What inspired some item descriptions?

[Randall]

I'm quite interested, did devs actually make up some of the item descriptions? For example, the one for whispering snake-skull says:
"I, who had no hands, with my left hand do bring forth, an offering of filth and rancid flesh.", which is in iambic pentameter and is not googlable, and sounds rather nice.
Concordat of worms has the following description:
"I give unto thee true peace, and to all who are or have been on thy side in the time of this discord."
This one is taken from the historical document, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordat_of_Worms

What are other examples that you noticed?

[Droj]

I believe they are quotes from the King James Bible

[Randall]

I believe they are quotes from the King James Bible.

I'd be grateful if you pointed me to the actual quote.

[Gauteamus]

I believe some may be quotes from the King James Bible.

Fixed that for you

[CharlesM]

I'm quite interested, did devs actually make up some of the item descriptions? For example, the one for whispering snake-skull says:
"I, who had no hands, with my left hand do bring forth, an offering of filth and rancid flesh.", which is in iambic pentameter and is not googlable, and sounds rather nice.
Concordat of worms has the following description:
"I give unto thee true peace, and to all who are or have been on thy side in the time of this discord."
This one is taken from the historical document, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordat_of_Worms

What are other examples that you noticed?

I think that Jorbtar is just a poet at heart and, as a wordsmith of high acclaim, crafted those words with his golden tongue.

[Gauteamus]

"I, who had no hands, with my left hand do bring forth, an offering of filth and rancid flesh."

Well it appears NOT to be from Paradise Lost.
It was a delighting and abit curious discovery to learn that the entire work does not contain "rancid flesh"!

[CharlesM]

"I, who had no hands, with my left hand do bring forth, an offering of filth and rancid flesh."

Well it appears NOT to be from Paradise Lost.
It was a delighting and abit curious discovery to learn that the entire work does not contain "rancid flesh"!

It may also be a recerence to Cthulu or something.

[Tylan]

http://salemwiki.info/index.php/Beaming-Proud_Sunflower

"Rightfully claiming its place in the sun."

It's a simple sentence, but it was a famous notion proposed by Kaiser Wilhelm II to metaphorically outline his ambition and intention for Germany to rightfully "blossom" and take what it deserved to take. However, his was a quote from the end of the 1800s, long after the time of Salem's founding, so it may have origins prior or perhaps it's a phrase that is so old it has no known origin.

[MagicManICT]

"Rightfully claiming its place in the sun."

I'm sure that phrase dates back as old as, if not older than, biblical times or ancient Egypt in one form or another.

You'll find a lot of historical references for many of these, but others you may not find so easily or are just made up on the spot (well, maybe after hours of musing).

edit: and in case anyone missed it, the general subject has come up at least once before: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4018&hilit=concordat+worms

[jorb]

Most of the inspirationals have been given their forms by me, and I believe Concordat and the Pumpkin masques are the only ones to use direct quotes. That said, I can claim no credit for any acts of creation. God creates, man only remembers.