Daemonettes are lesser Chaos Daemons of Slaanesh. Entities of the Warp, Daemonettes typically resemble a humanoid hermaphrodite with crustacean-like claws in place of hands.
Overview[]
As expected of Chaos Daemons, Daemonettes are manifestations of a Chaos God's will. For Daemonettes, they are created by and subservient to Slaanesh, Chaos God of pain and pleasure. They often appear as a humanoid creature with both male and female indicators and large crab-like claws instead of hands. Daemonettes often vary in general appearance, between either hideous or alluring to mortal observers. Initially, Daemonettes were believed to have been converted from the souls of dead Eldar, although this does not seem to be the case.
As expected of any follower of Slaanesh, Daemonettes are known to be extremely sadistic and hedonistic, demonstrating immense pleasure at the act of inflicting pain on others. This is likely linked to the Daemonettes feeding on the emotion and sensation of their victims, hence why they actively delay the deaths of their victims. A Daemonette starved of such sensation may actually starve and permanently dissipate from it. As such, Daemonettes who displease Slaanesh are often punished with the assignment of tasks devoid of pleasure or pain. In extreme cases, Daemonettes may be permanently converted into marble statues, sentenced to be an undying decoration for their transgressions. One of the most well known victims of Slaanesh's wrath is the Daemonette known as the Masque. After failing to entertain Slaanesh with her dancing, a performance which was mistaken for mockery, Slaanesh cursed the Masque to continue dancing perpetually at all times.
Higher-ranking Daemonettes are reffered to as Alluresses, and specialise in the varieties of the Infernal Enraturess and the Contorted Epitome, armed with a Heartstring Lyre and Mirror of Absorbtion respectively. Outside of combat, Daemonettes are often tasked as servants to Slaanesh or other elite followers, operators on a Hellflayer Chariot (originally a gardening machine used as punishment but became a reward after one was used for a joyride) or generally functioning in similar manner to succubi of fantasy fiction.