Cultural references
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Baldur's Gate 3 contains a number of Cultural References to other pieces of media, such as books, television, and other video games. These references are collected here, although this list is certainly incomplete.
Television
Avatar: The Last Airbender
- The NPC Geezer Loryss is a merchant in the Lower City, who bemoans the destruction of his cabbage stand. This references the recurring Cabbage Merchant bit character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, who is a frequent victim of collateral damage from the heroes' adventures. Loryss also has unique dialogue for the Monk class, referencing protagonist Aang's monastic character.
Literature
Poetry
- The Raven summoned by Find Familiar is always named "Quothe", the only standard familiar to receive a name. A raven of the same name is summoned by the Raven Gloves. This is clearly a reference to Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven", which includes the recurring line "Quoth the raven: 'Nevermore.'" (See also the Discworld section below.)
Discworld
- In addition to the Poe reference (see above), Quothe the Raven is likely also a reference to the talking raven named Quoth (no "e") appearing in the Discworld novels Soul Music, Hogfather and Thief of Time. Quoth was originally a wizard's familiar, but in the novels he is the companion and flying mount of the rat equivalent of the grim reaper, the Death of Rats, and Death's mostly human granddaughter, Susan Sto Helit.
- Lupperdiddle Swires is a gnomish adventurer famed for their ability to leap extraordinarily high. While they don't appear in the game, they're mentioned several times in the name or description of various items, including the Potion of Glorious Vaulting, Swiresy Shoes and Swires' Sledboard. "Swires" is the name of two different gnome characters in Discworld: Swires, the first gnome in the series, who appears in The Light Fantastic; and Buggy Swires, a member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, who isn't known for leaping but does give aerial support by riding on various birds. (In Discworld, gnomes are only about six inches tall.)
- The in-game book The Butler's Cane Has A Knob On The End is a reference to "A Wizard's Staff Has a Knob on the End", a bawdy Discworld tavern song frequently sung by the witch character Nanny Ogg.
- Another book[Needs Verification] contains the sentence "If you're going to have crime, it might as well be organised." This quotes Pratchett's explanation of the Thieves' Guild in Ankh-Morpork, which in return for dues ensures no-one is robbed too much or too often.