Centaurs encountered in New California and Mojave Wasteland were created by the Master. The creation process involved tossing a varied mix of humans, dogs, and other types of animals into a Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV) vat to be infected by the virus, and then seeing what mutant chimera emerged as the virus produced rapid and unpredictable mutations. The resultant centaurs can differ quite radically in physical appearance from one another. However, all known centaurs are somewhat humanoid in appearance.
Capital Wasteland
Like their western counterparts, the Capital Wasteland centaurs were created by infection with the FEV along with the super mutants. Their birthplace, like the super mutants, is Vault 87.
Variations
Centaurs of all known varieties are not harmed by radiation, but seem drawn to it, as they are often found in heavily irradiated environments.
Physically, these centaurs are around the size of a bear, with a large, misshapen torso and six humanoid arms that serve as legs. A cluster of wriggling fleshy tentacles bloom out from their underside, scrabbling at the ground around them. Branching from their front halves are a pair of long, thick necks, with a canine head on the right and a humanoid one on the left. The canine head has a thick metal collar around its neck, adorned with spikes, not unlike an ordinary dog collar. The two heads are seemingly aware that they are separate creatures, as the dog head can be seen trying to gnaw on the humanoid head.
So far, the two-headed centaurs have only been encountered on the West Coast, in New California.
With this type of centaur, only the human-like head remains, and the feelers on the back are replaced by three long, tentacle-like tongues. Unlike its two-headed "cousins", this kind of centaur uses a ranged attack: a high-arcing, slow-moving saliva projectile that can carry lethal doses of radiation. Oddly enough, it is capable of igniting lingering gas vapors as well. In close quarters, it utilizes a long, three-pronged tongue to whip and slash at any intruders.
This kind of centaur can be encountered both in the West and the East of the former United States.
These centaurs are a bigger and stronger variant of centaur. Having been exposed to much more radiation than regular centaurs, they have significantly more muscle mass as well as thick clusters of tumors growing from their backs.
An even bigger variety of the evolved centaur, the giant evolved centaur is the largest and most dangerous variation of centaur to be discovered to date.
Behind the scenes
In Greek mythology, centaurs were creatures that were typically half-human, half-horse. The human part would end at the bottom of the torso, where the hindquarters of a horse would begin.
