Lor'ma

Image to be requested; still deciding on what type of battlesuit Lor'ma will pilot

## Character

### **Language(s)**

Tau Lexicon
High Gothic
Low Gothic
Kroot
Demiurg

### **Affiliation**

Blazing Star Coalition;Death Strike Hunter Cadre

## Biographical Data

### **Born**

early M42

**Shas'el T'au Lor'ma** also known as **Lor'ma** is a newly-promoted Commander within the Tau military, having recently passed his third Trial by Fire. His first command is the Death Strike Hunter Cadre, a part of the newly-formed Blazing Star Coalition, under the mentorship of the Ethereal Aun'Yan.

## History

Lor'ma's path to command level has not been easy. He volunteered for service as a Pathfinder, despite his father's objections. His service has seen him participate in many bloody battles and earn much honour in his cadre. The battle which saw his promotion to the rank of shas'ui is a very bitter memory.

### Trial of Fire and Blood

His team was seconded to the infamous veteran Pathfinder El'Myamoto, known as Darkstrider. Lor'ma and his comrades were excited to be under the direct command of so famous a veteran.

Their hero-worship was shattered when, on campaign against the Imperium, Darkstrider used Lor'ma's team as bait to draw in an Imperial reconnaissance force. The ambush failed and the resulting skirmish destroyed the gue'la scouts and their armour, leaving la'Lor'ma as the sole survivor out of 30 Pathfinders apart from el'Myamoto. He had felt that Darkstrider's ambush pattern was too vulnerable to counter-attack, even as he took his place in it. The experience left him with a bitter resentment towards El'Myamoto, whom Lor'ma felt had been shameless in his disregard for those under his command.

### A Lesson Learned Well

In the aftermath, Lor'ma filed a report accusing the veteran of contravening the Greater Good by carelessly wasting lives. Darkstrider was transferred to serve elsewhere soon after and Lor'ma was promoted to shas'ui in the presence of an Ethereal. He was then reprimanded by his Commander as filing a report against a superior contravened the Code of Fire. The Ethereal then remarked that perhaps Lor'ma's behaviour could be explained by shock and survivor's guilt, and pointedly suggested that the incident need not go any further than the three of them. The Commander, who believed ui'Lor'ma had potential, and secretly agreed with him regarding el'Myamoto, invited the newly-minted shas'ui to view drone footage of the battle which Lor'ma's skirmish was a part of. The gue'la that Darkstrider had been trying to ambush believed they had encountered a larger Tau force than in reality, and diverted assets away from other fronts to counter it. This allowed Coalition Command to launch vital strikes which ended the war in a decisive Tau victory far sooner than had been expected.

What had seemed a pointless massacre to Lor'ma at the time had been an important diversion in the grand scheme of things. The Pathfinders' sacrifice had saved many lives elsewhere and shortened the war by months. They had laid down their lives for the Greater Good, as was expected of all members of the Fire Caste. The Commander told the repentant shas'ui that if he was to lead other Pathfinders and pass his future Trials by Fire, he must learn to appreciate the big picture. Doing so would help him make important decisions and ultimately to be a better warrior.

From this, Shas'ui Lor'ma learned three vital lessons:
1) patience;
2) perspective;
3) the brutally pragmatic approach the Tau take to warfare.

The experience gave him a greater understanding of his place in the *Tau'va*. But he never forgave Darkstrider for the loss of his team, tau he had undertaken the *Ta'lissera Ra* with, and carries both the bonding knife and his resentment to this day.

### Advancing the Greater Good

Lor'ma would continue to lead Pathfinders for another four years before becoming shas'vre, during which time he became very adept with battlesuits. He also learned the importance of co-operating with members of other races on campaign. Through time serving with them he gained an insight into each race and how they viewed their species' place in the *Tau'va*. On a number of occasions, auxiliaries saved him from great peril or even imminent death. This has taught Lor'ma that he can trust aliens even in the most dire of situations.

## Beliefs

Shas'El T'au Lor'ma is peculiarly accepting of non-Tau for someone so highly ranked in the Fire Caste. While most Tau other than the Water Caste can hardly understand the inscrutable Vespids, have little stomach for the barbarian ways of the Kroot or the mercurial nature of the gue'vesa, Lor'ma believes that if races so alien in thought and demeanour to the Tau can be convinced of the merits of the Greater Good, this is merely evidence that it is the preeminent truth of the age.

With a few exceptions, Lor'ma believes that many races can realise their full potential by allying with the Tau. Like the famous Shas'O Kais, Lor'ma would prefer to give his enemies a chance to surrender and realise their place in the Greater Good, only destroying them when no other choice presents itself or when directly commanded by an Ethereal.

Lor'ma has spent a significant amount of time learning the languages of other races; a fact he often keeps to himself as it allows him to learn things that others would not say if they knew he could understand.

### Relationships

* **Aun'vre T'au Ren'as -** Known widely as Aun'Yan, he has gained Lor'ma's respect above that which he accords to Ethereals because of the aid Yan has given the Shas'el in becoming acquainted with the burden of command. Aun'Yan uses a light touch, only offering guidance when he feels El'Lor'ma is not considering the bigger picture as a Commander ought to. To his relief, this is something he needs to do less and less frequently, as his charge finds his feet. Lor'ma feels indebted to Yan for his help, though Yan insists he merely acts for the Greater Good, as all Tau should.
* **Shas'nel T'au D'tano -** This grizzled veteran has a terse relationship with the young commander, owing not so much to their significant experience deficit, but more to D'tano's impatience with aliens which conflicts with Lor'ma's more tolerant attitude. While El'Lorma feels studying other species is key to either destroying them or convincing them of the Greater Good, D'tano often displays what can only be described as 'shoot them all, the Greater Good will sort them out' approach. While D'tano does not openly disagree with or disrespect his superiors, he does quietly believe that the bitterness of experience will change Lor'ma's mind. For his part, Lor'ma is not aware that D'tano is tolerant of Tau client races like the Vespid and the Kroot.