Editing Quest:Ruby Quest/Theories (section)

==GRAND THEORIES==
Put possible explanations of the entire scenario here. Also called "Quicksand theories," because even if one of them is right, there is no escaping their consequences and no courses of action are really suggested by them. If one of them is true, it won't really change how the story progresses.

==== Old One Collapse ====
'''LIKELY'''

A rather elaborate and overarching theory, largely built on evidence from the last two threads and especially the notes in the final room. Stick with me.

According to the various notes, the Metal Glen was initially set up to research ways to cure blindness. It was evidently a secret operation, not known to whatever public exists in the outside world. In addition, all of its subjects were voluntary, and most were blind from birth.

Treatment initially stalled, until at one point the Chief Diagnostician, Red, evidently felt something "calling" to him in his mind, possibly in his sleep. His desire to locate this whatever, combined with his influence in the facility, led to them excavating a secondary holding chamber (known as the "Brig"), and stumbling across a room full of all sorts of unholy artifacts and some kind of fleshlike growth. Red was fascinated by this growth, and began researching ways to put it to medical use.

Shortly after this, treatment of the patients' blindness appeared to leap forward- and at the same time, things began to get very bad in the facility. At least one of the patients, Subject #7 "Ruby", began displaying vicious and inexplicable homicidal tendencies (another patient, Subject 6, may also have begun displaying these tendencies around this time, or they may have been preexisting; it's not clear, though it's unlikely in the mind of this writer that a blind man could have been particularly psychotic). After one of the patients was killed, Red's treatments involving the growth managed to actually bring him back from the dead.

And this is where it all begins to break down- the facility's scientific and medical integrity, the sanity of the Subjects and some of the staff, and in some cases the very fabric of space itself. 7, having killed 1, goes berserk- giving Red a Glasgow Smile. 7 is then subsequently killed by Red, who evidently then commits suicide, only to be brought back later at some point. 7 is also brought back at some time between her murder at Red's hands and November 8th, at which point she stabs and evidently kills Tom the Cat (who is likely Subject 6, though this is not certain). At about this point, the facility is abandoned, and we begin the vicious and murderous cycle that evidently lasts a whole year ("The Lost Year") before the /tg/ hivemind latches onto Ruby and guides her and Tom to freedom.

Central to this Grand Theory are Subject 7, Ruby, and the orderly, Ace, who both seem to bear close connections to the artifacts and growth (as well as to each other). Most of the mutations viewed recently (Red's madman smile, Tom's extra arms) seem to stem from the wounds initially inflicted by Ruby or to her. Ace was initially just an orderly, however as stated by Bella, he has been seemingly ignoring orders recently, and collecting the old one artifacts in the Cold Storage behind the healing chamber cells. It is later revealed that this is probably the result of the influence of the Old One things behind the artifacts, as Ace behind his mask and getup has been transformed into an eldritch horror.

This also supports the "Red Caused The Rift" theory seen lower down, as he appears to have some serious relationships (partially subconscious or no) with the Old Ones that are evidently behind this whole mess. That, and as the mutations and freakish occurrences became more prominent and numerous later on in the story, the rift in the Brig Room continued to get wider and wider.

According to this theory, the general collapse of the facility can be blamed almost entirely on Red as a result (that dick)- his treatments using the growth were what resulted in the emergence of the homicidal tendencies in 7 and quite possibly in 6 as well- presumably, had the treatments continued, all the subjects would have begun getting murderous along with their returning eyesight. In addition, the revival-from-death procedure appears essential to the mutations.

TL;DR: Goddamnit, Red.

This Grand Theory is subject to alteration in the future.

==== Science Disaster ====
'''LIKELY'''

Part 5 indicates that Ruby appears to be trapped in an underwater medical research facility called The Metal Glen. Medical reports suggest that Ruby entered the facility of her own volition, enlisting in what appeared to be a research program designed to treat incurable illnesses. When conventional treatments were ineffective, the facility adopted a novel treatment of unknown nature (originally championed by Red). This new treatment appears to have produced results (apparently curing Ruby's blindness), but also triggered a chain of events that led to The Metal Glen falling into turmoil, including inducing mutations in patients that led to unpredictable and violent behavior and memory loss.

It is unknown to what extent things have changed at the facility. Apparently cheerful pictures show a lineup of all the patients, and videos show that patients and staff used to mingle with some freedom. Currently, however, aside from some clean-up during one of Ruby's blackouts, whatever staff remains appears to have little control over the facility. Blood and body parts are strewn everywhere. The "holding room" is covered with graffiti indicating that things have been wrong for some time now. The facility may have been largely out of control when Ruby awoke, but Weaver has hinted that Ruby may have done something shortly after waking up that triggered additional trouble.  (Perhaps giving Red two coins, the last parts he needed to build a bomb with which to make good on his suicide.)   However, it is possible that the facility is still under control (at some level) by potentially unscrupulous staff. It is unknown if there are any inhabitants of the facility that are not suffering mutations of some sort.

