Heldrake-chan

(art by @stain-is-the-name)

Originally Heldrakes are fighter-jets that were transformed through prolonged warp exposure - with the pilots still inside! While commonly the animalistic demons posessing the aircraft are calling the shots and therefore resulting in a wild and draconic appearance with the entrapped human being little more than an enternally suffering soul-battery; this is what happens when the human element is more on the freaky side of things and does not give in.

Both the original human souls and the demon have in their struggle for control effectively eradicated each other and accidentally created an entirely new anomaly in the process. The anomaly combines the human intellect with all negative personality quirks of the original demon engine.

Just imagine if a very contentious seagull suddenly got smart and went to actively start a fight with anything that enters its territory.

Given that only one of these two had the audacity to use an anti-air weapon that was the magical equivalent to getting kicked between your legs and then given a wedgie, that is not much of a question.

If she ever met Caiaphas Cain she would excitedly ask for an autograph. His ability to weasle himself out of impossible situations has gotten him quite a fandom among Alpha Legion cultures.

There are multiple ways to shut down warp-stuff, but the simplest way is to deploy a Blank (like a Sister of Silence for example) who actively negates all warp-magic with their presence alone. The target would be reduced to being a mere human with insufficient armor and no weapons, and can be dispatched easily with the simplest means.

It went from Denial, the classical first step, to anger, and then to more anger, and then to more anger, and finally to even more anger.

Latna has surpreme Heldrake-chan vibes.

The Warband has not seen her in such a bad mood ever since the infamous Dreadnaught incident.

"Here is this place that sucks. We'll get you in a week. Good Luck."

"On this planet we found a specifically nasty bit of xenos wildlife. Here's a knife. Good Hunting."

"We are now here. You are supposed to get over there. We put a bunch of traps and ambushes on the way. If you don't make it you clean the latrines with a toothbrush for a week."

So all in all, pretty basic stuff. The specifics vary a little from group to group, especially how lethal the actual trial can be, but overall the concept is the same. Some groups, however, tend to find truly unique challenges for their men based on their individual circumstances.

For the Ratatsokr Warband the following has been established:

"Depicted here is our Lady Heldrake. She is overdue for her monthly chemical bath. Your task is to fix that. As she is an asset you are not allowed to do any serious harm. You are to infiltrate the target's lair and deliver the asset to the Warpsmith's vat. If she can identitfy you afterwards she WILL hold a grudge. Good Luck!"

Too hairy to be Tyranid. Too small to be proper food. Not a single visible weapon system. Claws utterly pathetic. Some sort of Ork Squig? Not enough teeth and wrong smell. What could this be?

*puts on head*

If she trusts and likes you every distance is safe. In fact being closer will probably make you even safer as she can protect you!