Camaxtli

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Caligor Kincaid
Title/Honours	Great Crocodile, "The Maw"
Discovered (period)	872.M30
Legion	Seventh
Heraldry/Sigil
Unique Weapon	Artificed Macauhuitl and Explosive Atlatls
Role	Traitor
Fate	Deceased
Dominion	Chalchihuitl, Charadon Sector, Ultima System

This article or section has been selected for Exterminatus by the Ordo Editant. The Emperor Corrects.

Camaxtli was a savage at heart and the best thing that could have happened for the galaxy would have been for him to remain as the petty tyrant of a primitive world. Our Father erred in trying to bring a throwback like him into the light of civilization and it was a doomed attempt from the start. It was a mistake that the Imperium paid for in blood.

(Excerpt from Camaxtli the Crocodile by Gaspard Lumey)

History

Youth

Time has shown that the course of a man is often set in childhood, thus we must wonder why the fates chose Chalchihuitl as his home. The steaming jungle world of Chalchihuitl lied within the Charadon sector, isolated from the greater galaxy by stellar debris kicked up by local warp storms Chalchihuitl was surrounded by a haze of stone. When Camaxtli's pod landed in a damp Chalchihuitl jungle the battered and dented device remained shut, the infant primarch nearly starving then alone and unheard for his crying. By fate or fortune, he was found and in his first moments of sight beyond the metal womb met another.

The metal slab was ripped open by the slaves of Coatl, Death Speaker, healer, and greatest Witch Doctor the world had ever seen. She had witnessed the star's fall and recognized its strange nature immediately. Though she could not explain why, Coatl was certain this falling object was no meteorite and contained great power. Now imagine her surprise and disappointment when his zombies released the crying child, an emaciated infant no less. Just as the ruler was about to caste the puling creature aside a red blur shot through the trees, knocking her off her feet. Despite her abilities, Coatl was nearly slain by the enraged beast, her very presence driving it to a bloody fury. Yet instead this same feline now wrestled with the infant, clawing and scratching at the tan blob clinging to its neck and failing to extricate it. Then, its head twisted sharply and emitted a dull popping noise before the Jaguar crashed back to the ground. The withered old woman cackled at the sight, a small babe barely the size of her calf now pulling apart and eating the throat of a twenty foot super predator.

Thus, Camaxtli was named for his great strength and ravenous appetite, qualities that would remain with him throughout his life. Camaxtli grew at an astonishing rate, quickly towering over his mindless caretakers in a few years time and mastering the numerous martial disciplines taught to him by Coatl's weapon masters. Over time he began to study the heavens and learn the secret ways of his adoptive father, how to read the stars, predict the future in a mans blood, and give proper praise to the powers of the deep. If not for Coatl's careful maneuvering and caution, Camaxtli would have become a formidable threat with his martial skills further augmented by his eldritch training. But despite this, Camaxtli was easily manipulated, knowing little more than the life of perpetual violence, training, and ritual provided him by the Death Speaker. He was regularly tasked as a brutal enforcer and destroyer for the witch, leading armies of warriors on campaign to crush non-compliant states and return with the captured survivors.

As time progressed the primarch experienced growing unease, though he could not explain why. Ignored by his adoptive mother and ostracized by her court, Camaxtli's isolation only exacerbated his discomfort. Perhaps the Witch Doctor had intended this by design, but she did not account for human friendliness. Htan, one of the overlord's bodyguards pitied the demi-god and approached the Crocodile despite his fear. Though initially suspicious of the human's motives, Camaxtli came to trust and rely upon the mortal for his mentoring and friendship. It was thanks to Htan's courage that Camaxtli came to learn and appreciate the concepts of honor, loyalty, and give reverence to the Cycles of combat and of life. Were it not for Htan's companionship and dedication Camaxtli might never have known true humanity.

In the earliest days of mentorship, Htan was confronted with flippance, disgust, and general indifference supported by aggression, resentment, and the domineering behavior the Crocidile was famous for. It took considerable time and effort for Htan to teach Camaxtli the Lotecol way and deter his bloody tendencies. But he knew Camaxtli's stubbornness and pride could be made valuable assets if the man could only learn to listen. While certainly some of Htan's motives were for the betterment of the Lotecol people and perhaps partially for his own benefit, largely Htan felt responsible for the errant super human. Camaxtli was friendless and unloved, abandoned by his adoptive mother and utterly dejected. That he latched on to Htan's support so quickly merely confirmed the man's suspicions of Camaxtli's internal conflict.

