necrons, Tau and more, who are often neglected.
What sets the Vorgh apart in the Tau Empire is their colossal size, dwarfing every other member species. The Vorgh have dense furry coats from their brutal, icy homeworld. They are deceptively strong, with long arms and a yeti-like anatomy. Standing tall enough to wrestle an Imperial Knight, the Vorgh serve in the Earth Caste in their most ambitious construction projects.
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The stature an armoured Vorgh can achieve in battle is equivalent to a KV128 Stormsurge or even larger in certain extremes.
Despite their peaceful nature, the Vorgh sometimes serve in the Fire Caste, and when they do every Fire Warrior breathes a sigh of relief. Thundering into war as living battlesuits, they're armed to the teeth with Fusion Eradicators, Nexus Missile systems and a host of other punishing heavy weapons.
Once a battle has concluded, the Vorgh pray in silence for the fallen, both on their side and the enemy's. The Fire Warriors deeply respect the Vorgh and grant them whatever time they need. They are known to bow and say 'please' and 'thank you' often excessively.
Tarellians
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An Imperial citizen will know the Tarellians as "Dog Soldiers" from their distinct canine appearance, but not much else. Even as a member of the Tau Empire, Tarellians have a strictly honour-bound culture and an aggressive, territorial nature; as a result, they almost exclusively serve in the Fire caste.
Despite their keen noses, their aggression makes them poor Pathfinders; they also refuse to wear XV15 Stealthsuits, seeing them as cowardly, so they operate as the most fearless and battle-hungry auxiliaries. Every Tarellian carries a sword on their hip; meant for utility and Honour Duels.
Tarellians refuse the medical technology of the Tau, as it's a matter of respect among their kind to forge one's own prosthetics; from metal stitches or a functioning iron hand or eye. They are known to call rail rifles "Pansy sticks" and stealth battlesuits "pansy pyjamas". They are famously belligerent and impatient folk.
Galgs
Galgs are a green frog-like xenos in the Tau Empire; they are diminutive amphibian creatures with strong hind legs. As light as a feather, able to observe from a distance and swiftly exit a battlefield when things get dangerous, they therefore make some of the Empire's best Pathfinders.
The Galgs can secrete a debilitating toxin from their skin and the Earth Caste have adapted to this, manufacturing dart guns using the toxin perfect for taking down larger organisms. Galgs can enter a state of hibernation called Tarpor, where they can survive for years without sustenance and endure punishing ice and heat.
Having strong familial bonds, Galgs usually fight in crowded squads of scouts, usually all part of the same extended family. Some Galg families are so vast they spill over into other Cadres or Castes and they will often regale (and bore) other fire warriors with long stories of a son in the same squad, a second cousin in the Earth Caste, or a great nephew in the Water Caste.
Greet
Greets are an amphibious race native to the ocean world of Isla'su. These aliens manifest with three hearts, bioluminescent lures and, most notably, thousands of pigment sacs beneath their skin, letting them camouflage with their surroundings.
Where Greets shine is the art of underhanded warfare. Greet ambassadors met with Earth Caste engineers to build perfect gear for them. In battle with the Fire Caste, Greets serve as infiltrators, assassins and saboteurs, perhaps the polar opposite of the Tarellians ethos.
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A Greet soldier's armament is very similar in specifications to the XV-15 Stealthsuit
Outfitted in their bespoke XV15-B Stealthsuits, they utilise their bioluminescent lures to trick enemies into a swift death. Their armour accommodates their flexible bodies, so they can camouflage better and fit into tight spaces. Greets are solitary and find difficulty in bonding with other species in the Empire.
Glossary
- Image 1 - Tau Empire 7th Edition Codex https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:KV128Art.jpg
- Image 2 - Close-up from Warhammer 3rd Edition Rulebook
- Image 3 - Discontinued Stealthsuit box art (https://www.toyday.co.uk/shop/toys/Warhammer-40,000-Tau-XV25-Stealth-suit/prod_4996.html)
