Spoilers: A Summary of the Ruthless Route (Chapter 1)

Hey everyone! As I put above in big bold heading, I'm going to summarize and spoil the Ruthless Route here in a series of posts. Reading about Asterion's trauma here in this route is very difficult and not for everyone, so I wanted to break down its events and revelations for anyone who wishes to know the details on what happens in these chapters without reading it themselves. To be honest, I wish chapter 2 was more accessible, as it has the most interesting lore and is not nearly as dark and depressing since Asterion is not shown at all. If this summary intrigues you, you may wish to find a Let's Play video of this part and see all of its writing in full.

For the each chapter up to the story branching in chapter 3 and each ending 'pair', I'm going to make a fresh post in this thread that is split into two halves: the first will give the summary of the route and will feature as few spoilers as possible to tell its story well, while its first reply (and assumedly, other user's replies) will have a warning but otherwise be full spoilers. If you want to know what happens without learning tidbits and knowledge that might otherwise be revealed on the 'Romantic' route later, only read the 'top' level replies for these summaries - it is simply me guessing, however, so no promises that I can keep all surprises relatively secret.

These replies to the summaries, meanwhile, will go into much greater detail of the more mysterious events. I'll try to mention all of the spoilers I had hidden in the summary and other new information we learn in this route that might be relevant later - important facts and truths we learn to uncover the mysteries of the game - but it's also a good space to have those interested talk about a specific chapter or ending. 

Also, I say ending 'pair' because there are 6 endings to the route, but only 4 epilogues: there is a major choice at the end of chapter 1 that has three options and leads the story in three different ways, but the Master's actions along the way determine if you get the 'regular' version of that ending, or the _Dust and Silence_ 'alternate' version.

The Ruthless Master Chapter 1 General Summary:

While you could argue the Ruthless Route starts as early as Chapter 3, sending Asterion out to the valley, it doesn't doesn't diverge from the events of the main route until the end of Chapter 12, Asterion's concert, so that's where we'll begin. A week has passed since the concert, and Luke and Kota meet up on the hotel roof to discuss how much everything has gone to shit. The Master has been sending Asterion out to the valley on the daily, and Asterion comes back chewed up, glassy eyed, and nearly catatonic every time, withdrawing into himself more and more. Guests are leaving and no new ones come in to replace them, and any attempts to raise concerns up to the gradually manic and contemptuous Master get brushed off, as he has locked himself away in his office, separating himself from the hotel. Luke and Kota agree it's time to abandon ship, but they want to convince Asterion to leave with them, willing to go through the Master if they have to. As they agree on this conclusion, however, something suddenly feels wrong and they no longer feel alone on the roof. They call out, but we cut away before we see what it is.

We shift to the Master, who has become obsessed with the labyrinth, its secrets, and powers of the gods that must be out there. Asterion's sentence is to be a sacrifice, so what's a little more for him to sacrifice? "Sending the minotaur out is right by the gods, edifying for humanity, and profitable for you. What is the pain of one for the benefit of all?" The Master hasn't even needed any prompting from Argos to do this, so the sudden ringing of Argos' flute wakes them from their haze and pulls them outside. Athena's statue seems to smile brightly at the Master, but the snake at her feet has seen much better days: Argos weakly slithers out from behind the statue, bloodied, filthy, coughing, and with gauze and dressing wrapped around his missing left eye, though none of his struggles look fresh. Here the player gets the first choice on the route that can have consequences: "You look like shit." or "Are you alright?". The former locks you into the Dust and Silence version of your ending (chosen later), the latter does not. 

Argos tells the Master he has been performing "great works" while the Master has locked himself away, leading to his current injured state. To that end, he pitches an idea: automate Asterion's sentence and suffering so the gods are forever pleased and the Master has more time to do other things. He has trapped a monster (the Effigy) in a pit to the north, and shoving Asterion into said pit would be a nice, final act of worship for the Master to perform. To tempt the Master for this plan, he has an offer: "an elixir made from the God's own ichor, which is said to expand the lifespan of any who consume it." As this is coming from Argos, the Master is suspicious and calls him out, but Argos swears up and down that this is true, and that he cannot drink the elixir, as his life is already tied to the labyrinth. The player is then presented with the major choice of the route. Three choices, each choosing your eventual ending  that will either play out 'normally' or have the Dust and Silence 'alternate' version: "Agree to the snake's plan." (Ending: Shackled), "Deceive the deceiver." (Ending: Welcome to the Minotaur Hotel), or "Make no promises." (Ending: As You Are, I Once Was). Whichever you pick, the Master leaves to go get Asterion, and the first chapter closes.