To Camaxtli's good fortune, Htan was well known and respected amongst Coatl's warrior elite. A lifetime of service built upon a family foundation of bloody sacrifice spanning generations positioned Htan as one of the most influential individuals in the city. Though his tangible political power and martial holdings were relatively small, the social contracts he had collected over the course of his service made up for the handicaps. Thus, Camaxtli was given first hand interaction with the arrogant and aloof nobility of Lotecol City, further impressing them with his martial skill and general amicability. Albeit the primarch bore a vicious visage, but amongst a people inundated to Coatle's otherworldly practices it barely registered.

Thus, the formerly ostracized warrior began to accrue some respect and difference.

Coatl viewed Camaxtli's growing compassion as an unacceptable defect, a liability influencing her bloody-minded peon in unforeseen ways. To counter this she banned Htan from her court and demanded Camaxtli remain within his quarters, only permitted to leave when called to war or ceremony. However, she could not enforce this without risking conflict. Though his powers did not compare to her own, Camaxtli still presented a formidable threat to Coatl. Thus, Camaxtli's movements went largely unopposed so long as he continued to serve her goals.

Camaxtli reacted to this with surprising self-restraint, Htan's tutoring providing a new approach beyond brutal annihilation. However, his patience would only remain for so long. Therefore Camaxtli was quick to communicate and ally himself with friends of Htan and opponents of Coatl. He discovered that a large portion of the warrior class was disgruntled against their esoteric overlord. Their skills underutilized beyond glorified slavery while only those high-priests closest to Coatl benefited most. While class inequality was obvious and disgruntled behavior was known the warriors resentment of Coatl stunned Camaxtli.

Even greater was his surprise when he discovered similar sentiments amongst the lower echelons of the priesthood. While a handful of individuals reaped the benefits of the Lich Queen's rule. The majority of disciples were merely peons to the ritualistic system, never experiencing the eldritch powers that their masters enjoyed. The innumerable sacrifices they conducted bi-weekly only fueled the tremendous power of Coatl and her flunkies, while their underlings starved for a portion of this otherworldly energy.

Even despite this, the Primarch would likely have never chosen to take control if Coatl had not reacted to his growing independence. Seeing the Crocodile's popularity amongst the warriors and his adept maneuvering amongst the warrior-nobility, Coatl feared of an oncoming coup. Uncertain of Camaxtli's fraternization with the lower class, she demanded he remain within the deeper holds of her citadel. Even outlining specific restrictions to Camaxtli's movements, his schedule, and those he interacted with. Further, tiring of the Primarch's disobedience and fearing his bond with Htan she acted to end this arrangement.

On the night of the Old Moon Coatl's guards seized and bound Htan upon the Altar of Ways. As the Eye of Night reached its peak a grand ceremony was held, culminating in Htan's death and ritual sacrifice, and the consumption of his heart. News of the event reached Camaxtli while he was engaged with a non-compliant state in the east and sent him into a deep depression. For a week and a day he isolated himself from his advisors and refused food or drink. Then, suddenly, he emerged from his tent and drove his army into action, mobilising his forces within the next day and ordering it to disperse into the jungle.

In the following months Coatl's abominable legions would become entangled in a persistent war of ambush and bloody engagement as Camaxtli rapidly isolated and destroyed his enemies before their allies could respond. Thanks to his training Camaxtli's forces operated largely independently of him, the Maw and his bodyguard incommunicado for days before reappearing, bearing the skinned bodies of Coatl's officers for brief ritual consumption.

Thus, despite facing 4 to 1 odds, Camaxtli made steady progress to the gates of the Ivory Citadel. His reputation, adept maneuvering, and brutal elimination of his foes causing many to flee at his approach. Were it not for fear of Coatl's retribution, the city gates would have opened to Camaxtli to assuage his wrath. Instead the Primarch was confronted by gates of mirrored black and green surrounded by hosts of Wendigo, unleashed by the Witch Queen in her desperation. Though bloody and visceral, Camaxtli controlled the outskirts of the city within hours, then were enabled entrance to the city within the night as Camaxtli, his guard, and his allies within the city crushed the internal defenses of the gate.

Camaxtli's forces spread rapidly across the city, till Coatl was trapped with her personal advisors within the Citadel. The primarch entered the tower alone, leaving his forces to its own devices. Four days later, during which great explosions of light and sound occurred accompanied by distant screams, Camaxtli reemerged from the citadel. Bloodied, burnt, yet triumphant, raising his former master's decapitated skull high for all to see.

