Online talk:Easter Eggs/Archive 2

This is an archive of past Online talk:Easter Eggs discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page, except for maintenance such as updating links.

Monty Python (moved from article)

• In one of the later quests in Coldharbour, Cadwell wonders if you wish to know his "favorite color", among other things. This is a reference to the Bridgekeeper scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in which John Cleese's character, Sir Lancelot, was the only one of the main characters to successfully answer the question: "What... is your favorite color?"

What else was said in the scene? Does Cadwell ask about your name, your quest, migratory swallows, etc.? If that's the only connection, I'd have to say this is a coincidence. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 00:33, 26 June 2014 (GMT)

At one point, you can say, "I need to ask you something else". He will respond, "By all means. Do you want to know many Daedra can dance on the head of a pin? How I manage to stay so cheerful even in the most perilous of circumstances? What's my favorite color? Ask away".

I could see this being a reference. It was a memorable exchange in a movie which (arguably) stands out as the greatest work of Cleese's career. I personally think it's a foregone conclusion that everyone at Zenimax has seen the Holy Grail multiple times, so dismiss it as coincidence at your own peril. But ultimately, I'm ambivalent on its fate. Easter Egg pages give me headaches. Insignificant Revisions^{Threats•Evidence} 02:52, 26 June 2014 (GMT)

One similar line of dialogue by itself doesn't constitute a reference. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 13:55, 26 June 2014 (GMT)

I would support this, it's such an iconic and well known line and you have to think Bethesda had heard of it, plus there are already eggs involving Caldwell and Monty Python. I disagree that one similar line of dialogue doesn't constitute a reference, if it didn't then many Easter Eggs on both this and the Skyrim page would need to be removed. --AN|L (talk) 14:21, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

Does the scene in the game take place on a bridge? Is Cadwell voiced by Cleese? There has to be something beyond one similar snippet of dialogue for it to be more than a coincidence. Star Wars is well known, as is the line "I've got a bad feeling about this" being from the movie, but when it's said by an NPC without any other contextual similarities, it hasn't been considered a reference any of the 5 or 6 times it's been proposed on the Skyrim page. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 15:37, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

(←) Cadwell is, in fact, voiced by Cleese. --AN|L (talk) 15:41, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

Okay, THAT makes it a little more convincing. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 15:44, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

I agree with re-adding this. —Legoless (talk) 22:45, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

Gods Save the King

Would the name of this quest be a reference to the British anthem God Save the Queen/King? —<({QT>> 08:39, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

Makes sense. --AN|L (talk) 14:13, 3 August 2014 (GMT)

Race for the Cure

I think the quest Race For the Cure is a reference to the real life Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which is a race event held to raise money for breast cancer research. The race and the charity that runs it are very well known, at least in the US, and I instantly thought of the race for the cure when I saw the quest's title. --AN|L (talk) 21:58, 6 August 2014 (GMT)

Except that the quest doesn't involve a race, cancerous disease, or anyone resembling or named similar to Susan G. Komen. With nothing other than the name (which isn't THAT uncommon of a phrase when dealing with disease), I can't support this being an easter egg. Jeancey (talk) 22:06, 6 August 2014 (GMT)

I'm with Jeancey here. Although I definitely see the similarity, we can't support something as an egg based on the name alone. •WoahBro^►talk 22:10, 6 August 2014 (GMT)

I agree. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 11:23, 7 August 2014 (GMT)

For Dummies

The book titled Woodworking for Simpletons may be a reference to the popular For Dummies how-to book series. The only connections I can find are the similar title and informal writing style, though, so I don't feel particularly strong about this one. --Xyzzy ^Talk 14:15, 17 August 2014 (GMT)

Yeah, not a strong enough connection. Its not styled in any way like a dummies book other than the title. --AN|L (talk) 14:49, 17 August 2014 (GMT)

Rufinus/Oprah egg

During the quest The Grip of Madness, you are tasked with confronting Rufinus about his habit of throwing lightning bolts at people in the area (including you). As you approach the tower that he is standing atop, dodging bolts along the way, he can be overheard saying something like "...and you get a lightning bolt, and you get a lightning bolt...", with a very similar inflection to an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show where she gives away cars to audience members, saying "...and you get a car, and you get a car..". Now, since this is ESO, there is no way for me to easily go back and verify what I thought I heard, but it struck me immediately when it happened that this was referencing Oprah's famous clip. I plan on verifying this when I get one of my characters up high enough in level to do so, but in the meantime, if someone else can check it, that'd be good. --Xyzzy ^Talk 20:24, 20 August 2014 (GMT)

