Commander Shadowsun is the current supreme commander of the Tau Empire, a battlesuit ace who learned warfare under the legendary Commander Puretide and took over after Farsight went rogue.
Overview
Her full name is Shas’O Vior’la Shas’len’ra M’yen Sha’serra, though everyone just calls her Shadowsun. She’s a Tau Shas commander, born around M41, and she’s been active since roughly the 700s of that millennium. These days she’s the Tau Empire’s supreme commander, the top military rank in the entire empire.
She picked up the nickname on K’resh, where she used a solar eclipse to hide her forces and wipe out a huge Ork horde. That ambush made her name, and she’s been the Tau’s go-to commander for expansion campaigns ever since.
Early life and training under Puretide
Shadowsun spent much of her youth on Dal’yth, studying under Commander Puretide alongside two other famous pupils: Shoh (later Farsight) and Kais. The three of them survived the brutal cold of Mount Kan’ji and were accepted as full students. She went on to serve as a subordinate of Shoh before he turned renegade.
Aun’Va himself picked her to replace Farsight during the Damocles Crusade and the K’resh Expansion. Part of the plan was to recreate Puretide’s strategic genius, so Shadowsun and other Puretide students were put into cryogenic stasis for future campaigns. She was thawed out during the Great War of Confederation and played a big role in beating back the Orks.
Farsight’s betrayal and the Third Sphere
When she learned Farsight had betrayed the Tau Empire, Shadowsun went into the Mont’yr training dome and destroyed the last statue of him with the twin fusion blasters of her XV22 stealth battlesuit. She swore to spread the Greater Good with pride and honour, and she’s been the empire’s leading commander since.
She’s known as a master of Kauyon, the Tau tactic of patient ambush and misdirection. She’s also led raids against Tyranid splinter fleets, hitting hive ships hard enough that the Tau navy could engage the main fleet.
- Served as Supreme Commander after Farsight’s fall
- Master of Kauyon (the ‘patient hunter’ doctrine)
- Led raids against Tyranid splinter fleets
- Selected by Aun’Va to lead the Third Sphere of Expansion
Key facts and connections
Shadowsun’s story ties directly into several big Tau names. She trained with Farsight and Kais under Puretide, she was chosen by Aun’Va, and she’s a bond-mate to both Farsight and O’Kais. Her father was Kiru, and she has two younger sisters, Ty’res and Oru’mi.
There’s some disagreement about where she comes from. Some sources say her homeworld is Vior’la, others say T’au. Both versions show up in canon, so don’t be surprised if you see it listed either way.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shas’O Vior’la Shas’len’ra M’yen Sha’serra |
| Rank | Supreme Commander of the Tau Empire |
| Homeworld | Vior’la or T’au (conflicting sources) |
| Active | c. 700s M41 to present |
| Bond-mates | O’Shovah (Farsight), O’Kais |
| Preceded by | O’Shovah (as Supreme Commander) |
Key facts
- Commander Shadowsun is the Tau Empire’s current supreme commander.
- She trained under Commander Puretide alongside Farsight and Kais.
- She earned her nickname on K’resh by using an eclipse to ambush Orks.
- She’s a master of Kauyon, the Tau doctrine of patient ambush.
- Her homeworld is listed as either Vior’la or T’au, depending on the source.
- She replaced Farsight as supreme commander after his betrayal.
FAQ
Who is Commander Shadowsun?
She’s the current supreme commander of the Tau Empire, a battlesuit commander trained by Puretide and known for mastering the Kauyon tactics.
What happened between Shadowsun and Farsight?
They trained together under Puretide, but when Farsight turned rogue, Shadowsun destroyed his last statue and took over as supreme commander.
What is Commander Shadowsun’s real name?
Her full name is Shas’O Vior’la Shas’len’ra M’yen Sha’serra, but she’s almost always called Shadowsun.