Popular Culture References

Related topics: Trivia, Easter Eggs, AC Wictionary

2009

• In the March 2009 patch ( Who Watches the Virindi? ), the patch's title is a reference to the film Watchmen (the film is based on the cult hit graphical novels of the same title and was also released to theaters in March 2009). In the novels as well as the film the phrase "Who watches the watchmen?" can be seen numerous times in reference to the public questioning the authority of the super hero group The Watchmen (the film's protagonists).

• In Who Watches the Virindi? two new Virindi NPCs were introduced, Jean and Luc, a reference to the Star Trek: The Next Generation character Jean-Luc Picard

2008

• In the 1970's Pet Rocks were a fad gift item, rocks marketed as if they were live pets. Part of the Adept quest, Dark Isle Scouting, there are three small rock piles on Dark Isle (e.g., 86.9N 59.8E). If you attempt to use the rocks you get the following (if you haven't yet talked to the quest NPC):

You pat the top of the stone. Good stone. I mean, what else could you expect from a stone? You wish you could take it home and make it your pet.

2007

• Aerbax's Prodigal Drudge has several references to the TV Show Hogan's Heroes. There is a Banderling named Hoogan (Hogan) being held captive by the drudges, there are drudge NPCs named Sergeant Shanks (Sergeant Schultz) and Kernel Klank (Colonel Klink), and the title "Hoogan's Hero" is available through this quest.

• In Aerbax's Prodigal Lugian quest, there is a Chalice of Morkindmity -- "This chalice was fabled to have been taken from an egg that fell from the sky". This is a reference to the Mork & Mindy TV Series.

• The NPC Jilna Fullgood on Aerbax's Prodigal Tusker is a reference to Jane Goodall, a famous primate researcher.

• In the April 2007 patch, Strange Sightings, Ulgrim gave a quote referencing the popular murder/mystery-themed board game, Cluedo.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Who kidnapped all those people? It was me, in the conservatory, with the candlestick, that's who!"

• In the July 2007 patch, Intelligent Designs, Ulgrim gave the following quote which is a reference to the Harry Potter series of books based around a group of students who attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant says, "Fermento Intoxicus"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I thought that spell up in a dream I had about a magic school for kids."

2005

• In the October 2005 patch, Tricks and Treats, Ulgrim said the following quote that is a reference to a real life energy drink named Red Bull.

You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I've created a new drink. It's red and has a real kick to it. I'm thinking about naming it after that cow they have in Sanamar."

2003

• In the February 2003 patch, That Which Is Ours, Ulgrim began muttering unintelligible words. When deciphered, the words form a translation of a quote from the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi.

Ulgrim stumbles and mutters something unintelligible, "Y syh uhla tnaysat ra fyc y piddanvmo. Frah ra yfuga, ra hu muhkan ghaf ev ra fyc y piddanvmo tnaysehk ra fyc y syh, un y syh fru ryt tnaysat ra fyc y piddanvmo."

Translation:

"A man once dreamed he was a butterfly. When he awoke, he no longer knew if he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man, or a man who had dreamed he was a butterfly."

• In the February 2003 patch, That Which Is Ours, Ulgrim gives tribute to the seven crew members who lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster that occurred on February 1, 2003.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "A moment of silence for seven lost heroes."

• In the March 2003 patch, A Perfect Paradox, Ulgrim said the quote below that is actually a reference to two movies.
  • The first is from the 1986 film Big Trouble in Little China. Wikiquote (bulletpoint #3).
  • The second quote is from the 1992 film Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3). YouTube Video.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Some monsters get stronger, some monsters get weaker. Just remember what ol' Ulgrim says when the health is down, fire is raining from the sky and monsters are clawing at his throat."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Strong...weak. I'm the one with the wand."

• He also gives another reference to the 2001 film Donnie Darko in a scene in which the protagonist, Donnie, is also watching the film Evil Dead. YouTube Video (1:00 onwards)

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "What's with the rabbit costume?"

2002

• Frest Greelving's Puffy Shirt - The Puffy Shirt from Seinfeld.

You give Frest Greelving Frest Greelving's Puffy Shirt.

Frest Greelving tells you, "Thank you, yes, that is my favorite puffy shirt! Here is your reward."

• Verdentine Magnan, a man sent to study the grievvers in a valley north of stonehold, is dressed like Spider-Man. The NPC was introduced one month after the Spider-Man 2002 movie was released. The NPC's first name, Verdentine, is a mispelling of Verdantine, the month of August in the Roulean Calendar. Spider-man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 - August 1962.

• In the March 2002 patch, Persuasion, a settlement near Baishi called Lin Kiln Park was added to the game. The name is a reference to the musical group Linkin Park.

• In the July 2002 patch, Repercussions, Ulgrim the Unpleasant said the following quote that looks like a reference to a line from the 1994 film Pulp Fiction. YouTube Video (0:50 onwards).

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You know what the Virindi call a Royal Atlatl with Deadly Darts?"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "A Royal Atlatl with Deadly Darts. The Virindi aren't all that creative."

• In the December 2002 patch, The Hall of the Tusker King, Ulgrim the Unpleasant said the following quote that is a reference to the 1982 film Blade Runner. YouTube Video (2:25 onwards).

You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I've drunk things you people wouldn't believe."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Burning Mana Blasts off the coast of the Caul."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I've watched pint glasses glitter in the ephemeral light of portal space."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "All these memories will be lost, like stout from a keg..."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Time to drink."

• In the December 2002 patch, The Hall of the Tusker King, Ulgrim the Unpleasant said the following quote that is similiar to the lyrics of the song, "What's He Building In There?", by Tom Waits. YouTube Video

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I don't trust that Virindi, Claude, he's hiding something from the rest of us."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Late at night I hear noises and see blue flickering lights coming from his tent."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "What's he doing in there?"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "What the heck is he doing in there?"

2001

• In the January 2001 patch, Now In This Hush, Ulgrim the Unpleasant said the following quote that is a reference to the 1999 movie The Sixth Sense. YouTube Video

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I see Virindi people."

• In the June 2001 patch ( Chains of Command ), there were new items with a new quest that involved towels, a Guidebook, and texts that were tributes to Douglas Adams who had died the previous month (May 11, 2001). The towels, Guidebook, and certain words chosen in various texts were references to Adams' popular novel series: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

• In the November 2001 patch, The Gathering Storm, Ulgrim the Unpleasant thinks about setting some lyrics to music that mirror the song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones.

You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You cannot always acquire what you desire. You cannot always acquire what you desire. But if you attempt it occasionally, you potentially could discover, that you acquire what you require. I'm thinking of setting it to music."

• In the November 2001 patch, The Gathering Storm, and just before the release of the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Ulgrim the Unpleasant would sometimes say:

"Give me any rings you don't want. I've been collecting them ever since I found one near the water the other day.". This is a reference to how The One Ring from The Lord of the Rings was lost and then found again in a river.

• In October 2001, prior to the release of Dark Majesty, the article Queen in the Storm was released. This piece contains the line, "Strange wizards hiding away in towers distributing arrows is no way to inherit the divine right of kings!" which is a reference to the line, "Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government." from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

1999

• During 1999? and later years, a Police Box was occasionally found in random locations throughout Dereth. The purpose of the box is unknown; however, it was most likely just a reference to the Tardis from the British television programme Dr Who.

Unknown

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