[Tim the Tau]

I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the Enclave but here goes.

I remember a topic here a while back about the Black Templars 'Holy Orb of Antioch' in which many of us Pythonites here had a good laugh at. Then I was sifting through some of my White Dwarfs and I hapened upon a map of Sylvania in the Fantasy universe which showed a tower by the name of Roystone-Vasey. (and I'm sure many of you can see the reference here)

This got me thinking, are there any other little refferences in both Warhammer and 40K to comedies or other wierd things and if so what are they?

I'm can't wait for the fluff where a Space Marine squad to discover an abandoned Police Box on a small, desolate ice world

[legio mortis]

Well, in the Cain books they mention a certain "Arbitrator Foreboding", the main character in an holo-film.

[Praying Mantidae]

In Death Or Glory there are so many play-on-words names for places and people... I'll have to look through it again to find them all. I remember there were at least a couple that actually made me chuckle.

[Crisis 541]

One just has to love all those little references they put in there to entertain both themselves and us

[Axis]

Ciaphas Cain definitely takes the cake in terms of silly references. In Duty Calls, there's a character called - seriously! - Ernst Stavro Killian; And in Caves of Ice Cain actually says "If it bleeds, we can kill it."

And let's not forget the Necrons' special rule "We'll Be Back" shall we?

Also, from http://www.giak.com/40k/Konviktz/K-kultur.htm:

"Ork music goes beyond the playing of Squigpipes and the rhythmic chanting used in battle. Ancient and traditional Ork music is still performed by Ork shouting choirs. The shouting choir involves the participation of thousands of Orks, who assemble in a valley or canyon for the best acoustic effects. The choir is organized into family and clan divisions. Each division shouts a single word, such as "Waa" or "Ork", in a particular octave. Gretchin and Snotlings are used to achieve high notes and there are plenty of Orks who can achieve low notes. The Ork conductor, often an eccentric Weirdboy or Madboy, composes the musik himself. He then stands in the midst of the choir and conducts each group to shout their note in turn. The resulting "music" can be heard for miles as it fills the air with echoes.

Ork Warlords occasionally use this music to terrify enemies before battle, thus leading them to think the Ork army is ten times larger than it is, or that reinforcements are on their way, singing as they march. There is even one legend that claims that the walls of an enemy stronghold were toppled by the sound of an Ork shouting choir. Some Ork composers have even incorporated the sound of live gunfire into their compositions.

Progressive music is largely the domain of the Mekaniaks. They have the technical skill and apparatus for recording, sampling, synthesizing, and mixing. They record battle chants, the squirl of Squigs, shouting choirs, and even sounds of battle. Meks with musical inclinations blend these sounds into their own discordant compositions, then blare them out on loadspeakers for the entertainment and delectation of their fellow Orks. Such popular events are known as Koncerts. The style of music currently in vogue with most Meks is known as Rokk. The most progressive Meks in the field of Orkish musik are those of the Goff clan, who specialize in the eerie sounds of Goffik Rokk. Another popular style incorporates the sounds of machinery, gunfire, and live recordings of Gargant construction; this style is known as 'Eavy Metal. Great warlords have been known to commission works from notable Mek musicians. Many of these musicians earn a considerable sum of teeth from their compositions, as well as from the sale of recordings. Meks also construct miniature sets of headphones and portable playing devices so that Orks can listen to musik as they wander about."

[boarchild]

Well off the top of my head, the primarch of the Dark Angels Lion El'Jonson, is a play on words of Poet Lionel Johnson. His poem? The Dark Angel.

I think there is a ton of this stuff out there, and I'm interested in seeing where this thread goes.

[Doombringer]

There was also a piece in Caves of Ice where Cain said something along the lines of, "We have to nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure." ;D

[Jeff]

Okay, Heres my fav referance.

Sly Marbo.

Marbo is the BEST jungle fighter out there. Who is else was the BEST jungle fighter in a film? Rambo.
Marbo is an Anagram of Rambo

Who Played Rambo?

Sylvester Stallone

Whats his nick name?

Sly

Sly Marbo

[Luy22]

In one cain book, a Khorne berserker charges Cain screaming blood for the blood god. Cain activates his chainsword and charges bellowing the motto of his favorite sports team XD

[Psyker11]

Don't forget the raven guard.
The last thing corax said before dissapearing was "nevermore!"
Edgar Alan Poe anyone?