First of all: The dead knight in the sewers might be the author of the book on the Order of the Flaming Rose. At least they are both called Eric.Another interesting dialogue is after you return from the "stag night" with Dandelion and Zoltan. When you're still hammered and talk to Alvin the poor little sod says "You smell like the Reverend when he comes back from the cellar. Are you going to hit me?"
As I've already stated in other similar topic, I've found few more possible easter eggs, but since they're not on the wiki and weren't mentioned here - I don't know whether they're genuine or it's just me being overly suspicious 
So, here they are:1) Cannibal Gramps in the swamp - like an version of retired Hannibal Lecter, though also bears some resemblance to one of H.P.Lovecraft's stories characters.2) I don't remember fully where I stumbled upon that particular phrase in the game, but something was referred to as "The Whip Of Mayenn" or something like that. This I believe to be a reference to Alexander Dumas's "La Dame de Monsoreau", where one of main characters, Chicot the Jester wanted revenge on the Duke of Mayenn for publicly whipping him once before (and he took his revenge - while the Duke was stuck in a small basement window trying to escape, Chicot whipped him twice as hard).3) The potion which allows to see invisible was named after some De Vries person (at least in my variant of game). It may be a reference to Peter De Vries from Frank Herbert's "Dune". He was a mentath of Harkonnen house, and was known for his hallucinogenic drugs addiction (which allowed him to see through other's plotting sometimes, and sometimes predict the future).4) The name of Berengar is probably taken from Umberto Eco's "Ill Nome Della Rosa", where one of the monks also had that name. That monk was as cowardly as our stray pseudo-witcher here and was murdered early by the story's main villain.
So, here they are:1) Cannibal Gramps in the swamp - like an version of retired Hannibal Lecter, though also bears some resemblance to one of H.P.Lovecraft's stories characters.2) I don't remember fully where I stumbled upon that particular phrase in the game, but something was referred to as "The Whip Of Mayenn" or something like that. This I believe to be a reference to Alexander Dumas's "La Dame de Monsoreau", where one of main characters, Chicot the Jester wanted revenge on the Duke of Mayenn for publicly whipping him once before (and he took his revenge - while the Duke was stuck in a small basement window trying to escape, Chicot whipped him twice as hard).3) The potion which allows to see invisible was named after some De Vries person (at least in my variant of game). It may be a reference to Peter De Vries from Frank Herbert's "Dune". He was a mentath of Harkonnen house, and was known for his hallucinogenic drugs addiction (which allowed him to see through other's plotting sometimes, and sometimes predict the future).4) The name of Berengar is probably taken from Umberto Eco's "Ill Nome Della Rosa", where one of the monks also had that name. That monk was as cowardly as our stray pseudo-witcher here and was murdered early by the story's main villain.You mean Vethala, the talking ghoul? It reminds me vaguely of something, but I just can't place it. :-\ And also I'm sure I've encountered a similar character in Arcanum.P.S.: As I think about it now, something Hindu pops into my mind.. Can it be something from Hinduistic mythology?
Yes, the certain similarity can be seen - though I haven't thought about it.And here are some interesting facts about some characters' name meanings:1) The name Alvin might have something to do with Alvin and the Chipmunks TV Series; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chipmunks2) The word "Azar" (other version Atar) is the Zoroastrian concept for "burning and unburning fire" and "visible and invisible fire". And Azar Javed is a fire mage.3) Shani is one of the Navagraha which are the nine primary celestial beings in Hindu astrology (that is, Vedic astrology), Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn. The word Shani also denotes the seventh day or Saturday in most Indian languages.
I thought Shani was in books, too? I've only read the first one though, since it's the "true" foundation of this fictional world. Must read the others, too...now that I know Geralt isn't dead, it will make the read even more worth it.Don't know about Alvin, the first thing that came to my mind was the sub (was a fan of the Titanic some time ago - no, not the movie). ;D
Ok, then - one more crazy idea of mine - to my opinion, the whole Beast and corrupted villagers story in Act I bears a great resemblance to some Stephen King story I've read, I just can't remember the title. But it is very King-ish to uncover dirty secrets behind the facade of a peaceful little village by sending some hellspawn to haunt them.
You're right that the whole story is very reminiscent of something, although I can't be sure it's King...Wouldn't be surpised though, seeing as someone in the dev team likes Lovecraft a lot :The Hound of the Baskervilles is actually what came to my mind first, but then stories of hellhounds are so widespread, it's almost impossible to pinpoint the source of inspiration unless you know it very well.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is actually what came to my mind first, but then stories of hellhounds are so widespread, it's almost impossible to pinpoint the source of inspiration unless you know it very well.Needfull thiings??But that wasn't really hellspawn,as far i can remember..With that shop were the owner always knew what the costumer wanted???And in exchange for the "gift"they needed to do dirty things?Darth39Mael said:
May be, may be - I haven't read the books, I must confess, so forgive me if I'm wrong. But the name of De Vries could also find it's way to a book from "Dune", couldn't it? I just think it's too much of a coincidence - a potion for seeing invisible by De Vries and a drug-addicted mentath who actually can see invisible, due to his addiction. And, after all, De Vries isn't a very popular name, now is it?@MisterVAs for the hellhound - yes, I've thought about the Hound of Baskervilles too at first, but there's actually too little resemblance except the dog itself. But I wouldn't count it out completely though. @OlderBudweiser"Needful Things" is only one of many similar King's stories, and no, I thought of another - it also had some kind of beast in there.And one more thing I've remembered - one of refugees from Old Vyzima in the swamp cave says something along the lines of "Something is rotten in the kingdom of Temeria" - which is a right and clear reference to Shakespeare's "Hamlet".eSqr said:
Alvin could be a reference to the Alvin the Maker character from books by Orson Scot Card, writer of Enders game books too in which a kid is a main character.Alvin the maker also starts out young by discovering he has some fantastic powers of creation.And im so glad nobody saw this one. The description of Drowned dead i think...(or drowners too...?) was done by somebody who likes Ice and Fire books by George RR Martin and especialy likes Ironmen."What is dead can never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.";DGreat stuff, i was smiling for an hour after i realized what im reading.