Name: Moosalo
Planet: Amargosa
Type: Fauna — Domesticated Livestock
Summary:
The moosalo is a domesticated herd animal native to Amargosa, essential to the colony’s agricultural economy and survival. These large, shaggy beasts are analogous to a cross between Terran bison and elk, built for the planet’s rugged terrain and variable climate. Moosalo are raised primarily for their meat, which is a favored staple in Amargosan cuisine, as well as for their hides, used in durable clothing and equipment.
Moosalo are hardy and relatively docile, making them well-suited to farm life. Colonists rely on them heavily for sustenance, and moosalo herding forms the backbone of Amargosa’s rural economy. Their pens and barns are common sights across the farmlands surrounding settlements like Lansdorp and Harlan Township.
During the invasion of Amargosa, moosalo herds are decimated. Alien raiders deliberately target livestock to cripple local food supplies, and refugees struggle to protect the surviving animals. The loss of moosalo accelerates the colony’s humanitarian crisis, forcing survivors to rely on less-preferred game like ursoids and scavenged stores.
The Parker family, for example, maintained a moosalo barn on their farm — until it was destroyed in a raid early in the invasion, along with much of their livestock.
Notes:
- Primary livestock species of Amargosa.
- Raised for both meat and hide.
- Hardy and adaptable to Amargosa’s terrain and climate.
- Targeted by invaders to cripple food production.
- Destruction of moosalo barns is a significant blow to rural communities.
- More docile than wild native species like gosalopes.
Symbol of colonial life and rural prosperity on Amargosa.
Appearances: Gimme Shelter, The Children of Amargosa, “The Interlopers“