Skyrim talk:Easter Eggs/Archive 11

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

A real Harry Potter Easter Egg

I checked the archives and I found nothing. As such, have we decided on the reference in Labyrinthian? The Hired Thug's Missive discusses, "cloaks do invisibility", and I was wondering if this was the true Harry Potter reference. You know, wizards and all.--Br3admax (talk) 22:08, 14 September 2012 (GMT)

I may have missed an earlier debate, and I'm not well versed on Harry Potter. Can you elaborate, please? --Xyzzy ^Talk 03:27, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

Harry Potter has an invisibility cloak, he's a wizard. It may be a kind of vague or a stretch, but that is why I'm asking.--Br3admax (talk) 04:01, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

I would say that a Cloak of Invisibility is not unique to Harry Potter. It's a fairly common theme in fantasy literature. --Xyzzy ^Talk 04:20, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

I know, that is what's bothering me about Easter Eggs. Is it the most obvious reference, the most popular reference, of or the most recognizable reference. I mean, when :Cloak of Invisibility" is Googled, it usually shows harry Potter, but as you said, it is also a common fantasy theme. Although cloaks of invisibility are certainly less common.--Br3admax (talk) 04:25, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

That's why we have these conversations. It brings in many viewpoints and experiences, not just the most popular. I hadn't caught the reference to a Cloak of Invisibility in the Hired Thug's Missive until you brought it up, even though I had read it. My first thought was the Dungeons & Dragons RPG (the old pencil & paper one). --Xyzzy ^Talk 04:38, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

In response to your question, Bread, it's usually none of the above. If something could be referring to multiple things, we usually don't list it as a reference to a specific thing. ThuumofReason (talk) 18:10, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

The legend of zelda

there is a pit to the north of whiterun, east of halted stream camp, that has a body of an elf that never disappears clothed in a green hood, tunic and boots, impaled on a set of spikes. he has a few gold coins and looks like he was on an adventure but died in the pit. the hood isnt perfect but otherwise its a pretty close match — Unsigned comment by 220.239.98.178 (talk) at 03:56 on 15 September 2012‎

No, check the archives.[1]--Br3admax (talk) 04:07, 15 September 2012 (GMT)

Burning Down the House Reference (Moved from Archive 6)

I was reading through this person's easter egg proposal and realized this is almost certianly a reference to the Talking Heads song "Burning Down the House." The orginal poster did not realize the implications of the burnt out house (he just thought it was probably a reference of some kind). This is the previous discussion:

Still-burning Burnt down houseThere is a house just off of a road east of Lost Tongue overlook and south of Broken Helm Hollow that contains a summoning circle made of candles, a burnt corpse, and Scroll of Summon Flame Atronach beside said corpse. This was clearly supposed to be a joke in that the person killed themselves summoning a flame atronach in a wooden house. This did not seem like a pop culture reference or inside joke (a non-inside joke sure), but it also does not seem like an unfinished quest or reference to a previous elder scrolls game (to the best of my knowledge). I still think it belongs on the easter eggs section as it is most likely something in the game designed just to make the player laugh.

A random burned down house isn't funny or noteworthy. There are several burned out houses and other buildings in Skyrim. BloodaxeQuestion?•Email•Contribs 00:11, 31 January 2012 (UTC) Please reread my post, now that it has been updated. It is not burned down because of a dragon, like in Helgen or something. And actually... outside of helgen and the one burnt down quest house involving the ghost girl, there aren't that many burned houses. Winterhold has tsunami devastated houses... somehow... but not burnt ones.

Certainly one of the set up areas that Bethesda included in this game to give the world a "livelier" feel, where every other place seems to have a story to tell. However, under the definition of "easter egg" used on this page it is none. Agreed that it would easily qualify under other definitions. But on this page it is about references to other (real or fictionary) people/pieces of art/thingamabobs.--Ulkomaalainen 06:27, 31 January 2012 (UTC

Moved — Unsigned comment by 75.106.255.38 (talk) at 17:21 on 16 September 2012

This was not considered an easter egg when it was discussed, and I see no new evidence to support the claim that it is any more than a burned down house. ThuumofReason (talk) 21:14, 16 September 2012 (GMT)

OK, so I (TheVerySpecialK) (the one who moved this thing out of Section 6 in the first place), have decided to make a real case for this Easter Egg. I traveled to the house and examined it very closely, and have assembled my case of why this should be an easter egg below. The song is "Burning Down the House" and was featured on the album "Speaking in Tounges" by the artist "Talking Heads." I think the burned down house is a reference to the song. Now, let's examine the case, shall we?

