1. Marksaline the Necromorph Queen

The Ishimura, save Sunset Shimmer 6/?

Dr. Challus Mercer was kind enough healing the group completely and giving them a Flamethrower schematics, since they don't all had weapons to defend themself.
He personally rather used his
'Stasis and run as fast as possible away' approach to any lethal hostile situation.

Marksaline give the nice stallion her Stasis reload item as to thank him before biting a small piece of his tail hairs off.
She could track him that way if needed.
He seem to be slightly disturbed about that turn of events, but wished them good luck and started to chill out in Discords save room.
Preferring to spending the rest of his hours before the Ishimura was eventually overrun by this monsters in safety.

He would occationaly helping them with system assistance if possible, but that was unfortunately all he could do for his fellow equines.

As the Herd continue on their way towards the Kellion to respawning Luna and using the Shop on it to get Flamethrower for everyone, was Challus Mercer rather giddy to meet Discord.
Hello there Discord, i think we need to talk...

Somewhere in the gutter of the Ishimura sewer system something was moving and preparing for things to come...

At the same time on a not to far away area of the Ishimura, did the Herd of heros continued their journey towards, the unknown.

The RIG of everyone received a update, Mercer was added to their list on teammates even if he would not join them actively.

The connection was shortly after severed, after Dr. Challus Mercer had them also send a tutorial about how to use something called a kinetic module that usually was used on ones right forleg to pick stuff up. He had successfully used it to defend himself by throw stuff at Necromorphs.

He also remarked that a fully upgraded kinetic module allowed to use enough force to pin a Necromorph with two of their own bone blades to a nearby wall. So he recommended to collect them even if its was inconvenient and rather disgusting to collect them. Pretty inventive to weaponize their enemies body own blade arms for their herds own gains. After all they supplied them with every single Slasher coming their way!

Also long range blunt force trauma could similiar effectively destroy Necromorphs, but only temporarily if their bones are merely broken.

Hearing how Discord earlier recommended collecting of blade arms now was confirmed, made them anticipatory towards finding the kinetic add on.

Once they had twice seen Dr. Mercers introduction video on creative defense and offensive use of non weapons, did they started to retrace their steps back to the room that they found Sunset magic cutter in.

It was nice that they had not been harassed this short way, because where they know that they probably are spared to continually get stopped by singel enemies, now a higher intellectual being was coordinating this undead beings all over the ship.

While they don't have to fear more than 8 enemys as once making a break for them, was nothing stopping the Necromorph commanding entity to stuff areas full of this things before leaving them to stand around to call another pack and repeat the process.

Quantity is a quality all on its own...

The Kirin stallion Dr. Challus Mercer was a agent of the dream realm manipulating entity. Discord and the entity discussed rules and limitations for the game on the Ishimura they would play.

One of the rules are no spoilers towards future events for the heros to forewarn them.
Like for example the tentacles surprise attacks.

In turn would the Necromorph commander focus on murdering first Sunset Shimmer companions before going for the main player.
Of course was it not to be blamed if Sunset Shimmer was unfortunately selected by a not under the entity controlled or guided straggler selected Sunset as target by its own.

Tentacles and all Brutes of the games would 'mostly' ignore Sunset until everyone without Fluffelpuff counting was... Disposed off...

A few other rules and regulations where talked about and unfortunately, did Discord closed some loopholes for the entity. In general would both leaders have a entertaining match with one another, while the Herd was struggling for the main goal to safe Sunset Shimmer...

While the herd continued forwards had they make sure that no Slashers or Lurkers were waiting for them around every conor to try getting a cheap shot in.
After all: Even thousands of minor cuts can make the biggest titan fall eventually.

With medication supply only having been composed of Nightmare Moon one medium healing item was their situation rather tender if the enemy should get a drop on them.

Until they had the chance to finally buy stuff for themself, would they have to watch out for already destroyed ventilation shafts and other things that no longer could alert them to incoming enemies.

