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Brahmin are creatures found in Texas in 2208.[1]

Background[]

This section is transcluded from Brahmin. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

Brahmin are one of the most important mutated species that emerged in the wasteland following the Great War. Descended from the Indian brahman cattle variant that was later imported to the U.S. for crossbreeding purposes, the effects of the lingering radiation resulted in their recognizable feature of having two fully grown heads, and they were quickly adopted by survivors as the most versatile and capable livestock animal found in the wastes.[2] The brahmin's major advantage to human resourcefulness is the fact that while sometimes ornery, their disposition is actually easy to manage with as little as a pointy stick.[3]

A large, two-headed mutant bovine famed for its broad use as a pack animal capable of carrying up to 500 lbs,[Non-game 1] brahmin also provide milk, and their feces are an efficient fertilizer and fuel for fires.[4] When a brahmin's use as a beast of burden ends and they are slaughtered, they become even more useful as a source of meat, leather (noted to be tough, durable and fit for everything including tents, clothes, leather-made armor, belts, saddle bags, shoes), bones (useful for making clubs, tools, dice, hoes, and arrowheads), tails (perfect as brushes), and even fat for soap making. As valuable of a commodity as they are, they also don't need much to survive, as they can go without water for extended periods of time and can subsist on whatever weeds they find in the arid wasteland,[Non-game 2] digesting them in eight-compartment stomachs (double the number compared to pre-War cows).[5]

These advantages over other mutated descendants of cattle species has made the brahmin the cornerstone of many a post-nuclear economy, including the New California Republic whose vast brahmin herds are the driving force of its industry and the influence of the powerful brahmin barons. By extension, they also provide for the economically parasitic too, such as New Reno during the 2240s, when the rustling of brahmin cattle brought much needed income to the crime families of the city.

Characteristics[]

Biology[]

This section is transcluded from Brahmin. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

Brahmin are a post-War species of mutated cattle, with the most recognizable feature being that they have two fully functional heads. Scientific research has also determined that the species is born with eight stomach compartments,[6] males have four testicles,[7] and the females' udders have grown in size compared to pre-War variants. They have lost much of their natural hair, resulting in their skin being a toasted brown, orange, or pink color. When aggressed, they primarily attack by headbutting opponents or attempting to gore them with their horns.[Non-game 3]

Harvested brahmin meat is noted to be delicious and protein-rich, if only when compared to other sources of food. Brahmin also serve as a source of milk which is not only nutritious but also has medicinal, radiation-cleansing effects.[8][9][10]

Appearances[]

Brahmin appear in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.

References[]

  1. Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel Manual p.35: "Two headed cow
    The two headed cow the standard livestock for the wasteland farming communities, are two-headed cows that do little more than wander around, digest the tattered weeds that sprout in the dusty earth of the wasteland and fertilize. They also make excellent target practice, unless of course the farmer is around."
  2. The Vault Dweller: "{114}{}{What's a brahmin?}"
    Billy: "{115}{}{What's a brahmin? You must be joking. Why they're one of the major food sources and forms of transportation around here. They haul the caravans. Dan says this is a really important job, but it's the Bone.}"
    (BILLY.MSG)
  3. The Vault Dweller: "{113}{}{What's the spear for? Are they dangerous?}"
    Billy: "{132}{}{Dangerous? No, not really. They can give you a really nasty bite, but they're pretty cool. They fart and burp a lot. I don't know why.}"
    The Vault Dweller: "{133}{}{So what's the spear for?}"
    Billy: "{135}{}{Oh, they can be awfully stubborn when I want them to do something. I just gently stick them to get them to move around . . . plus I don't want to get too close; they sometimes kick. }"
    (Billy's dialogue)
  4. The Chosen One: "{198}{}{No, really. They grow Jet in brahmin shit... they use it as fertilizer.}"
    Troy: {201}{}{Really? Hmmmmm. I suppose brahmin... excrement would make a good fertilizer. I hadn't considered that before. Thank you, friend. I was curious about the manufacturing process.}"
    (Dr. Troy's dialogue)
  5. Enclave field research terminal (Silo outpost), Field Entry: "Brahmin"
  6. Enclave field research terminal (Silo outpost), Field Entry: "Brahmin"
  7. The Chosen One: "{193}{}{How do you prepare the brahmin meat? It has such a unique texture. [You pop yet another one in your mouth. These are good!]}"
    Rose: "{196}{}{[The crowd yells, '38!'] Well, what makes ours taste so special is that you have to harvest it while the brahmin is still alive. You just grab the brahmin by the scrotum and 'snip' four with one cut. You've got be careful; the brahmin usually gets riled up at that point.}"
    (McRose.msg)
  8. In-game effects of brahmin milk in Fallout 76
  9. Lone Wanderer: "You want me to get irradiated? How could that possibly be worth it for me?"
    Moira Brown: "Oh, don't worry so much about it. I'll be waiting here with a nice, tall glass of rad-cleansing brahmin milk for you when you get back."
    (Moira Brown's dialogue)
  10. Lone Wanderer: "Too... tired... to be... snide."
    Moira Brown: "You're a lucky one, you know. At this level, most people don't make it. But then again, most people don't have my experimental tricks! Now, after taking a few notes, I'll take care of that nasty radiation with a bit of my own home-made concoction. I've never had a chance to test it out on someone so heavily dosed, but I'm sure it'll work out fine. Exciting, isn't it? Okay, a little Brahmin milk... A couple magnets... And maybe a few happy thoughts..."
    (Moira Brown's dialogue)