First off, let's take a look a the lyrics of the song. There is a line that goes "My house is out o'the ordinary." The house itself is in an odd location (far from civilization, right under a sheer cliff/mountain face which would pose a danger from avalanche, located DOWNHILL from a sizeable pond, which is not a safe place to build a house, and the guy has a summoner's circle made of candles on his floor WHICH IS NOT ORDINARY). Also, the house is perpetually burning which is not ordinary for burned down houses, even in Skyrim. Another line that is often repeated goes "Fighting fire with fire." Using a fire atronatch as a familiar to help you out in fights is quite literally FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE (i.e, "fire" can mean hostillity/action as in the saying, or literally "fire" as in the atronatch. Another line goes "All wet hey you might need a raincoat." This line is referenced by the fact that the house has no roof. The line "Some things sure can sweep me off my feet" followed by "burning down the house" is obviously referenced by the fact that the burnt dude is on the floor ("swept off his feet" by the atronatch) and his house is BURNT DOWN.

Second, the album the song is off is also a point of interest. Firstly, the album itself is called "Speaking in Tounges." The album name could be referenced by the fact that the burnt dude was a summoner who, during his various summonning incantations, could have been referred to as literally "speaking in tounges."

The album was also given several reviews by professional music reviewers, most noteably "AllMusic" and "Rollingstone magazine." AllMusic gave it a 4/5. Now, what's interesting here is the fact that there are 4 fires burning outside the house and five burning inside the house. THIS IS LITERALLY FOUR "OUT OF" FIVE!!! Oh, and it gets better! Rollingstone gave the album a 4.5/5 review. In the garden outside the house there are 4 potatoe plants in a row, a bucket at the bottom of the row, and then 5 leek plants. So, in this case the bucket symbolizes the "." and the plants are the numbers! 4 "bucket" 5 is 4.5!!!

Third, the single "Burning Down The House" was originally released on a 12" gramophone record. Inside the house there are a total of 12 moveable, storeable, items (i.e., items you can put in your inventory) lying around on the floor (4 goblets, 1 wooden plate, 1 wooden bowl, 2 kettles, 2 lanterns, 1 basket, and 1 summon fire atronatch scroll. Now, 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12! In other words, there is an item for every inch of the original record's diameter!

Lastly, the song peaked at #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1983, and was the band's only single that made the top 100 in the entire band's history. If we count up the number of fires in and outside the house (4 outside and 5 inside) we get 4 + 5 = 9! In other words, the peak number of fires equals the song's peak position on the Hot 100 chart! Also, the fires obviously refer to the fact that the song was on the "Hot" 100 (FIRE IS HOT)!

Is that good enough!?!? XD

TheVerySpecialK (talk) 04:41, 17 September 2012 (GMT)TheVerySpecialK

I have to admit, you have very thoroughly interpreted the details of this location to fit a very wide variety of obscure facts about the song. However, what you have simply done is to select a set of clearly coincidental facts concerning the song and apply them to minor details relating to the structure of this location. While interesting and entertaining, this in no way qualifies as an Easter Egg. Kudos to you for your creativity, and thank you for getting this song stuck in my head :) --Xyzzy ^Talk 04:57, 17 September 2012 (GMT)

Watch the music video. It's really strange.--Anil (talk) 17:38, 17 September 2012 (GMT)

Hrothgar

In the novel, Eragon, the king of the city where the Varden live, Thornjeim or something, the king's name is Hrothgar. Is that name common? — Unsigned comment by 68.206.73.39 (talk) at 20:46 on 16 September 2012

Hrothgar is very common. From its first written use in Beowulf, through many scandinavian stories, and also world of warcraft. It will take more than a common scandanavian name to make an easter egg. Golden Silence^{Break the Silence} 21:04, 16 September 2012 (GMT)

Agreed. This is another example of the multitude of Scandinavian references that permeate this game. --Xyzzy ^Talk 05:02, 17 September 2012 (GMT)

Please check the archives before posting a suggestion. This one has already been proposed and rejected multiple times. ThuumofReason (talk) 15:10, 12 October 2012 (GMT)

Arrow in the Knee - The Name of the Wind

Im sure everyone has heard either in game, or on the internet, about the guard clip saying "I used to be an adventurer like yourself. Then I took an arrow in the knee." In the book The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, the main character, Kvothe, pretends to fall down. when questioned, he replies "Took an arrow in the knee three summers ago. It's what made me give up life on the road." I couldn't believe what i was reading!