The nature of the treatment is still unknown, but under this theory is presumed to be science-fictional in nature rather than supernatural. Supernatural occurrences can be explained as hallucinations. However, this makes it difficult to explain the current state of the brig, with its strange physics and growing rift.

==== Supernatural Disaster ====
'''LIKELY'''

This theory is identical to the "Science Disaster" theory, except it allows for supernatural elements. Under this theory, the "novel treatment" suggested by Red may have been magical in some way, as implied by the strange symbols that have appeared around the facility. Suggested supernatural influences include Chthulu-like figures, demons, malevolent gods, etc.

==== Grand Hallucination ====
'''PLAUSIBLE'''

Everything is happening in Ruby's mind: Ruby is hallucinating all events while she is still trapped in the coffin, Ruby is in hell/purgatory, it's a virtual reality simulation, or any other variation of IT WAS ALL A DREAM.

==== Birthday Party ====
[[Image:Awesomehound.png|thumb|right|The only appropriate image for this.]]<strike>TOTALLY VIABLE</strike> '''RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME'''

All of the events thus far have been an elaborate hoax that will culminate in a surprise birthday party for Ruby. Under this theory, The Metal Glen is a treatment facility for horrifying but well-adjusted mutant abominations who, with the help of the amused and indulgent staff, decided to induce temporary amnesia in Ruby to run her through a gauntlet of horror, "just like she always wanted." All the notes and video footage have been forged and planted. At the end, the entire cast will surprise Ruby with a cake and sing Happy Birthday.

Support for this theory comes from the point-and-click computer game The White Chamber, which Weaver has cited as a major inspiration for Ruby Quest. In The White Chamber, the "ultimate" ending reveals that the entire game has been a joke played on the protagonist in preparation for a surprise party. Further support for this theory comes from the fact that Ruby has suffered no serious injuries during the quest, despite facing terrible apparent dangers. Presumably, the Hound's accidental scratch is why she is no longer allowed to participate in the fun of scaring the living hell out of Ruby.

==== Furry Porn ====
<strike>RIDICULOUS</strike> '''CANON'''

The Metal Glen is the set of a high-budget porn studio specializing in guro, tentacle, and amnesia fetish erotica. All of the characters are actors playing out predetermined roles, and Ruby Quest has been an clever scheme to slowly convert all of /tg/ into furries.

 <@TG_Weaver> I'm amazed that you guys have taken this long to realize the true plot
 <@TG_Weaver> it's all a very elaborate, specific porno
 <@TG_Weaver> for people who have cthulhu/amnesia fetishes

 <@TG_Weaver> Are you kidding? I gave everything away
 <@TG_Weaver> It's a porno

==== Everybody Lives ====
''"Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once! Everybody lives!" --The Doctor''

'''PLAUSIBLE'''

Everyone is caught by the disease - even Filbert, no matter what he says - and if they die, they're brought back, no matter what. Even Ruby and Tom, and even if they manage to escape, are facing a future as immortal, undying beings, slowly mutating into shapeless masses, a very bad ending indeed. Thus, for a good ending, they must get rid of their disease - and while they're at it, why not do it for everyone else? Perhaps they will be given means to distribute the entire solution, perhaps in a form of a gas, to the entire facility at the same time? If everything goes really well, the "cure for cure" will rid them of their mutations, making them fully human (furry?) once more, and allowing everyone to live as non-mutated regular beings for the rest of their natural days.

CONTRADICTING EVIDENCE: Of course, if we are to believe the Metal Glen poem, pretty much everyone but Ruby and Tom have a guaranteed BAD END. And besides, right now it'd seem like Red has died permanently and indefinitely anyway, so it really wouldn't be "everybody" to begin with.

CONTRADICTING EVIDENCE 2: Weaver has stated that The Treatment, the source of immortality for the characters, must be given on a regular basis to be effective.  This means that Ruby, Tom, and Jay will eventually be freed from its effects.

==== Everybody Dies ====
''"There should have been another way." --The Doctor''

'''PLAUSIBLE'''

Of course, it is also perfectly possible that as the disease brought them back, the disease is also the only thing keeping them alive and well. Therefore, by getting rid of it, Ruby and Tom would be signing their own death sentences. This would still be far better than the alternative, obviously, and so they would use it anyway, and gas it to the entire building as the above theory pointed out, curing everybody else as well. Ruby would lose her sight and third eye, Tom's arms - all four of them - would rot and crumble away. Stitches would fall apart, Subject 6 would lose his powers, Filbert would be one-handed once more. Then at last, possibly after tearful farewells (at least in Ruby and Tom's case), they would die away. And then, yes, Metal Glen would be empty and lifeless, until someone broke in from outside at least.

CONTRADICTING EVIDENCE: There is no record of Filbert ever dying, so while his mutations would purify and begone, and he might even regain his sanity, it is likely that he will survive through this.

DEBUNKED: The Treatment can revive and heal a host, but is not the source of life.