WH40K HC - Auxiliaries of the Tau'Va - Thraxians

Thraxians
Physical Description
Chitinous Vertebrates
Average Height: 2.1 - 2.8 meters
Average Weight: 170-210kg
Average Lifespan: 30 Terran Years
Induction into the Tau'Va: 2 Second Sphere Expansion, 1558 After Unity (T'au Calender), M38
Role in the Tau'Va: Close-quarters fighters, security, manual labour

History: Across the galaxy, Xenos races emerge and achieve sentience, the Thraxians are one such race who were lucky enough to be found by the T'au first.
The Thraxians emerged on a large terrestrial planet orbiting a Red Dwarf star, and had started radio astronomy when a Nicassar vessel made contact with them and were quickly inducted into the Tau'Va by the help of the legendary Golden Ambassador of the Water Caste, their pre-first contact society were a coalition of extended family clans along the dusky region of their tidally-locked world who wrote commandments usually favouring cooperation.

The Thraxians themselves are vertebrates, their chitinous plates evolved to protect them from the harsh rays of their homeworld's star and viscous local fauna on their homeworld of Theng. Most life on their world evolved from 6-limbed arthropod common ancestors, their short life spans helping protect them from passing on degenerative mutations due to the intense radiation regularly emitted by the Red Dwarfs violent Coronas, they are a curious species, their chitin leathery both incredibly strong and flexible

They quickly proved themselves to be formidable combatants as they defended the Water Caste and Nicassar envoys who first came to their world from viscous mega-fauna
In a strange twist of evolution, the Thraxians charged the fauna with blades and axes that shimmered with light.
The Thraxians had never discovered gunpowder, but they had invented their own version of Power Weapons, of which a masterfully crafted blade of honour was given as a gift to the first Ethereal who came to their world, thus beginning the tradition of Ethereals carrying Honour Blades into battle.

The Thraxians are seen across the T'au Empire, often assisting Pathfinders, Kroot Warbands, and on Battelines when facing opponents who are proficient in melee combat, the Thraxians slowly and with some resistance from more conservative members of their warrior castes have adopted the usage of range weaponry, under the careful guidance from Fire Caste officials, and Kroot Shapers who the latter of the two know how effective they can be.

Image Credit: Reddit User OrangeBlueHue