Well, I was playing Borderlands a few days ago, and T.K. Baha said to me "I used to be a go-getter like you... till a skag named Scar bit my leg off." It's amazing how many arrow to the knee references you can find in other places.--Anil (talk) 17:38, 17 September 2012 (GMT)

Harbinger of the Companions a werewolf

The Harbinger of the Companions, and the fact that he is a werewolf seems to be a reference to the series Monster Hunter, by Larry Correia and published by Baen Books (www.baen.com). The books center around a company of monster hunters (warriors) led by a man named Earl Harbinger, who is a werewolf. As Kodlak longs to be rid of his 'curse', so does Earl Harbinger, until it is removed from him in a process that should have killed him (in the book Monster Hunter Alpha) — Unsigned comment by Infernoraptor (talk • contribs) at 22:06 on 20 September 2012‎

This seems like a legitimate EE. I would support its inclusion. --Xyzzy ^Talk 14:36, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

Very doubtful. The "afflicted person who want to be cured" is somewhat of a common literary motif. Unless there are more solid refences, I don't think there's a connection--Anil (talk) 14:29, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

Also, the Monster Hunter Alpha (which is the only book that centers around Earl Harbinger's lycanthropy as far I can tell, though I haven't read them) came out only three months before Skyrim was released--Anil (talk) 20:05, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

Yeah, I have to say I find this one kind of unlikely. ThuumofReason (talk) 13:12, 23 September 2012 (GMT)

The 'afflicted person who wants to be cured' was the weakest of my arguments, the fact that the name is Harbinger and that he's the head of a group of warriors was really what caught my eye. Yes, Alpha (which I realized after I posted had probably come out too recently to be a basis) is the only book that centers around his lycanthropy, but it's mentioned in the first book and has a prominent place in the plot of all the subsequent ones. Earl Harbinger was also not the titular head of Monster Hunters, he was the one who knew his men, gave out assignments, and kept people coordinated (somewhat parallel to the "Companions don't have a leader, they have a Harbinger, whom they go to for advice" structure, although I don't recall any exact quotes being used. Earl Harbinger's grandson (IIRC) was the CEO of Monster Hunters International. Whether it is considered an "official" Easter Egg or not, I will continue to derive amusement from the apparent connection. When I started wondering why Skyrim had Companions instead of a warrior's guild, I nearly fell off my chair when I put 'Harbinger' and 'Werewolf' together. I couldn't think of any other reason a group of warriors (of the kind who generally eschew magic (cf. the comments you get if you try to use magic in the "fight" to show your stuff when you first join the Companions) would call their leader something that means portent or one who announces things to come. --Infernoraptor

(←) Harbinger, a person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something. That's the official definition of the term. Personally, I find this to not be an Easter Egg. The term could have been used as the title of a werewolf to foretell the changes that would happen in the quest line. Besides, it's an old Middle English term that has been used for ages, and would fit in perfectly with the Norse themes of the game. I haven't read the book, but I assume the same logic followed there as well, in regards to this Earl's changing. . Also, if Anil is right about the book's release date, then I think the release dates are far too close to have any meaningful connection to each other. It's an interesting comparison, but I have to vote that it's invalid. Eric Snowmane^{(talk•email)} 00:04, 3 October 2012 (GMT)

Heavy Rain?

In the PS3 game Heavy Rain, there is a serial killer on the loose, and his secret room is found behind the false back panel of a wardrobe. In the Skyrim Quest Blood On The Ice, there is a serial killer on the loose and his secret room is found behind the false back panel of a wardrobe. Is this co-incidence, or do you think it was deliberate? Small Easter Egg, I know, but... Deathoflaughter (talk) 12:37, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

Having a secret room behind a wardrobe is not as uncommon as you may think. It's actually a really common theme in any kind of secretive activity, such as here and here.--Br3admax (talk) 12:43, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

And here as well though not a wardrobe, it is along the same lines.--FubarFrank (talk) 13:15, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

I would need more than this to support it. --Xyzzy ^Talk 15:12, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

Oblivion has false panels in Weynon Priory and the Priory of the Nine as well. Of course, TES game references aside, the concept of a false panel is so cliche that it wouldn't be unique enough to count. Now, if the secret itself was similar, and if the means of getting their to discover it was similar, I would accept it as an egg. Like I said, the fact that there is a secret behind a false entrance is useless, as far as I'm concerned. Snowmane^{(talk•email)} 17:16, 22 September 2012 (GMT)