That made them noticed the prior not destroyed ventilation shafts had now been destroyed and someone had made sure to collect the metalic rotation devices that usually remained when a ventilation shaft was opend through brute force.

This was problematic because even if they lacked a kinetic modul, they would not have mutch use out of it once they obtain it.

Funny how the Necromorphs keep cleaning up the place and denied them use of lose metal objects.

Though they were lucky that the enemy was apperently very distracted, with the base intelligence this task was probably to mutch to be automated so to speak.

As they finally reached the lift without having to fight more enemies, did they wonder if the enemy already know the events to come, or was precisely planning every encounter ahead.
When the herd reached the top of the lift they expected thick concentration of enemies, to their surprise was nothing coming their way.

However when the enemy would finally show their ugly visage, they would have to rip and cut or blast their way through.

With Lunas head they had one explosive option, yet they wondered if any kind of explosives might be improvised to aid them in crowd control.
A pack of 8 Slashers in tight attack formation would be perfect for area of attack effects.

The Herd stuck to the walls and sharpened their hearing for any Necromorph ready to jump out of the already open ventilation system.
No attack so far. But their ears keep scanning the area for suspicious sounds.

Once they reached the door to the security room of the lobby from the long corridor, they finally encounter some Slashers.
One of them to their dismay jumped rather impressively into a ventilation shaft to escape its vivisection.

As it was would that happened to be in their favor for now. They stasis the lone Necromorph, when it come their way and Marksaline had no problem dealing with it on their own.
When they checked the ventilation shaft was the Necromorph bearly to see and certainly not easy to target, yet did Cadance was rather good in thinking outside the box.

Cadance throw Marksaline up the shaft and apperently was it so tight in there, that it could not fight back after Marksaline had chewed its head off. Marksaline usual first target the head when she noticed how stiff they moved once the enemy was directly infront of them.

Without a head to 'chop' down on their victim, their offensive potency dropped drastically.

Marksaline had two more blades in her collection once this Slasher was dismembered.
After Marksaline stopped her effort dragging the body out of the shaft do to it being heavier than anticipated, did the herd continued on their merry way. To bad for the fillys, one less crimson cookie for the Necro-sisters...

Though their foes caught them by surprise when they opend the door. A Slasher was there and hit Nightmare nail rifle in the air, disarming her unexpectedly. The enemy was unfortunately not able to make it count, when a stasis blast hit its torso and they caught it off guard in turn.

Marksaline once more dismembered it by starting with the head and than taking its right arm off before shortly after doing the same to the left one.

They took their sweet time checking out the diagnostic display and read though it.
The Ishimura as the representation of Sunset mind was pretty mutch damaged in every singel section of the ship.

Mostly inoperable engines was one of the things stand out the most. It was definitely one of their biggest worries to keep the colossus in the air. But for how mutch longer until they failed completely?
That would be on Discord to tell them soon enough. As to not prematurely have them failing their journey.
He organized their objectives after all, so they trusted him to send them where they are most needed.

Perhaps more pressing was their air production down to less than 50 prozentual digits.
Pretty sure breathing wasn't exactly one could skip for longer periods of time, than again... Dream logic? They would have to see...

Than came something abbreviated, the so called AAS canons. Unfortunately was no option for a description to be selected. But them all being offline doubtfully was in their favor.
Many other things displayed as particularly operational or inoperable all together as well.
They sure had their work cut out for them and noone was jealous about Discords mountain of problems to fix.
Everypony just hoped the remaining 11 hours and 45 minutes are really enough to do the most pressing matters...

Discord was worried, mapping them a way out without being hurt in the process after every task was fullfilled was going to be very hard, since the Necromorphs didn't follow the original script anymore.
Even once those planned foes were taken care off, they were able to make their way back to the room where the safety would usually allow players to rest and inventory manage their stuff.

The enemy wasn't resting anymore and waited idle for their ques to fill out their designated roles, though at the very least the dream echos of Sunset are all unaffected and their opposition wasn't trolling them by going out of their way to deny Sunset to get to them and have them and their problem resolved.

