Lore And Biology Of The Thalamus in Barotrauma! (Theories and Conjecture)

[@mzargeot5698]

Tip for taking out thalamuses/thalami : DO NOT approach the wreck with your submarine , put your submarine roughly 100m away from it and send a dive team to see if it's a thalamus or not. Trust me this will save you a lot of welding fuel and ammunition

[@deaththeman7258]

that’s still dangerous cause the turrets will light you up like a christmas tree

[@NKS-jo1ik]

Drones

[@mzargeot5698]

@@deaththeman7258 More survivable than terminal cells imo

[@ashenone3883]

@@NKS-jo1ik Yeah drones are quite usefull. I personally reccomend an explosive payload loaded in the drone.

[@Wafflehouse71]

@@ashenone3883 Doesnt everyone?

[@weaponized_saltiness]

I'm guessing that the fractal guardians prevent a thalamus infestation in ruins with the use of their steam cannons, it works underwater and is effective against flora and whatever cells a thalamus could produce.

[@thethalamusguy7212]

I have a theory about these strange symbiotic beings, that theory being that they aren’t a evolutionary adapted creature but instead were some form of “Defence mechanism” created by the same race of aliens that created the ruins to protect the ruins by utilising the thalamus brain in a way that it only goes for entrance points and covers them in immense amount of floor that has a hardened alien door in the middle to help reinforce it, also maybe they used merged genetic samples of europa’s life to create the thalamus

[@bagelmelon]

Yeah, I mean if a alien race had to travel to Europa first (probably because of lack of large ruins or civilizations, only outpost here and there) they would have also probably utilized a submersible vehicle of their own, and to prepare for other aliens (humans and whatnot) they created defense systems to ensure they had control of the visitors submersible or could command other wrecks in its fleet to help defend, control, or supress native life forms or foreign life forms

[@deathbunny7572]

I was thinking the thalamus lives in the ice of Europa or was developed by the aliens as a weapon to use against each other and make large areas dangerous for (alien) vehicles to go through

[@catmanmliolunny]

Kuro’s Log: 106 While I may have survived my old ships being turned into these not once but 5 times.. I never get used it to.. This is why I keep a flamethrower on every ship I serve on

[@chaosinc.382]

Ah yes. I'm unfortunately familiar with these. When one infected our ship and we only had a single flamer. It, unsurprisingly, nearly killed ol Constantine.

[@Capn-185]

Pro tip: before encountering a wreck, use a Nuclear Shell on the wreck as if its infected or not, its certainly to kill anything inside :)

[@thethalamusguy7212]

Another theory is about the “Unknown Organ”, I think it is the thalamus brain is utilising the unknown organ to grow sentient organism that can move around and what I mean about that is take in example crawlers, and what I mean about that is that it’s using the hosts it kills to create a fleshy beast that can move around like a crawler that is used to infect much larger subs that cannot be assimilated through normal ballast flora means.

[@Capn-185]

OHHH BIG BRAIN MAN. Adding onto this, I think that it doesn't take it over, but instead creates the husk parasite.

[@thethalamusguy7212]

@@Capn-185 makes sense

[@xthax9718]

kinda like the thalamid from that one mod from a modpack in polarfuchs’ barotrauma modded playthrough

[@rift7609]

​@Capn-185 Wouldn't really make sense since both husk infection binds to calcium or it dies and you never see the husk infection outside of husks or husked crawlers, never just by itself without a host and the thalmus doesn't infect you with husk infection

[@elunamoon8384]

I think it has to do with electricity. The Balest tank flora is specifically drawn to the electricity and it causes a chain reaction in its growth which forces a massive growth chain. It probably doesn't latch onto beings or shells because there is no electricity to entice its growth, however the brain of an organism does have a current. It probably waits for an unsuspecting creature to enter a spore zone and it uses the electricity in the brain to entice growth as much as possible so release more spores. It has to do this quickly because it will cause major problems in a being because its the brain we are talkin about. That's also why it grows fast af once it hits a power supply! That's my Ted Talk.

[@Gibilisko]

These videos will be a great help for me then I'll roleplay as the Medic-genobiologist, that is once I'll find a crew which doesn't already have a medic on board. It's kinda strange that you see crews without a Security guard more often than without a medic.

[@hailstone7470]

I think this is usually because other classes offer more useful diverse functions while securities perks are a bit underwhelming

[@Gibilisko]

True Security outside combat is only good for ammo production and wreckage looting. Still then a pack of threshers breaks into your submarine you wish there was somebody who'd put himself before you and them.

[@fridgetheboss4728]

@@Gibilisko This is reason why i always pick security officer, i simply didnt want to see how my crew got ripped apart by some alien shit. I rather fight some montsters with a knife, saving some crewmember than runaway.

[@user-dh9oz9um2w]

I’ve been getting into barotruama recently and I’m really enjoying these lore videos, Keep up the amazing work man!