Alexander the Great

Occasionally when you enter someone's house, you may notice an iron dagger under their pillow and you are unable to take it. This may be a reference to how Alexander the Great slept with a copy of Homer's Lliad and a dagger under his pillow. — Unsigned comment by 208.107.64.136 (talk) at 22:43 on 29 September 2012

I doubt it's a reference. It would make sense that they keep a weapon near them to defend themselves if necessary.--Skyrimplayer (talk) 22:45, 29 September 2012 (GMT)

Also, to drive the reference home, I would see it being under someone like General Tullius's pillow, not just random NPCs.--FubarFrank (talk) 22:52, 29 September 2012 (GMT)

Even if it were Tullius, sleeping with a weapon under your pillow isn't a unique thing. Paranoid people sometimes sleep with firearms under their pillows in fiction. ThuumofReason (talk) 14:57, 30 September 2012 (GMT)

Greek Mythology

The Labyrinthian could be a refernce to The Labyrinth built by the craftsman, Daedalus. They are both long, and confusing. And they both contain a special monster, with The Labyrinth containing a Minotaur, and the Labyrinthian containing a Skeletal dragon. I know that Arena featured the Labyrinthian too, but seeing as Arena does not have an Easter Eggs page I decided to put it here.--Skyrimplayer (talk) 22:30, 6 October 2012 (GMT)

I doubt it. The definition of a labyrinth is "A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze", and from my observations, the term "labyrinth" is used instead of "maze" for longer or more complex ones. The special monster seems more like a boss at the end of something--at the end of a dungeon, temple, labyrinth, etc. It doesn't seem to be a connection. Vely^►t►e 22:48, 6 October 2012 (GMT)

The word "labyrinth" has its origins in the pre-Grecian tale of Daedelus. It is used in English as a synonym for "maze". The Labyrinthian has little if not nothing to do with the tale. —Legoless (talk) 23:51, 6 October 2012 (GMT)

Agreed. Just because the word originated from the Labyrinth of Minos doesn't mean that it has to be mentioned every time someone has a labyrinth. ThuumofReason (talk) 12:10, 7 October 2012 (GMT)

Three iron arrows and three imperial swords

Found 3 iron arrows and three imperial swords on the ground between Halted Stream camp and Whiterun. The arrows are arranged in a straight line And the swords arranged in a V shape. The whole thing resembles an arrow This arrow is pointed towards Halted Stream camp. — Unsigned comment by 198.228.216.156 (talk) at 02:15 on 9 October 2012‎

That isn't a specific reference to anything, and Halted Stream camp isn't an important location. And an arrow formed in the way you say would hardly look anything like an arrow--Anil (talk) 13:06, 9 October 2012 (GMT)

Yggdrasill

I'm wondering if the Eldergleam is a reference to Yggdrasill the norse "World Tree". It seems to make sense considering the norse influence in Skyrim. Lord Eydvar ^{Talk | Contribs} 04:35, 12 October 2012 (GMT)

I don't think so. There are Norse influences, sure, but we don't list them on purpose. Also, I sense a lack of any overt connection between Yggdrasill and the Eldergleam. If there were dragons chewing on the Eldergleam's roots, it would be a different story, but I don't see anything to suggest that this is more than a coincidence. ThuumofReason (talk) 15:09, 12 October 2012 (GMT)

Okies there are several other important trees in norse mythology... Lord Eydvar ^{Talk | Contribs} 20:03, 12 October 2012 (GMT)

HP Lovecraft's Rats In the Walls

East of Morthal is a building called Frostflow Lighthouse that contains an unofficial quest similar to HP Lovecraft's Rats in the Walls. A family discovers under their home that resides on a cliff overlooking a town (Morthal) a passageway to a group of subterranean humanoids (Snow Elves) and their pets that devour human flesh (Chaurus). In addition to these similarities you will find in the journals of former inhabitants accounts of loud noises coming from the walls, just like in the HP Lovecraft story. And when the father in Skyrim and the main character in Rats in the Walls go to investigate that's when these subterranean sub-humans are discovered. I'm trying to compare names in the game to the names in the book to confirm a reference. — Unsigned comment by 99.153.18.38 (talk) at 21:18 on 20 October 2012

From what I read off the wikipedia page, the stories aren't really similar. The names aren't similar, and you never actually see the subterranean humans in the story. Now, if there were Skeevers, or if you led someone else down there and they began trying to eat you, it would be a real easter egg, but no.--Anil (talk) 22:19, 21 October 2012 (GMT)

