History WMG / Spelunky

** Which makes the [[DirtyOldMan shopkeep]] just plain creepy..

* ...so what does that imply if it's a Pug?

The spelunker died of dehydration in the desert. His spirit found the "cave," actually the portal to Hell, and he was compelled to enter due to his sin of greed. There he is forced to pass through the cave again and again, atoning for his sin. As for the rest of the game...
* The damsels are the personification of innocence. For selflessly saving them they grant him their innocent kiss, strengthening his resolve. When he has saved enough of them he can take on their appearance, showing that he is becoming pure. In the damsel's body the beings he saves look like him for that is innocence's will: to save him from Hell.

* The final boss is the embodiment of greed: a gold statue of immeasurable value, exactly what the spelunker has always wanted, and yet not only will it be forever denied to him, it will be his downfall. However, even if he overcomes this final challenge, he still has not escaped...

Given the nature of the spelunker as an Franchise/IndianaJones {{Expy}}, one might notice the distinct lack of Nazis, prevalent in the Indian Jones series, but not to be seen here. Perhaps Spelunky takes place a decade or so after World War 2, and many Nazi officers fled to the cave to escape justice for their crimes. The higher technology such as the teleporter and the jetpack are easily explained: they're not inventions of an advanced humanity, but rather come from [[spoiler: the aliens in area 3]].

Diamonds are ''usually'' associated with the Ghost and there's one buried in the Empress's grave in Eggplant Land. The Ghost is female as shown when you use a camera. Goofy in the first game, but as an elegant chinese noblewoman in the second.
* Likely confirmed confirmed, as of 11/19/2020, an Easter Egg was added with the Ghost's Camera form appearing when you take a photo of the Empress's Grave.

** Somebody made the obligatory 'it's all a dream theory!' the WMG page is finally complete.

Mother's destruction and prevented resurrection at the hands of Lameza and his kin impressed her greatly, so she called humans with her genetic markers to examine. But not before making certain she had plenty of spare bodies and time dilations to prevent permanent destruction. Should they impress her, let them take gold and treasure with them. She would have far more valuable information and those they "killed" would be easily restored. (Although the change to King Yama was permanent)

[[WMG: The whole cave of Spelunky is a twisted gameshow or reality show.]]

When a Spelunker dies, their final moments are spent imagining [[ForWantOfANail a scenario where they made]] [[WhatIf different decisions]]. [[InSpiteOfANail If]] ''[[InSpiteOfANail that]]'' [[InSpiteOfANail adventurer fails]], reality is warped just a little further as ''that'' explorer has ''their'' DyingDream, and so on and so forth. The cycle is perpetuated by the restless spirits of all the hapless {{Virgin Sacrifice}}s, {{Distressed Damsel}}s and {{Adventurer Archaeologist}}s trapped in this wretched, cursed land; if anyone actually ''makes'' it, their soul is free to move on, along with those of any they 'saved' during their successful journey. But for every fortunate soul that finally escapes the curse, countless more remain trapped in the cycle, making attempt after attempt...

* The shopkeepers are more of the demons in charge of his punishment. They are bound by divine will to help him atone, by rewarding him for sacrificing his money, thereby abandoning greed. However, if he commits any sin against them, be it wrath (attacking them), or greed (stealing) the bonds are broken and they are free to destroy him, sending him back for another attempt.
** The shopkeepers who run the kissing parlors may appear to be twisted, forcing the innocent damsels to do their bidding, but they are in fact another test. Sacrificing large amounts of wealth will earn him another innocent kiss. By giving up even more money he can save them from the clutches of the demons, but only if he is ''that'' willing to give up his greed.
* Tunnel Man is the spelunker's guardian angel. By sacrificing money to the Tunnel Man (again, abandoning greed) the Tunnel Man can create "shortcuts" to make his quest easier. By completing many harsh challenges he gains the ability to "replace" himself in his punishment by Tunnel Man, the angel taking up his burden so that he may rest, even if only briefly.
* The City of Gold is perhaps the harshest punishment of all. In his sinfulness this place, full of treasures beyond imagining, is his vision of Heaven, but it is in fact only a fraudulent mockery. By performing great deeds and sacrifice he can earn the right to enter, but his gain is hollow. His greed to own the treasures himself compels him to destroy the place, leaving nothing worthy of desire. He has still not found rest, he must move on.
* The final boss is the embodiment of greed: a gold statue of immeasurable value, exactly what the spelunker has always wanted, and yet not only will it be forever denied to him it will be his downfall. However, even if he overcomes this final challenge he still has not escaped...