I don't know if that's a solid enough connection by itself. If we could get an audio comparison, that might help. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 14:26, 21 August 2014 (GMT)

I tracked down a video of someone doing that quest. It sounds to me like he's saying "You get the lightning! Now, you get the lightning!", which isn't very similar to the Oprah quote. --AN|L (talk) 14:42, 21 August 2014 (GMT)

Exploding Chickens

During Simply Misplaced, the second Mages Guild quest where you get to use the Wabbajack, occasionally the Wabbajavk will turn some of the acolytes into chickens. As my poor character learned, if you try to get close to these chickens or attack them again they explode. I think this might be a reference to the well-known mod for Skyrim where you could add exploding chickens to the game. Those chickens would explode when you attacked them, too. What do you think? Is this an Easter Egg? — Runs-in-Rivers

Although I don't have Skyrim for PC or really use mods in general, I do know of a few mods for the game. That being said, I've never heard of this mod so that wouldn't really support it being "well-known". Also, I'm skeptical that Zenimax would purposely add a reference to a user-created mod for another game. •WoahBro^►talk 18:03, 17 November 2014 (GMT)

ESO features multiple occasions where chickens explode (Shadow Clucks, Five Finger Chickens), and none of them strike me as anything more than comic relief. Besides, exploding fowl are kind of a trope ([1], [2]) . —Legoless (talk) 23:15, 17 November 2014 (GMT)

I find this kind of hard to believe as well. Zul se onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 01:40, 18 November 2014 (GMT)

Reticulated Spines in Shadowfen honors Sims-Simcity creator Will Wright

If you've ever played the Sims or Simcity games, during the loading screens you may have noticed references to Llamas and a strange phrase "Reticulating Spines"... Seems the devs at Zenimax were fans of Maxis games because they named a Dolmen in Shadowfen Reticulated Spine Dolmen — Unsigned comment by 70.140.58.107 (talk) at 05:06 on 23 March 2015

It's Reticulating Splines, but yes, I thought the same thing when I first saw the region name as well. The problem I have with any Easter Egg is coincidental inference, so I'll leave it to someone else to decide whether or not this is a valid addition. --Enodoc (talk) 17:51, 23 March 2015 (GMT)

Is there anything else to connect it to Sim City other than the name? Jeancey (talk) 19:51, 23 March 2015 (GMT)

"Reticulated splines" is a common nonsense phrase used in a huge number of Maxis games. Definitely a nod to Will Wright, who came up with it originally. —Legoless (talk) 22:05, 23 March 2015 (GMT)

Although I'm not terribly familiar with Sims games, I think this sounds plausible. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 14:15, 25 March 2015 (GMT)

It does seem a little questionable, since the "spines" theme does fit in with the inhabitants of the region. However, the "reticulated" adjective seems completely out of place here, which leads me to believe that it is a reference to the Maxis games. I played the hell out of SimCity in my younger days, and immediately heard "Reticulating splines" spoken in a sultry female voice in my head when I saw this name. I erect the spine of support. --Xyzzy ^Talk 15:02, 29 March 2015 (GMT)

Star Wars - Luke wampa gag

In one of the dungeons in the rift there is a point where you will see a skeleton hanging from the ceiling reaching for a sword, whilst a frost troll is nearby. Obvious reference to Empire and a running gag. Can't remember the cave though. — Unsigned comment by 109.158.252.46 (talk) at 11:12 on 17 April 2015

I wouldn't doubt it, given the references in Morrowind and Skyrim. I'll look around the rift to see if I can identify which cave it is, but once we find the cave, I don't see any issues with adding this. Jeancey (talk) 18:10, 17 April 2015 (GMT)

If we can find it, I support it. At this point the wampa reference is almost as much a staple of the series as M'aiq. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 19:29, 17 April 2015 (GMT)

Yeah, I saw this on the forums the other day, but couldn't corroborate it myself. I was also thinking that, since this has been a frequently recurring gag for a long time, we might want to make a General page for it, similar to the Fishy Stick meme. Insignificant Revisions^{Threats•Evidence} 16:55, 19 April 2015 (GMT)

Don't really think it needs its own page. It's a common gag, and Star Wars has left a big enough cultural dent to make it no more notable than a recurring Shakespeare reference. —Legoless (talk) 19:58, 19 April 2015 (GMT)