Okay lets ignore the wikipedia as it is incorrect. In the story the character never actually sees rats, and secondly, the character does discover the subterranean creatures and their flesh eating pets. The story isn't about rats, it's about the sound of creatures in the walls and the discovery of sub-humans and their flesh eating pets under the house, so please don't guess if you haven't read the story. — Unsigned comment by 99.153.18.38 (talk) at 18:32 on 22 October 2012

I've read it now. The wikipedia page is correct. Ok, rats do have nothing to do with it. It's still not an easter egg. You never see the degraded humans. They have no flesh-eating pets, the humans themselves ate people. The man in the book inherits the house, it's clear that the people in the quest bought it. The plot of the story and the plot of the quest are in no way similar. This is not an easter egg. --Anil (talk) 18:40, 22 October 2012 (GMT)

Lord Harkon - Bram Stoker lookalike?

I noticed that there is quite a striking visual similarity between Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, and Lord Harkon, the leader of the Vampire faction in Dawnguard. I'm pretty sure this is intentional - just look at Harkon and the most famous photograph of Stoker side-by-side. The only real difference I can see is that Stoker's hair in the photograph is parted at the side, whereas Harkon's is just slicked back without any parting.

There is another photo of Stoker in which his hair is very similar to Harkon's, although his beard is thicker.

Should this be added to the list? — Unsigned comment by 88.97.17.99 (talk) at 18:34 on 21 October 2012‎

I agree that they do look somewhat similar, but it isn't an exact match. Are there any other NPC's that look like Harkon, or is his model unique? There's also already an easter egg suggested for him here--Anil (talk) 22:19, 21 October 2012 (GMT)

spider wick Chronicles

near river wood there is an circle arrangement of mushrooms that are surrounded by skivers and if you go in the circle they will continue to approach and will automatically die when they cross the ring that resembles exactly what happens in spider wick Chronicles when goblins try to enter the house (picking the mushrooms doesn't seem to effect the ring) — Unsigned comment by 2.97.54.235 (talk) at 11:53 on 27 October 2012‎

Can you describe in more detail how to find this ring? --Xyzzy ^Talk 13:27, 27 October 2012 (GMT)

This has already been mentioned twice here and here. The that is mentioned ring is located where Kyne's Sacred Trials take place and there's another near Bilegulch Mine--Anil (talk) 15:43, 27 October 2012 (GMT)

i found this one near a mine dont no the full name other than it began with b and its left across the river in river wood but it sounds like theres lots of them so they could be easter eggs or just part of the landscape thanks anyway guys but it still dosent anwser why the skeevers spawn and die when they cross them does any one no why this happens it isnt a glitch as ive checked over 10 times with no diffrance and my disk is like new so its curantly a mistery please reply thanks

by the way im golden unit 350 call me sean only just signed up lol— Unsigned comment by Golden unit 350 (talk • contribs)

I checked both sides of the river near Riverwood, as well as the area SW of the Guardian Stones where the Guardian Wolf Spirit appears, but couldn't find a fairy ring. If there are skeevers that die a scripted death when entering the ring, that would make this one unique, and possibly Egg worthy. --Xyzzy ^Talk 14:09, 28 October 2012 (GMT)

ok intresting its quite hiddern in the layout of the teraine as its like an area where many types meet such as snow and wood and areas where ruins look like they were once there if this helps a dead treasure hunter can be found a few steps back of where it should be directions are go to the lumber mill in river wood cross the river and go left go up on higher ground and try to find the corpes of the tresure hunter hes quite hard to find as hes in a grassy bush and ive checked twice to make sure he wasnt a random spawn he comes with a note that directs you to a random area where you will find a random valuble tresure head forward towards a rock to your right there should be a nordic ruin bolder you should no your close to the fairy ring as five or six hostiles sould be alerted hide in the ring and the skevers should die once they move over the ring hope that helps — Unsigned comment by Golden unit 350 (talk • contribs) at 16:52 on 28 October 2012‎

I still can't find it. The dead treasure hunter is probably a random World Interaction. Hopefully someone with more time available to look into this will check it out. --Xyzzy ^Talk 06:01, 29 October 2012 (GMT)

I'm trapped inside with the hurricane, so I'll try to take a look today. Regardless, I think we can all agree that this is not a reference to the spiderwick chronices.--Anil (talk) 14:14, 29 October 2012 (GMT)

(←) thanks anyway for your help the ring i suppose for now will all ways be a mystery but the tresure hunter isnt random its spawnd 12 times now thanks again — Unsigned comment by 89.242.41.101 (talk) at 15:15 on 29 October 2012‎

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