Wintersday/Finale

The Wintersday finale runs every 3 hours in Lion's Arch and Kamadan; the finale in Kamadan historically have had a 15 minute delay. Traditionally players in odd numbered districts support Grenth by standing on the red rings; in even numbered districts they support Dwayna by standing on the green rings. This convention is intended to facilitate obtaining both varieties of headgear. However, it is just that, a convention, and is not always followed.

The Wintersday finale is similar to Nine Rings at the Shing Jea Boardwalk but with Candy Cane Shards instead of Festival Tickets. Playing this game counts towards your Lucky title track.

Each game will cost you 1 Candy Cane Shard. If you are standing on a ring adjacent to the winning ring, you will receive 2 Candy Cane Shards and 2 Lucky points. If you were standing on the winning ring, you win a Wintersday Gift. You also receive the same number of Candy Cane Shards and Lucky points, depending on what ring was chosen, which are 3 of each for the middle, 4 of each for the side, and 5 of each for the corner.

At the end of the finale, approximately a dozen Wintersday Gifts will be added to your inventory one at a time, taking roughly 15 minutes; so be sure to stay in the district that you're in for that duration (until the winning deity says farewell and leaves). Note that it is not necessary to remain on any of the rings during the post-game Wintersday Gift giving phase; it is sufficient just to be in the district.

2005-2009 dialogue

 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Welcome all to the end of another glorious Wintersday season! That special time of year when you all have a very important choice to make..."
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "A choice? There is no choice! They will all choose to embrace the dark majesty of Grenth! Grenth conquers all, in the end!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Your harsh words fall on deaf ears. Good people if you would have this winter end and warmth return to these lands, join me!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Nonsense! If you would ignore the vapid frivolity of Dwayna and embrace the cold justice that is Grenth, join me!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Citizens! Prepare to cast your support for lowly Grenth or glorious Dwayna by partaking in a game of choice. Gather before the deity you wish to support, and keep your candy cane shards handy."
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Make sure you have some candy cane shards in your Inventory so you can show support for mighty Grenth and laugh at the pathetic sniveling followers of Dwayna!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Step into one of the rings before the deity you wish to support! A game of chance will determine if Grenth or Dwayna will be victorious this year."
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "The side that has the most people betting candy cane shards will have a greater chance of of victory, so make sure to stand in one of Grenth's rings!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "During each round of betting, you will bet one candy cane shard toward the deity you have chosen to support, the deity whose ring you are standing on."
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "One ring will be chosen as the winner. Those standing in the winning ring and in the rings adjacent to it will raise the score of their deity by the number of candy cane shards they have won."
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Those standing in the other rings will lose the candy cane shard they bet and will not raise the score of the deity they are supporting."
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "After a number of rounds have completed, the deity with the higher score will be declared the winner. This means, of course, that we will be celebrating Grenth's victory."
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Very well, then...let us begin! Gather on the side of the deity you wish to support and stand inside a ring!"

The Avatar of Dwayna round countdown:
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "3"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "2"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "1"

The Avatar of Grenth round countdown:
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "3"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "2"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "1"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

If Dwayna has the higher score

 * After round 5
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "So many smiling faces! I can feel the cold receding already. Clearly Dwayna shal emerge victorious this year, and spring is right around the corner!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "You haven't won yet! I still have time to gather more followers. I demand another round!"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)


 * After round 10
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "We are very nearly victorious! Winter will soon be banished!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "It is not over yet! Grenth still has one last chance, and he's going to make it count!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Hear me people of Tyria! If you would have spring return to the land, then join me!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Join me, and together we will prolong winter forever!"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)


 * After round 15
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Dwayna be praised...winter will soon give way to spring. Let the celebration begin with special gifts from Dwayna herself!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Bah! I'll be back next year! And I'll see some of you a bit sooner, I think...."
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "I think I'm going to be ill. Do you feel ill?"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Farewell, my friends! Have a safe and and joyous Wintersday!"

If Grenth has the higher score

 * After round 5
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "So many cold hearts gathered in one place! Ah, I can feel icicles growing betwixt my toes! My master is pleased. Oh yes, he is pleased!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "This isn't over. I shall gather more followers this time. In Dwayna's name, the next round is about to commence. I have foreseen it!"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)


 * After round 10
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Grenth be praised! Winter shall never end!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Don't be so certain. Dwayna has one final chance to vanquish Grenth and set things right!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Join me, and together we will prolong winter forever!"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)


 * After round 15
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Grenth wins! The land shall remain in his icy embrace forever...or at least until the sun thaws out the land. But that's not the point! At the moment, Grenth wins! Let us begin the REAL festivities now, with a bone-chilling thank you from the Grentches...."
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You have given Grenth a victory, for now... but there's always next year!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "For this glorious victory, the Grentches wish to thank you in person. Grentches...go spread some Wintersday cheer!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "You diabolical fiend... This aggression will not stand! Fear not, Tyrians! Dwayna shall resurrect the fallen!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Farewell, mortals! Have a merry and very chilly Wintersday!"

2010 dialogue
With the addition of The Great Snowball Fight of the Gods minigame and quests, the finale dialogue was altered to reflect Melandru and Balthazar joining in on Wintersday.

The Avatar of Dwayna round countdown:
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "3"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "2"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "1"

The Avatar of Grenth round countdown:
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Make sure you have a candy cane shard in your Inventory, and then go stand in one of the rings!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "3"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "2"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "1"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)

If Dwayna has the higher score

 * After round 5


 * After round 10


 * After round 15

If Grenth has the higher score

 * After round 5
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "So many cold hearts gathered in one place! Ah, I can feel icicles growing betwixt my toes! My master is pleased. Oh yes, he is pleased!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "This isn't over. I shall gather more followers this time. In Dwayna's name, the next round is about to commence. I have foreseen it!"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)


 * After round 10
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Grenth be praised! Winter shall never end!"
 * The Avatar of Dwayna: "Nature shall weep and spirits shall be crushed without your help! How can you raise your young in a land of ice and death? There is still time. Join me and together we shall turn the tide of this challenge!"
 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Join me, and together we will prolong winter forever!"
 * (The Avatar of Dwayna and Avatar of Grenth "round countdown" dialogue repeated.)


 * After round 15


 * The Avatar of Grenth: "Grenth wins! The land shall remain in his icy embrace forever...or at least until the sun thaws out the land. But that's not the point! At the moment, Grenth wins! Let us begin the REAL festivities now, with a bone-chilling thank you from the Grentches...."