There is yet another reference to this in Wrothgar. Ice Cave, Skeleton hanging from ceiling, sword on the ground just out of reach, other animal bones scattered all around. So we have two to add :) Jeancey (talk) 01:31, 5 January 2016 (UTC)

Racial Dances

I recently discovered that the Breton racial dance is a Scottish Highland dance called the Highland Fling. It's likely that the other racial dances are based on other real-life cultural dances. Does anyone else recognize any of the other dances? ~ Alarra ^(talk) 04:29, 13 May 2015 (GMT)

Could we get a video or something comparing the two? Without a visual comparison, this seems awfully subjective to me. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 14:21, 13 May 2015 (GMT)

Here. The twirl seems reminiscent, but other than that I don't see the direct comparison. —Legoless (talk) 14:36, 13 May 2015 (GMT)

As a note to the subjective, there is a long history in MMOs of styling racial dances after real dances, be they cultural or more modern. While this isn't TES related, I definitely think it lends credence to the idea that this should be added to the page, if we can find other dances that the other racial dances are based on. Jeancey (talk) 20:08, 13 May 2015 (GMT)

Here is a gif of the Breton dance. The hand positions, the twirl, and foot movements are almost identical; comparing them makes it clear that this is what the Breton dance is based on. ~ Alarra ^(talk) 00:29, 14 May 2015 (GMT)

Definitely not how I remember the Breton dance. Whatever that one is, it's an obvious reference. —Legoless (talk) 00:50, 14 May 2015 (GMT)

I double-checked; this is indeed Breton. However, I know some dances are different depending on the gender - I noticed it once when playing with a friend, but I can't check the dances myself because I don't have a male character - so perhaps men do a different Breton dance and that's why you're remembering it differently? ~ Alarra ^(talk) 05:42, 14 May 2015 (GMT)

(←) That's definitely the same dance. If we can identify the others and lump them in together, that would be great, but if not, this would definitely qualify as a reference. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 19:34, 15 May 2015 (GMT)

The Name of The Wind

At a lake in the south central part of the Stonefalls area there is a covered wagon with a lute and some Metheglin. This is a reference to Kvothe from the book The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Kvothe was a member of a group of traveling performers known as the Edema Rue. His caravan of wagons was attacked during his childhood. Kvothe only remembers seeing the wagon, the tent of a dancer, and the fire his parents were eating at. These are the exact items that are found at the camp. The only thing Kvoth takes with him is his father's prized lute. Metheglin is the victory drink that Kvothe drinks after he earns his pipes by performing a difficult song on the lute later in the story. Maiq the Liar is also found at this camp. — Unsigned comment by 71.203.192.87 (talk) at 20:51 on 17 June 2015 (GMT)

As far as I know Metheglin was only introduced in Update 6, so this can't be a reference. —Legoless (talk) 21:42, 17 June 2015 (UTC)

(Well, if the rest of it fit, it could have been just added later to confirm it, but I don't think it's a reference anyway.) Do you mean Steamlake Encampment? That's the only camp I could find near a lake with a lute and a covered wagon. I do not believe this is a reference, because there was nothing specifically labeled "metheglin", just "drink", and when you pick those up it's a random drink. There is also no fire pit there, and the tent and wagon are intact, and there are no signs of any other identifying bits of the scene in the book (there were multiple damaged tents, and bodies he came across, he stared at a pot on a fire pit for a bit, the wheels of his parents' wagon were rusted, and everything that was on fire burned with a blue flame.) A tent, a wagon, and a lute are pretty common things, and it was a coincidence that the drink you found was metheglin, but unfortunately this does not appear to be a reference (I love the book though - it'd be awesome if there were one somewhere!) ~ Alarra ^(talk) 07:14, 18 June 2015 (UTC)

William Tell

East of the unmarked cave used for the ritual in Lineage of Tooth and Claw is a dead body with an arrow/bolt sticking out of its head with an apple lying beside the head. The location also has a lore book. Silence is Golden^{Break the Silence} 21:05, 20 June 2015 (UTC)

Makes sense to me. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 01:37, 21 June 2015 (UTC)

Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice

There is a contraband item called Marcy's Kawala Tea which has the description: "This packet of tea comes with its own tea strainer, because the Kawala Tea of Marcy is not strained." I'm pretty sure this is a reference to the famous "the quality of mercy is not strained" speech from The Merchant of Venice. Contraptions (talk) 16:25, 13 July 2015 (UTC)

Seems like an obvious one. —Legoless (talk) 16:44, 13 July 2015 (UTC)