As the herd walked into the room they had previously defeated some Necromorph, they noticed that the bodies of the damaged or defeated had been taken by their allied creatures away.

To their luck did they found something nice thought lost. One of their two weapons lay on one of the lobbys couches. To which Cadance grinned as she collected it. One more weapon for the herd defense. She wondered is avoiding her RIG's vital upgrades would be perhaps better in offensive areas. What would the nail rifle be able to be updated? She wondered...

Discord established a connection to them, apperently was the Kirin stallion Challus Mercer not the only surviver of the Ishimura...
At least two more surviver could be added to their ranks.

Nicole Brennan was a medical doctor like Mercer and would be able to be added to their recruitment with a unnamed reward if she was brought to the transportation platform that now was a save area that enemies could not enter, damage or otherwise effect. This was a optional objective.

As the connection was terminated, did the herd already decided to make her a priority. Since doctor Mercer had given them a free healing and a weapon schematic, did it stand to reason that doctor Nicole would benefit them similarly.

So they walked over to where they needed to head for the Kellion's position. As the heroine's headed towards the door they had walked through to enter the lounge area, they had again a chilling sensation glide over them.
Something was going to happen.

As they walked out of the lounge area over on the walkway that would take them back to the Kellion, did a surviver come towards them.
Another surviver to aid them! Perhaps doctor Nicole Brenner?!
But before they could reach one another, did a Leaper jumped off the sign above their heads and landed some distance in front of the surviver.

They knew the weakness of their enemy, but could not risk hitting the surviver.
However who needed to risk it with stasis add ons at their disposal?
After stasis hit their undead nuisance was it easy to dispose of it.

They contemplated to lifted their weapons and opened fire, but that would be unreasonable use of limited ammunition.
Once the stasis wore of, did it get stasis locked once more into almost motionless easy to dispatched practice dummy mode.

Marksaline once more with glee tore off the leaper's head and right arm, before they take the safe route and re-stunned the crippeld Leaper before Marksaline chewed its remains into pieces before Fluffelpuff *poofed* it into a crimson cookie that unexpectedly got completely given over to Cadance.

Apperently was is a delightful treat despite it being made out of... Yeah...

Meanwhile did Cadance give Luna head over to the face numb survivers care.
It came to everyone surprise when Luna complained about a tingling sensation before she blow up like a bomb, killing the surviver by ripping her apart.

Before anyone had recovered and standing up from the harmless shockwave that had pressed them all to the ground, had noone a chance to even look at the body that rolled of the walkway.

Everypony with the fillys not included had a few profanitys to vent out, because Discord 'gift to Luna' just backfire spectacularly and cost them probably a useful reward.

Once that was taken care of the herd approached the Kellion, though while they did that they marveled at the new look it had. It was twice it original size now.

They decided that this was a good opportunity to check out what Discord had prepared for them and hoped it didn't blow up in their face, like Discords 'last gift to Luna'.

When they entered the Kellion to use its benefits as praised on by Discord earlier, did Luna to their delight pooped into existance with the sound of a soap bubble bursting.

A herd grouphug later they boarded the Kellion cockpit and found nothing of notice. They started checking the ship for additional systems and the shop that was promised to them.
To Discords luck was there indeed a automated shop in it that Luna a Nightmare Moon recognized. Therefore was the little surviver accident quickly forgiven.

There was apperently a memory crystal ball infront of its keyboard. So they took their time studying it.
They expected a hoove manual how to use it, rather they get a introduction to their enemies ranks available threats against them:

"While each variety is scary in its own right, there are some that truly stand above the rest in terms of their creepiness and utter monstrosity."

1. Slasher
   Slashers are the footsoldier of the Necromorph forces. They are the most common existing encountered enemy when ever a outbreak happens.

Most bipedal species create it.
They stand upright on legs, and their original arms which have been reduced to deformed useless appendages, are located in a bloody hole in their bellies. From their shoulders protrude massive arm like ending in scythe like protrusions. Their name come from their main attack by charging and viciously flailing their scythes. Their heads are small and encased between their arms, and their lower jaw is replaced by small red dagger like tentacles.

