Arachen

The Arachen are an alien species. In 896.M40, they rejected an appeal by the Golden Ambassador to join the Tau Empire, instead driving the Tau from their territory.[1] What followed was a brutal multi-year conflict known as the Veil War, as the Tau and Arachen fought for control of the Western Veil. Ultimately however a young Commander Farsight was able to assassinate the Arachen leadership, known as the Arachen Trinity as Commander Dawnstone was launching a final offensive. The plan worked, and the Arachen were driven from the Western Veil forever. [2]

Male Arachen are noted for having blade-like legs and were capable of fighting with bizarre but deadly martial arts, and they traveled through space in cocoon-like ships. Their nest-cities were designed as mazes, which made fighting through them extremely difficult.[2]

Known Sub-Species

 * Oestromystics: Laid tangleclutch traps where unfortunate victims would be used to incubate egg-sacs.[2]
 * Grandfathers: Giant Arachens that ripped enemy warriors to pieces.[2]
 * Skitterlings: Small Arachens that attacked in swarms. They could penetrate inside Tau Battlesuits and eat their pilots from the inside out.[2]