Makes sense to me. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 12:47, 15 July 2015 (UTC)

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

In the Reaper's March - Thizzrini Arena, once you have the credentials to compete, Feluni gives you a stage name. She picks "The Mysterious Stranger". That is the same name your character in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) receives when joining a similar competition in the planet Taris. I believe that even the dialogue is similar. — Unsigned comment by Assad II (talk • contribs) at 01:21 on 16 August 2015

I have to admit that it immediately struck me when I was playing through the arena for the first time, months ago. And indeed, dialogue also seems to be similar. I'd wait for input from other editors, though. --Vordur Steel-Hammer (TINV1K) 02:42, 16 August 2015 (UTC)

Well, the "Mysterious Stranger" is also the name of a minor character in Fallout. If the name were the only similarity, I'd be inclined to call it a coincidence, but the fact that it's the exact same name being used in the same context (an unknown person becoming an arena fighter) definitely lends support to this being intentional. Would you be able to list what the similar lines of dialogue are? I can see this being a reference as it stands, but being able to compare the dialogue would be even better. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 10:33, 16 August 2015 (UTC)

Let me see if I can get a transcript of both conversations - without having to play them again :-) and compare them. I'll post what I find here.Assad II (talk) 13:19, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

Here are the dialogues. They are not as similar as I remember but still have a similar structure. There is also Balag's line on running out of competitors: "Also, Balag is running short of competitors. It's the downside to running fights to the death." which could be making fun of the Taris arena where the same competitors fight over and over because nobody dies. Here are the lines where the names are given in both games: KOTOR: Ajuur: "Good - new blood for the ring! But you need a nickname, like Ice or Deadeye or Twitch. Good nicknames make people bet more. Hmmm... what's a good name for you? You're an off-worlder. You're new here, people won't recognize you... I know! From now on in the duel ring you'll be the Mysterious Stranger!" ESO: Feluni: "That won't do! Stage names must evoke mystery and intrigue. They should have a dramatic flair! Hmmm. How does this sound? From parts unknown, comes the enigmatic, the inscrutable, the dangerous... Mysterious Stranger! Yes, I like that. You're in." Same name, same context, similar circumstances. I think it is a reference. What do you guys think? - Assad II (talk) 23:57, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

As I said before, I'd support that. I remember what the whole arena quest chain looked like in KOTOR and with that context, I think the that the odds that these nicknames are identical by a mere coincidence are really low. --Vordur Steel-Hammer (TINV1K) 03:26, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

I agree this is most likely a reference. The similarities in dialogue seem rather superficial, so we probably don't need to list that part, but it's got enough going for it already to justify inclusion on the page. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 15:22, 22 August 2015 (UTC)

Meteor

Is the Mages Guild Ultimate skill, Meteor, also a reference to Final Fantasy IV's ultimate magic spell of the same name? -Malus X (talk) 07:13, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

I doubt it. There are dozens of games with spells called "Meteor". Unless it has the exact same, or similar, properties, then I'd say no --Rezalon (talk) 07:29, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

Yes, but are they all the ULTIMATE spell? That was my point. -Malus X (talk) 21:50, 21 August 2015 (UTC)

Meteor in ESO is *an* ultimate skill, it's not all that special. It doesn't even look visually similar to that FF spell. —Legoless (talk) 22:06, 21 August 2015 (UTC)

A Song of Ice and Fire

Although Imperial City hasn't been released yet, the quest name The Watcher in the Walls is a reference to a commonly-repeated oath in A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones: "I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men." —Legoless (talk) 19:03, 22 August 2015 (UTC)

I went ahead and added it since there was no opposition. —Legoless (talk) 00:21, 3 September 2015 (UTC)

KINMUNE

Daggerfall Covenant's Tel Var Armorer, Karifa al-Tahud, can be heard spreading some rather weird theories. One of them is: Queen Ayrenn is a miniature Dwemer construct from the next era. Everybody knows it. This is a rather obvious, humorous reference to Michael Kirkbride's KINMUNE, a synthetic sentient being from the future, and his idea that Ayrenn was but a form of it. Thoughts? --Vordur Steel-Hammer (TINV1K) 04:54, 19 September 2015 (UTC)

Seems like an obvious Easter egg to me. —Legoless (talk) 10:54, 19 September 2015 (UTC)

Object in Sky South of Riften

• South of Riften, high in the sky is an unidentifiable object floating in the sky. Standing at the southernmost stone of The Steed, one can see it if one looks towards the south and slightly to the east. img