This variation has uniquely a ability to vomit long distance vile bile projectiles up to three times to damage suits and slow down its prey short term.

A slasher is easily defeated by dismembering both arms and its head. If a leg is severed it ability to sprint is taken away and the slasher can only drag himself along the ground towards its enemy.

1. Leaper
   Leapers are scorpion like Necromorph, Griffon corpses whose legs were merged together to form a long spiked muscular scorpion or Manticore resembeling tail. Whose arms became more muscular and have knife like talon more sharpened than usual. They are very fast and can leap great distances. They attack by flailing their long tails or by biting viciously with their beaks. Should their beak be compromised before or after they are mutated than they develop sabertoothed mouths.

Its rather surprising that they don't use their talons more than the occasional talon swipe. Leapers can be a problem when they ambush is prey by taking advantage of their ability to crawl on walls and ceilings combined with their long distance leaping abilities thanks to their feathers.

The safest ways to kill the leaper is to dismember both arms, then remove the head. Its very meaty tail is generally a bad target.

1. Lurker
   Lurkers are the result of the Necromorph infestation on a equine foal or similiar smaller creature. They usually looks disturbingly like monstrously mutated adolescents. They are small and walk on all fours preferably walk on walls or ceilings out of reach of their prey.

They rarely attack with a manner that allows close quarter combat. With three tentacles that protrude from their backs they usually attack until they used their up to 30 long range attacks that never seem to suffer from arching like a bow projectile would.

The tentacles can also fire noxious poison needles that cause muscle relaxation. Making it easyer for them to combat enemies.
The Lurkers are individually weak, but their small size and ability to climb on walls and ceilings with their ranged attacks will pose a seriouse threat.

Severing two tentacles is enough to defeat a lurker, although an enhanced lurker may require all three severed. They are for unknown reason partially stunned if they are effected by flames.

1. Pregnant Slasher
   Pregnant Slashers walk on two legs like their slim variation. Pregnants are hideously obese and sickly green in color, with scything talons that are almost twice the size of a normal Slashers.
   They are usually slow and walk at a very lumbering pace, but when prompted to attack they can display frightening bursts of speed.

While they are indeed perilous, the greater danger comes from their bellies: A Pregnant that is shot in its bloated body will spew several Necromorph forms or some other vicious payload, adding to the number of enemies to defeat.

Your herd can pick off the two arms to kill the pregnant safely and prevent it from rapturously releasing its payload. If one of its leg are severed it usually has a tendency to use one arm to release it stored Necromorph by cutting itself open and uses it as distraction to reach its victim.

1. Divider
   Divider are disturbing looking and extremely tall enemies. Dividers have elongated limbs tipped with claw like hands or talons. They are very thin and slow in their normal walking movements, but are capable of bursts of speed similar to other Necromorph like the Slasher.

They strongly focus on slashing or choking their prey and attack with tentacles from their bellies and striking almost independently from eatch limb, what can make them look uncoordinated sometimes. As their name suggests it can divide itself into lesser forms when damaged. Usualy once defeated their head, torso, arms and legs become independent creatures. It's rather annoying how they keep continuing to stalk and assault their prey. As divided monsters they are fast and hard to hit, but much weaker.

They're best destroyed with a combination of stasis, and either the flamethrower or a explosive blast to destroy their weaker overall structure. Even if it does split after the initial attack, any components should be low on durability and destroyable in one good hit. If you want to conserve ammo stomp on their squishy bodys down.
Watch out for the head, it has a tendency to take over usable body or take over its attacking prey by replacing the existing head by prying it off.

1. Guardian
   Guardian are some of the strangest of all the Necromorph forms. They are enormous lumps of flesh attached to vertical walls, from which protruded is a victim turned Necromorph. The torso with its intestines dangling under it is a really gut emptying sight. It wails and screams a lot, as to inflict mental distress since they appear to suffer while still alive, what they are not for quite some time.

