Changeling Study

This art was drawn for me and permission was given to post by the very talented faster-by-choice Please go check them out and support them! And be sure to check out their version here: fav.me/d8swwoh They're awesome!! Hopefully this will help you guys envision how I portray some of the changelings. In case your wondering, they are indeed based heavily on the Tyranids from Warhammer 40K


The following text was taken from the text of Clover the Clever from her notes during a long-range exploration excursion in uncharted lands.


1# I wouldn't say we discovered the warrior because the first time we ran into a changeling warrior, it had long discovered us first. Several of them did. We do not see it any less than a miracle that we survived when fully one-third of our detachment, turned on us. Trusted brother and friend, transformed before our eyes into these black carapace beasts. These pony-like creatures, more insect than mammal, are the ultimate shock trooper. For how could we defend against an enemy when the enemy was ourselves?

2# We encountered the Ripper as we ventured deeper into Changeling territory. Lacking the ability to mimic equine forms was little comfort, as were they lack subtly they excel in brutality. Their forelegs are solid bone, sharp and as strong as any blade I have ever seen forged. Their ferocity is only matched by their speed. 

3# What can we place our faith in when we can't believe in the very ground beneath our hooves! We believe this is a burrowing varient of the changelings, and perhaps a pedestal in their hive like society as we believe them to dwell beneath the ground. It emerges as geyser and no sooner does it surface does it put it's razor like talons which are capable of shredding rock to dust and drilling deep tunnels in the earth on pony flesh. It came, it slew, and it was gone. All in the blur of death and blades. It ravaged our camp so thoroughly, this unholy union of serpent and praying mantis, that the stallions have taken to calling it 'Ravener'.

4# They say all we have to fear, is fear itself. They were wrong, at the very least they haven't met the changelings. For if any of them had ever laid eyes on a beast such as this, they would have known better. The specimen I came across was standing atop a mound of corpses... corpses that I had once called friends, as it feasted on what I believe used to be our lieutenant. If I had to guess, for I would not leave my hiding spot, the creature was approximately twenty feet tall. He carried himself like king, ordering the lesser creatures, even directing a Ravener where to dig. It was clearly superior, but King isn't fitting, for a King has a potential for compassion and kindness, and this creature is not. It is not a King... it is a Tyrant... a Hive Tyrant.

5# One night a solitary soldier returned that we had thought lost. One of five that had left on an expedition. He told us that she allowed him to leave. That she wanted him to tell us what he saw. That he had seen a Queen. That which leads changelings and guides their movements. That this is her land, not ours. And we are nothing... merely food for the feast. You had said this would be good for me, Starswirl. A field mission. Get out of the library. See this world for what it is. Well I have. I have just how ugly this world can be and I'm coming back. We're leaving this place, we're returning back. Back to princesses. Back to the White city...