The Great Crusade

Camaxtli's domain was discovered by explorator craft in 870.M30, the planet's abundant population and militarization identifying it as an ideal Imperial recruitment world. Yet, of particular note was the steady expansionism occurring on its surface maintaining a near unprecedented rate of progression indicating a primarch's presence upon the world. The Emperor moved greet this new son immediately, yet a combination of warp-phenomena, Ork WAAAGHs, and other xenos incursions delayed his travel.

Thus, the Emperor arrived a year behind schedule to find a vicious, stubborn, and ritualized populace awaiting his armies. Camaxtli greeted the newcomer with wary respect, intuitively aware of His power and future he bore. He showed the Emperor his great works, the multitude of peoples that payed service to him and his armies, of their accomplishments in culture, and art, the intricate stonework detailing his victories over the Chalchihuitan people and the practices of ritual sacrifice embedded in the culture. Upon witnessing the rites and mysteries of the priesthood, Camaxtli accompanied the Emperor into his landing ship. It is unknown what passed between them, but when Camaxtli next appeared he was clad in a vast set of grey power armor. At the head of the nineteenth legion, Camaxtli purged the majority of the elder priesthood from his world; those same individuals which had helped assure Camaxtli's entrance and assassination of Coatl.

From there the legion was mobilized under their gene-father and conquered the remaining nations of Chalchihuitl. Camaxtli founded his fortress upon the world, making the planet a base of operations for his vibrant and violent sons as they conducted the Emperor's judgement across the galaxy, aiding in - and conducting - the extermination of thousands of xenos empires. The Segmentum Tempestus, the Ultima Segmentum, and worlds along the core were Camaxtli would often be found waging war for the Imperium.

In his legion, Camaxtli found a host of kindred spirits. Men as bitter and isolated as he was during his youth. Camaxtli embraced his legion as his own children, teaching them his methods of war and combat: how to coordinate, to run down their enemies, and inevitably slay them. This training, coupled with the battlefield guidance of their primarch and their experience on the battlefield would forge the legion into an impressive and deadly force.

Given Camaxtli's genius to assault and ambush tactics, as well as his extensive experience in pacifying non-compliant citizen populations, he often found himself leading campaigns to bring particularly troublesome Imperial Worlds back under the Emperors rule. Especially those planets whose rebellion could encourage more systems to follow their example. Despite how effective Camaxtli was as an enforcer, he resented it and considered it a waste of the abilities of his sons.

As the crusade progressed Camaxtli would delegate the task of pacification to trusted members of his command, a decision that - coupled with his negligence regarding his men - would prove to be catastrophic and put him at odds with his Father and brothers.

Personality

Camaxtli is a boisterous and proud man, quick to speak his mind, thinking little of what he discards. He is a gluttonous, greedy, and selfish primarch that prioritises his own needs and is slow to help others, particularly those who cannot help themselves. Yet, despite this Camaxtli's loyalty, hard-earned praise, and genuine love for his brothers caused more than a few to overlook his overbearing nature.

Despite his aggressive and domineering attitude Camaxtli numbered amongst the most energetic and enthusiastic of primarchs. Quick to take action, and passionate regarding topics he supported Camaxtli was a man one desired for his hard earned respect, and despised for his uncensored judgement.

Appearance

A bear of a man, even amongst his demi-god brotherhood Camaxtli is one of the largest primarchs to fight in the Great Crusade. Commonly seen with his great Macuahuitl and explosive throwing spears, Camaxtli relished the twisting melee of the 30th millenium and could often be found at the forefront of his armies sweeping through the enemy and engulfing their champions. Save for his fang and perpetual sneer, Camaxtli was an attractive long featured male and perpetually barefaced, even remarking once: "unshaven features are abominable."

Wargear

Stubborn, and independent, Camaxtli insisted on maintaining the customs of his world, bearing a powerful array of colored feathers against thick white armor lined with turquoise, emerald, and some gold. His Macuahuitl is similarly extravagant, its surface covered with ritual carvings and lined in bright orange. The weapon's artistry illustrates its creation and service in Camaxtli's hands. Once asked by Rogerius Merrill why he would make himself an obvious target "The Maw" replied:

Only idiot cowards place others before them. True leadership and strength are in the front, where a man's worth is found. Those who sneak amongst their sons do not deserve their loyalty, for how can a man expect children to die in his stead?"

The words would lead to a bitter enmity between the primarchs that would last for the rest of their lives.