Why is he a favored soul, though? Simple, he can't be her son or avatar because he's not powerful enough. He's not a simple priest or high priest either, because then he would be equal to the cultists, not above them. Lastly, he's not a normal mortal because then he wouldn't be treated so differently. By process of elimination he must be Kali's favored soul.
** However, Hawkmen are Olmec's cultists, and there's no real evidence that Kali and Olmec are allies or at least connected to each other. They may as well be deadly foes.

Given the nature of the spelunker as an Franchise/IndianaJones {{Expy}} one might notice the distinct lack of Nazis, prevalent in the Indian Jones series, but not to be seen here. Perhaps Spelunky takes place a decade or so after World War 2, and many Nazi officers fled to the cave to escape justice for their crimes. The higher technology such as the teleporter and the jetpack are easily explained: they're not inventions of an advanced humanity, but rather come from [[spoiler: the aliens in area 3]].

That's how wanted posters with your picture are made,even when you kill the shopkeeper and you are the only one around.

* Its also why nothing really bothers attacking the damsels, they're not there for the challenge, just lost, and the monsters understand that and leave them alone.

Cut off the vampire's head, put garlic and holy wafers in his mouth, put stakes in their limbs, annoint with holy water and oil, and burn until white ash.

[[WMG: The Spelunker has [[SanitySlippage gone mad]] and the he's seeing reality through a distorted lens.]]
* After suffering from severe dehydration and other hardships during his voyage in the desert, the Spelunker's mental state has deteriorated considerably. The enemies he's fighting, such as spiders and snakes, are exaggerated and hallucinatory. The anachronistic and out-of-place things he's seeing, such as the presence of cavemen and knights and, are his interest in archeology blending with reality.

Despite supposedly being a lesser creator to Mother; Tiamat secretly had her own creations working well in hand. She never let this be revealed in the La Mulana ruins and instead had her successful projects reside in dimensional distortions in the Cave of Olmec and on the Moon, far away from Mother's eyes.
Mother's destruction and prevented resurrection at the hands of Lameza and his kin impressed her greatly, so she called humans with her genetic markers to examine. But not before making certain she had plenty of spare bodies and time dilations to prevent permanent destruction. Should they impress her, let them take gold and treasure with them. She would have far more valuable information and those they "killed" would be easily restored. (Although the change to King Yama was permanent)

Mother's destruction and prevented resurrection at the hands of Lameza and Lumisa and his kin impressed her greatly, so she called humans with her genetic markers to examine. But not before making certain she had plenty of spare bodies and or time dilations to prevent permanent destruction. Should they impress her, let them take gold and treasure with them. She would have far more valuable information and those they "killed" would be easily restored. (Although the change to King Yama was permanent)

Diamonds are ''usually'' associated with the Ghost and there's one buried in the Empress's grave in Eggplant Land. The Ghost is female as shown when you use a camera.

Diamonds are ''usually'' associate with the Ghost and there's one buried in the Empress's grave in Eggplant Land. The Ghost is female as shown when you use a camera.

* This could also mean that the Damsel was his girlfriend/significant other in life, with the Tunnel Man being his BlackBestFriend and/or Guardian Angel.

Given the nature of the spelunker as an IndianaJones {{Expy}} one might notice the distinct lack of Nazis, prevalent in the Indian Jones series, but not to be seen here. Perhaps Spelunky takes place a decade or so after World War 2, and many Nazi officers fled to the cave to escape justice for their crimes. The higher technology such as the teleporter and the jetpack are easily explained: they're not inventions of an advanced humanity, but rather come from [[spoiler: the aliens in area 3]].

[[WMG: The Spelunker is a [[DungeonsAndDragons Favored Soul]] of Kali.]]

Why is he a favored soul, though? Simple He can't be her son or avatar because he's not powerful enough. He's not a simple priest or high priest either, because then he would be equal to the cultists, not above them. Lastly, he's not a normal mortal because then he wouldn't be treated so differently. By process of elimination he must be Kali's favored soul.

* In fact, one can get the damsels to reveal their true selves in the remake, as one can turn them mail in the options menu.

[[WMG: "Kissing" the Damsels is just visual shorthand for [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean something else]].]]
The Kissing Booths are lit by [[RedLightDistrict red lights]], it costs upwards of $20,000 per "kiss", and it always (except for in the booths) takes place in completely safe "between" areas.

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