Popular Culture References

• 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).

• There is a settlement near Baishi called Lin Kiln Park (48.8S, 69.7E), which is a reference to the musical group Linkin Park.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 1970's Pet Rocks were a fad gift item, rocks marketed as if they were live pets. Part of the Adept quest, The Dark Isle Crystal, 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Ulgrim's Hatch

• Peeps

• Tardis