[@Jeroop5]

Perhaps the prey of the thalamus is the moloch since it moves by pumping in and out water to propell itself just like a ballast

[@roidroid]

What if it is infact the same organism as the Husk infection? They are very similar, infecting hosts which they then grow new weapons on with which to infect further targets. The husk organism has many capabilities but will only manifest those which are appropriate to it's host type/size. A Thalamas is just what the "husk" infection does when it's host is a ship.

[@TheCol111]

Doubt it tbh. The Husk is specifically a parasitic organism that exists in the throat or equivilent of biological beings, and is speculated to physically carve out the inside of the organism to make way for appendages like tentacles and whatnot. Whereas the Thalamus is a botanical entity, the infection of which is caused by spores. Perhaps in nature, the Thalamus infests either extremely large flora & fauna with significant electrical activity, or even simply areas where such energy occurs naturally for some reason or another

[@viable1517]

i absolutely *LOVE* these types of videos about barotrauma, keep the great work up!

[@therandomlaniusedward2140]

10:42 User created Anti-thalamus infection apparatuses using circuit systems are on steam. (An button that can render the door open and cut off electricity to it and ballast pumps)

[@butterballmach2]

What if the thalamus is some kinda residual experiment from the aliens like a bio weapon that was just ditched without a second thought

[@AngryProtoBoi]

I really need to write more logs, but this one has a place here. Log 5 Since our entrance into the deeper regions of Europa, thalamus wrecks have been appearing more and more. An odd thing to note as well is that the wrecks our crew on the Spirit of Fire have been locating… have mostly been what appears to be an older Remora type. Thankfully, we’ve figured out where the thalamus brain decides to crop up in these wrecks, but the most unnerving thing wasn’t even on an infected wreck. Another Remora wreck, nothing unusual… right? NO! That thing had a thermonuclear railgun shell in a storage rack! I have to be seriously thankful that diving suits have grippy gloves or else our ship would’ve been in pieces on the abyss floor. And all of that for outposts offering 400 marks for it. By the love of Jove this economy confuses me. Just gotta hope that I don’t get caught on the wrong end of an infected Kastrull…

[@kiltmaster7041]

I always felt that they should have dovetailed Thalamus and Husk infection together into the same thing. The fact that they're separate parasites seems... redundant, and leaves questions. Why doesn't the Thalamus infect anything other than subs? Well, if husk infection and thalamus contamination were the same thing, then husk-ism would basically be thalamus-ism in organisms, whilst thalamus-ism would be husk-ism in ships and bigger organisms. Furthermore, it would open up the possibility that husks are just one step in the evolution of the thalamus. Once husks have completely taken over a ship, they'll self-digest and become thalamus organs. This is a much more streamlined idea than the two half-ideas that are currently in-game.

[@freaky1382]

I love these videos! I’ve already watched all of the ones on your channel. Please make more :D

[@blastchambers2150]

The Thalamus infection has evolved I think. I was just wrapping up some mudrapters on my Orca-2 when I passed the ballast section and found something spreading on the walls. I suddenly knew I had to deal with it fast as was coming from inside ballast compartment B. A thalamus growth named 'Ballast flora' was attached to the pump and I had to plasma burn it to stop it. I am as horrified as I am grossed out at the prospect of my Orca-2 becoming host to this monstrosity.

[@gordon_freeman2542]

Ballast flora is actually a completely different plant that some people in Europa grow for aesthetic reasons when it appears on their ship, But it is recommended according to The Europan magazine series to put them in a jar to raise them and burn the rest because it can get bad if unmanaged unless you have experience and extra time.

[@blastchambers2150]

@@gordon_freeman2542 Huh I had no idea. I sure hope it doesn't look gross and fleshly like that.

[@andyboi8399]

@@blastchambers2150 Nope, that's factually incorrect. Ballast Flora is a the same organism as a thalamus, just not matured. It's the early stage of a thalamus forming... Ballast Flora spores are sucked in through the pumps, where they have perfect conditions to grow, sucking up electricity and (possibly) pulling water through the pumps and filtering it trough some kind of membrane to feed on the micro-organisms in it and gain more biomass. Eventually it will sink the sub, and after a few years on the sea bottom, undisturbed a colony of ballast flora will turn the wreck into a thalamus.

[@blastchambers2150]

@@andyboi8399 I found that out ages later when I wasn't new to the game. but thank you xD

[@AngryProtoBoi]

Thalamus plants die when outside of water for too long, so if you have the time, you are able to position your sub against the ceiling of a cave and just pump all of the water from the ballasts out. Should dry the flora right out.

[@ruberine2086]

Man I have such bad luck with these things, me and my friends are only just like halfway through the Europan Ridge, and have somehow sunk onto 2 thalami. We also fell onto like 3-5 husk wrecks too, which was lovely given that we can barely afford to keep 2 doses of calaxanide on the ship.

[@ceu160193]

Just don't approach wreck from above. Stop at about 50-100 m from it and send in diver team to check, if it's infected by thalamus. So far I sunk only once, and not even from thalamus itself - pack of raptors managed to sunk our bot-inhabited submarine, while we were fighting our way through immune cells and destroying brain.