Non-game

  1. Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Rulebook p. 183: "A large, two-headed mutant female cow used as a pack animal. The brahmin’s profile is on p.341, and they can carry up to 500 lbs. of weight."
  2. Fallout Bible 9 Brahmin: "Brahmin are mutated brahmin cattle with two heads. If you just said, 'hell, I thought brahmin were something from India,' well, you'd be right. A bunch of brahmin made their way to the states long ago[1] for crossbreeding purposes. When the bombs fell, brahmin grew two heads. They are quite hardy. They are also a delicious toasty brown, as you'll notice in the picture to the left. They attack by head-butting or trying to gore someone with their horns, so brahmin-tippers beware. For some reason, only the left-most brahmin head has horns, which raises some curious gender identity issues.[2]"
    "Brahmin serve a vital environmental niche in Fallout - they form the foundation of survival for many species in Fallout, most notably, humans. They also form the backbone of the NCR economy. They also form the backbone of the New Reno 'NCR brahmin rustling' economy. Brahmin can pull carts, old cars, plows, and dead bodies. Brahmin can be driven into herds then used as stampedes on rival tribal villages which is better than a Delayed Blast Fireball any day of the week. Brahmin can be worshipped. Brahmin hair can be woven into bags and ropes. Brahmin hide can be stretched over wooden or metal rods to make canoes, if you're into that sort of thing. Brahmin sinew can be used for bowstrings or thread for stitching. Brahmin shit is great fertilizer (and fuel for campfires). Brahmin meat is delicious - well, only because no one in Fallout knows what a succulent Pre-War steak used to taste like. Brahmin are a source of milk that is like modern day milk, yet terrifyingly different. Brahmin can be tipped over. Brahmin bones can be used as clubs, knives, arrowheads, eating utensils, hoes, or even dice, and their skulls look really scary dotted all over the desert landscape. Their horns can be turned into drinking horns if you feel like getting medieval. Brahmin can be used to distract a hungry deathclaw. Brahmin fat makes decent soap. Their hide can be used to make tents (or tipis/teepees), clothing, belts, saddle bags, shoes, leather armor, or a bizarre brahmin-looking disguise so you can sneak up on other brahmin and listen to their conversations. You can also use their tails as fly brushes or paint brushes, depending on your level of artistic talent."
    "There are domesticated brahmin and wild brahmin. PCs are encouraged to approach wild brahmin like they would a domesticated brahmin, because the end result is amusing for the Overseer."
    "Wild brahmin can forage for themselves, and they can be found across the wastes, gathered into small herds, wandering here and there, munching on the dirty weeds scattered throughout the desert. Fortunately for the ecology of the wasteland (and the survival of their species), brahmin can go for long periods of time without water - they don't need much to survive. They have a strong sense of smell, and they don't hesitate to stomp over any wasteland predator that threatens them or their calves - well, except deathclaws, because no one messes with deathclaws."
    "Brahmin are a great source of cattle drive and range war adventure seeds, if you feel like getting your Louis L'Amour on for a few sessions."
    "There are rumors that the smell of brahmin shit is highly addictive."
  3. Prepare for the Future, Channel 10: Nuclear Energy
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