Harambus

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Harambus was the primarch of the II legion of the Adeptus Astartes. After the infant primarchs were kidnapped by the Ruinous Powers and scattered to the galaxy, young Harambus was deposited on the planet Africania. Africania was a wild and hard land, similar in some ways to Cadia.The young Harambus was found by the leader of one of the smaller Africanian city states, and raised in their traditions. During his time on Africania the young Harambus proved himself to be an exceptional leader both on and off the battlefield. Though his appearance could be frightening, due mostly to the massive amount of body hair he possessed, he was actually very intelligent and kind. Eventually the Africanians began referring to him by the sobriquet “The Gentle Beast.”

By the time The Emperor managed to locate him, he had already united Africania under his peaceful rule, either by diplomacy or military conquest.

Upon finding him The Emperor gave him command of the II legion, and incorporated Harambus’s Africanian army into their ranks. Afterward the legion now named the War Gorillas became as feared as the Ultramarines and as loved as the Salamanders. Harambus proved himself to be a brilliant commander, specializing in riverine warfare, but able to adapt to virtually any situation.

He spent the next several years on the front lines of the Great Crusade bringing hundred of planets into the Imperium, and over time formed close bonds with all of his brothers, particularly with Leman Russ, Magnus the Red and Jagatai Khan.

However, during the early stages of the crusade, Harambus’s younger brother Wallius, the primarch of the XI legion, the Jungle Gators fell to the influence of Chaos. They began needlessly attacking civilian populations and the War Gorillas were sent to bring the Gators down, and retrieve Wallius, alive if possible. The Gorillas pursued the Gators across the galaxy fighting several minor skirmishes with them until they finally caught up to the Gators on the planet Cincinnatus.

During the battle that followed, a civilian child somehow wandered into the fray. Harambus was able to get the child to safety, but in the process was mortally wounded by a bolter shot in the back by Wallius. After he died, the captain of the War Gorillas’ third company, Magillus took command and was able to force the Jungle Gators off the planet.

Enraged by his humiliation, Wallius ordered the Jungle Gators to attack Africania directly. They wiped out all life on the planet and destroyed the War Gorillas’ geneseed.

The Emperor then ordered the White Scars, Ultramarines, and Space Wolves to bring back the head of his traitorous son. The three legions’ attack on the Gators’ home planet of Floridis was less a battle than a systematic slaughter, wiping out the Jungle Gators virtually to a man. At the end, Wallius was forced to watch Jagatai Khan destroy the Gators’ geneseed before Lemon Russ took his head, and the three returned to Terra to present the Emperor with the remains of the first traitor. In his grief the Emperor ordered the names of both the War Gorillas and the Jungle Gators to be expunged from the history books as the memory of Wallius’s betrayal and Harambus’s death were simply too painful.