[@gordon_freeman2542]

The Thalamus is rumoured to be related to the now long destroyed Carrier that was in the Legacy version of the game

[@carriewilson1006]

Do you think it could be related to the husk given that they look similar and end up being in very similar areas? Also consider it basically does the same things to ships that husk does to living organisms

[@manjoring5944]

One flood spore can wipe out an entire species -sun tzu probably

[@ant_king5656]

It's entirely possible that the unknown organ is what produces the spores of ballast flora, and that natural thalamus infection happens in secluded caves. I think it's possible because the ballast flora spores float through the water and would fit into small openings that lead into a larger cave. The spores would be released the same way the original thalmus entered the cave where they would then float through the water, being moved by currents and thermal vents until a suitable area is found

[@AngryProtoBoi]

What would be scarier is if thalamus colonies took hold of an iceberg.

[@markfreeman4727]

my gosh i've needed a new lore series to listen to thank my dude :)

[@HarenunHoppus]

Do you think these spores also call the insides of other creatures its home too? Between the plates of a mudraptor or much larger creatures perhaps.

[@hailstone7470]

maybe, though in my mind as adaptive as the thalamus seems to be its truly hard to imagine given its unknown potential so yeah strong maybe.

[@madmanofthemoon1798]

@@hailstone7470 I think it's most likely to be specialised for infecting molochs, since they share a surprising amount in common with the subs Hard shell, balast-adjacent pouch they use to move, enough space to start developing... The unspecified organ containing the swimbladder seems to me like it's trying to make the host mobile, perhaps so it can move to more ideal conditions to release more spores - if it is, then the ability to control electronic systems could be related to how it would puppet its normal host If that's the case, the scale we see on a wreck is just what happens when it has so much room to grow and no hope of lifting the host

[@SaltyCrabOfficial]

colonial super being that conveniently and convergently evolved or adapted the biomass to be more specialized in what it does... sinking subs... seems right to me

[@dudupintarolas5214]

I think a thalamuses would normally grow and live in caves spearing creatures in and impaling them to eat, and if you really think of it a breached submarine is just a metalic cave

[@starfrost276]

Imagine if they could start directly infecting the water intake for the reactor as their initial incursion.

[@callsignapollo_]

Reactors on subs irl (and even the soviet era subs BT is inspired by) cannot run on seawater. They use seawater to cool a separated loop of freshwater, which then cools the reactor. Gives both a lore and reality reason for it not happening

[@ThexVaultxTech]

You mentioned the bug gears ❤

[@timberwolf3871]

hey, just found your content man, pretty cool stuff. keep up the good work :)

[@formallizard7085]

What if creature veterans are infected?

[@joeyslayer1238]

I know no one is probably still in this comment section but whats the footage in the background? Also if the creator sees this these videos are great!

[@EduardoSevero]

the thalamus creation from ballast flora is by far the most disgusting/strange thing from baro in my opinion

[@oleksandr4371]

Thalamus 'misterious' organ with swim bladder is just part of talamus development his body, cause later you will see complete submarine with talamus that can swim and attack like hermit crab

[@xendakakorva3267]

if your talking about the carrier then that might be a no since said creature no longer spawns in the latest update since 2022

[@Milks_Gone]

Thalmi are actually part of ballest flora in where they have been in a sub for I think 4 years

[@unlondonsoldier5530]

@HailStone what about the submarines that have tentacles sticking out of them?

[@OpiatesEnjoyer1984]

Cool stuff, keep it up

[@AngryProtoBoi]

The Thalamus is British but instead of every island in existence it goes for submarines

[@hacknwack4065]

thalamussy

[@amavew]

there are canonically pigs in barotrauma

[@robertbaca3003]

I think the correct pronunciation is Thalami but said like salami

[@FoxesInBoots]

Thalamussy!!

[@badbuddy0934]

Dead war reference?

[@jasperrice8456]

It's thalimopides

[@nethergollum4219]

now maybe the hammerheads?

[@hailstone7470]

workin on it!

[@nethergollum4219]

@@hailstone7470 alrighty then, keep up the good work

[@luukgodschalk2573]

Game in background?

[@hailstone7470]

I've had a few people ask this tell me why do you think this would benefit the video?

[@thethalamusguy7212]

It’s no man’s sky also hailstone I wonder if you could do a vid about husk parasites! That would be really cool

[@Banan_the_slut]

too drunk to understand anything. Still great content!

[@adcube2265]

y bro suonds like bill cosby

[@roboticintelligenceunit1a652]

Neither, it’s thalamoose

[@hailstone7470]

Nah at this point I'm sure it's thalameese

[@TheHappySerpent]

its thalamussy I am not sorry

[@theunspokentoad3986]

*reloads hand cannon*

[@lynxerz]

*reloads harpoon gun*

[@moritamikamikara3879]

Why Ziga?

[@Skulltar69]

You don't have nearly enough view or followers

[@crazyprophet3276]

How are your videos scripted? If they are it's poorly written

[@moritamikamikara3879]

Remove yourself.