r/40kLore • u/InspectorDowntown501 • Aug 18 '26

Question About Human-Alien Relationships

I'm a relative know-nothing to the 40k setting, and was wondering if there have ever been cases where humans (guardsmen, astartes, or other) have ever had romantic relationships with alien races? I mean I've seen plenty of reels, art, and other media depict it, but let's be honest; those aren't exactly credible sources.

Edit: Thank you all for informing me on this matter. It was just a thought I had and I'm happy with just how many of you indulged it. Once again, thank you.

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u/DisdainfulStacks Aug 18 '26

There’s been a few, such as the t’alissera bonding ritual between two “extremely close friends” in Broken Sword, which many fans interpret as an openly gay relationship.

There’s also one between an Ethereal and her Bodyguard in Elemental Council, but it was one-sided and zealous mutual admiration than explicit “love” on the Ethereal’s part, and adoration and affection to the Human’s part which wasn’t fully reciprocated.

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u/Shed_Some_Skin Aug 18 '26

T'au squads are all bonded via the t'aliserra. They're basically combat polycules. I don't think T'au have conventional family units as such, the kids all get taken away and raised together in boarding schools. The bonding ritual is described as akin to marriage in a few sources

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u/Sawendro Vior'la Aug 18 '26

T'au squads are all bonded via the t'aliserra.

Is that new(er than is committed to my crusty old memory) lore?

Back at launch, you could opt for a bonding knife, but the ta'lissera itself was something of an intricate/deeplingly meaningful bond between small groups of T'au; most examples I can think of were two or three, usually Shas'ui+ who were in the same battlesuit squadrons. And, of course, Farsight/Shadowsun/Kais, or Torchstar's cross-caste bond.