Death Stranding 2: What Happened to Tarman’s Hand?

When you come up to the bridge of DHV Magellan for the first time in Death Stranding 2, you get to meet Tarman, the ship’s captain and pilot. He is able to tap into the tar current to take the vehicle underground and bring it up anywhere connected to the chiral network. When he finally steps out of his chair to greet Sam, he shows that his right hand is missing. He quips that the missing hand is in the tar, helping him properly navigate the ship. 

While Kojima’s characters are known to have such quirky nuances, it’s no surprise players are wondering what happened to Tarman’s missing hand.

Death Stranding 2: Tarman’s Missing Hand Explored

The information on what happened to Tarman’s Missing Hand in Death Stranding is not available immediately to Sam. Instead, you will have to continue connecting different parts/shelters of Australia to the chiral network of UCA. The prompt that will lead you to learn about Tarman’s past comes right after you mine Special Alloys and bring them back through the monorail to West Fort Knot City. You will be told to go back to the DHV Magellan.

After a discussion with Fragile regarding Lou, you will be back at your private room aboard the ship. Dollman will tell you that Tarman has kept a few books by the bed on the table and that you can pass the time reading them. Inspect the table and then interact with the books.

Sam will turn the cover and notice a picture kept on that page. Dollman will confirm that that’s Tarman and his son. Dollman will further suggest going and giving Tarman the picture, as it must be a dear memento. If you select to go, a new cutscene will begin.

Tarman Speaks About His Son, DHV Magellan, And His Missing Hand

Tarman mentions that he is a doctor and a geophysics researcher before taking up his current role in Drawbridge. Along with his son, he was researching the tar currents and the creatures found within them aboard the Deep-Tar Hunting Vehicle Magellan. 

One fine day, they catch a whale-like creature with tendrils on one end. His son steps out and walks up to the creature. Although Tarman cautions him to get back, the lad puts a hand on the whale that leaves a handprint similar to what BTs leave. The weather suddenly changes, and a storm rages on. Hunter BTs appear from within the whale-like creature, scampering towards Tarman’s son and trying to drag him into the tar.

Tarman launches out of his cockpit and tries to grab hold of his son. He almost manages to bring him back up onto the ship, but ultimately, his son is swallowed by the tar along with his hand. In the end, Tarman is left with the winged cat-like creature covered in tar from that day. He mentions that he initially thought that was his son reincarnated, but that he no longer thinks so. 

That’s all there’s to know about the mystery behind Tarman’s missing hand. The world of Death Stranding 2 is filled with similar intriguing and interesting characters, and Tarman is surely going to be one of the new favorites among the community.

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