Tentacle armed sacs comes out from its belly. Guardians cannot move and while they can flail their viscera in a whip like fashion is it usually absolutely deadly to approach them while they are active. They have a affinity for trying to piercing through the body of prey approaching or decapitating said prey.

They can create little fleshy sacks that act like under developing Lurkers without mobility. The little creatures spawned are their primary offensive capability.
They are defeated by destroying the tentacles attached to the wall. For a quick and efficient kill is the use of explosive materials recommended, since their structure is strongly weakend overall.
Their head is mostly decorational.

1. Twitcher
   Twichers are rare, yet still common considered enemies. These Necromorphs were workers or soldiers whose bodies were infected and mutated into gray skinned and bulky looking forms who are in fact, rather hollow.
   They are a heavily armed versions of ordinary Slashers. While very strong, their most frightening virtue is their speed: As a worker or soldiers they all possessed stasis modules that were assimilated into their bodies during mutation.

As a result, they are so fast that they're capable of dodging enemy fire. Their reaction time can not quite manage their own bodies speed, that is why they keep twitch uncontrollably as a side effect. They are slightly more durable than normal Slashers, but are a far greater threat since they are like slowly faster sprinting Slashers.
These enemies are known to need complet dismembering to become no longer a threat.

The mutated stasis module has traveled inside their head. Stomp or otherwise destroy it to prevent other Slashers to use it to mutate to Twitchers.

1. The grabber
   The grabber is a Necromorph that merged with a kinetic module users corpse. It can grab incoming big roughly made objects and returned it with increased force.
   It can also grab victims to smash them on walls and ceilings.

It usually has the body structure of a Slasher or a Leaper.
It can be distinguished by its missing head and its hollow looking torso.
It's legs and arms are tougher than usually encountered Necromorphs.

Always stomp or otherwise destroy the infected and mutated kinetic module on one of it's arms or another Slasher or Leaper will take it and morph into a grabber!

1. The voice trap
   The voice trap is a Necromorph who can parrot several sentances. It presents himself as badly injured surviver. It very unusualy is very weak in attack and structure for a Necromorph. It usually is never alone with other enemies nearby to start a ambush.

Keep in mind that in the dream realm there is noone to save that is badly injured and screaming for help... Unless we are mistaken?

There are others, but i unfortunately can't warn you about them.

After they had discussed the list did it suddenly dissappeared as if used up like a medical gel pack.
Good that Nightmare & Luna had memorized it.

Now they sold of the shit they collected during all confrontations and had all 55.500 Credits to call their own.

55.500 x 5 times... They are bloody rich unless the shit they wanted to buy are redicules priced.

》》They had access to:《《

• Small medical gel pack = 2500 Credits
  
• Stasis pack = 2500 Credits
  
• Flamethrower 2.500 Credits
  
• Magic Cutter ammunition with 10 capacity
  = 2500 Credits
  
• Upgrade Nodes = 10.000 Credits
  
• Suit upgrade to second tier = 10.000 Credits
  Suit level 2 – 18 inventory slots, 5% armor bonus (found in any store)

What should they buy for all their money?
Did Discord ask the 4th wall he was inside because why not...

State of player:

》Sunset Shimmer《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Magic Cutter - No upgrades, currently 10 shots total. 5/7 loaded with weapons capacity of 7 and 5 shots ready to be loaded.
11/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Marksaline《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
No weapons, but can perform surprisingly effective finishes on normal Slashers and Leapers. Takes half a RIG life bracket damage if the target is not stasis effected.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.
The Slasher blades collected are stored in her mission inventory space because she can...

》Nightmare Moon《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 50/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
One medium healing stored in Inventory.
11/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Luna《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 50/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Cadance 《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 00/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.

Author's Note

I think you all know this describes all my stories at one point or another:

Anyway i hope you enjoyed how i changed up some enemies and even added variations i always wondered why they never come up.
The faker was inspired by the movies of dead space.

Stay snuggly 👍

Last time edited: 05.03.2023