I've moved this from the page pending consensus. Personally it seems more like a graphical glitch than an intentional Easter egg. —Legoless (talk) 11:30, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

I think if it was intentional, it would be at least more recognizable. •WoahBro^►talk 11:58, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

I agree. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 20:30, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

That's exactly what I said when it was mentioned in-game last night. Got to be a glitch. And a fairly minor one at that. (i.e. Don't go trying to add it to the Glitches page either. It would be flooded if we allowed stuff like this.) — TheRealLurlock (talk) 12:26, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

It may be intentional, but I don't think we could ever prove it. DRAGON GUARD^(TALK) 17:34, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

MMO Mechanics

The last entry in Lady Edwyge's Notes and the related quest seems like a meta-reference to MMO mechanics, particularly the way supposedly unique, important bosses will keep respawning over and over for the next player to come along and murder them for a quest. -- Hargrimm^(T) 04:52, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Actually, that dungeon really is trapped in a Dragon Break. Still a nod the the respawn mechanics, but any note on this page should mention the related quest as well. —Legoless (talk) 12:29, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Magic: The Gathering characters

I've come about two characters, both in Arenthia, who share a name with cards from the trading card game Magic: The Gathering: Mirari (MTG) and General Lavinia (MTG). I haven't found more so far, but that doesn't mean there aren't. Could be a coincidence, though. Thoughts? -- SarthesArai ^Talk 16:41, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Coincidence, I think. There isn't anything in the ESO characters that reference the card, no similarities other than the name (and Lavinia in particular is a fairly common name; it's a name in Roman mythology, a character in one of Shakespeare's plays, and a character in the Hunger Games books.) ~ Alarra ^(talk) 18:04, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Agreed. If the names were exactly the same, then there might be something to go on, but there are literal thousands of MtG cards and hundreds of Elder Scrolls NPCs, and there are only so many medieval-fantasy-sounding names you can use without overlap. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 22:58, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Pied Piper of Hamelin

In the Wayrest Sewers, you'll find The Rat Whisperer, who commands hordes of Skeevers, next to the book The Piper. This could be a reference to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who also had some power over rats and lured the towns children away (although he didn't replace them with the rats). A similar reference was also found in Skyrim. -- SarthesArai ^Talk 13:06, 17 December 2015 (UTC)

Seems pretty open and shut to me. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 14:05, 17 December 2015 (UTC)

Spirited Away Quest

So, there's this quest, and its name is probably a reference to the 2001 japanese animated film Spirited Away, by Hayao Miyazaki. Yeah, that's it.

Jörmungandr (talk) 01:45, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

I'd oppose this, since "to spirit away" is a common idiom. That movie title comes from the Japanese "kamikakushi" myth, and praying at the graves of a mother's four dead children doesn't bear any resemblance to that. —Legoless (talk) 01:56, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

Unless there's more to connect them, I don't think so. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 18:23, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag reference?

Upon reaching Haven in Grahtwood for the first time, the settlement is under attack by a group of pirates known as the 'Jackdaws'. A certain Khajiit resident asks how one ship could have possibly taken the settlement and so quickly. I have a screenshot of this on my PS4 which shows the actual dialog.

For those unfamiliar with AC IV: Black Flag, the main character named his pirate ship 'The Jackdaw'. He uses the ship to capture enemy forts, in most cases, without aid from other ships, i.e. this single ship is used to defeat multiple enemy ships and wear down the forts' defenses. After that, a single crew of pirates goes on land, fights and 'defeats' the local defending force, and officially captures the fort by killing the leader.

Any thoughts? AgShield (talk) 05:07, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

Well, the Jackdaw is also the name of a crow found in various parts of the world, and if a settlement was quickly taken over by a single ship, I would think surprise is a natural response. I can see an argument for this being intentional, but I can also see how it might be a coincidence. I guess I don't really have any strong opinion one way or the other. Zul do onikaan^{Laan tinvaak} 10:35, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

I'm on the fence because the pirates being called "Jackdaws" seems like it could be a nod to the pirate ship "Jackdaw", but at the same time there isn't really much else to confirm it: The line AgShield mentioned doesn't seem to point to AC. If there was anything more pointing towards AC, I would say that it's for sure a reference. •WoahBro^►talk 16:23, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

True. There is no real evidence. Well, I'll just keep my eyes peeled just in case. Thanks.AgShield (talk) 09:10, 4 February 2016 (UTC)

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