#perplexplore 2025

[emmatheyoshi]

So Big Blue Bubble is doing a Perplexplore contest where people come up with theories related to the monster world. I doubt I’d win, and I have no need for the stationary set they’re giving the winner and runners-up (although it sounds really cool), so I’m posting my theory here. My theory is…Epic Cherubble’s paranoia is caused by two things: the monster-world equivalent of paranoid schizophrenia, and insomnia.

Full theory below the cut

First, we need to look at Epic Cherubble’s bio.

Note how it says that Epic Cherubble is constantly on edge. That is a clear sign of paranoia, one of the three symptoms of schizophrenia this monster shows.

Another thing to note is its animations. Unlike its common and rare counterparts (who are sleeping when idle/playing), Epic Cherubble is awake when idle and playing. That’s another sign of schizophrenia: sleep disturbances like insomnia.

Finally, the little creatures playing the harp on its back. The bio says its “overactive imagination” is what created these things, and they were brought to life accidentally. Keyword: Accidentally. These creatures could very well be hallucinations. “But couldn’t it be maladaptive daydreaming?” It could, but note the fact they were brought to life accidentally. A person with schizophrenia cannot control their hallucinations.

This also explains why they’re unable to sleep, despite actively trying to do so (see its idle and playing animations); their hallucinations are so bad, they manifest into super realistic nightmares, so the poor thing has to remain awake no matter what.

Of course, there are other paranoia-related disorders, but paranoid schizophrenia is the most common one, so it makes sense that Epic Cherubble would have the monster-equivalent of it. Though on the flipside, I wonder if common and rare Cherubble have narcolepsy, since they’re constantly asleep. That’s a theory for another time though.