Canthan New Year 2008

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Imperial chef m.jpg

Journey to Shing Jea
The Celestial Rat descends
New Year brings us luck

Each year, Canthans flock to Shing Jea Monastery to prepare and partake in a great feast to honor the celestial animal that will watch over them during the coming year. This year's animal, the Celestial Rat, will descend from the heavens to enjoy Cantha's culinary delights. If satisfied with the meal, the Celestial Rat will bestow good luck upon the populace for the coming year.

The Canthan New Year's Festival event begins at Noon Pacific (-8 GMT) on Friday, February 8, 2008 and will run all weekend, ending at Noon Pacific (-8 GMT) on Monday, February 11, 2008. On Sunday, February 10, the Celestial Rat will drop from the sky into Shing Jea Monastery every three hours to sample Canthan delicacies. The feast culminates in dancing, fireworks, and the showering of the populace with gifts...but only if the celestial enjoys its meal.

While the bulk of the Canthan New Year's Festival, including the celestial feast, takes place in Shing Jea, Canthans living abroad have taken their customs with them as well. So expect Lion's Arch and Kamadan to host smaller celebrations, complete with traditional New Year's decorations.

You must, however, journey to Shing Jea Monastery if you want to dance the night away in your festival mask and have the chance to receive a special prize should every course of the celestial's meal be completed to perfection.

In addition to the great feast, look for a variety of festival-themed quests available from colorful NPCs, and don't forget to have your fortune read by the Fortune Teller wandering Shing Jea during the festival. If you're feeling up to a trip to the race track, you won't want to miss the return of the Rollerbeetle Races. This PvP mini-game is sure to get your heart, and your rollerbeetle, racing. For those who enjoy a more visceral action, the Dragon Arena will also be open all weekend long.

So, mark your calendars and come help ring in the New Year, Canthan-style. You won't want to miss this annual Guild Wars event!

Festival events[edit]

New Year is at hand
A time for feasts, friends, and fun
Fortunes will come true

A great feast, amazing fireworks displays, dancing, fortunes, and a trip to the races...all this and more awaits you during the Canthan New Year's festival. Here's what you can expect:

Every festival has a variety of problems that must be solved by enterprising young adventurers. Supplies of everything from red dye to fireworks (both used to frighten off the nian) will inevitably run low. And, speaking of the nian, you never know when, or where, these festival-hating creatures might attack.

For those who want a preview of the coming year, the fortune teller will peer into your future and provide you with a very real, and legally binding, fortune. Whether your destiny bodes well or ill, it will certainly follow you into the world beyond Shing Jea.

That most venerable of Shing Jea events, the Shing Jea Boardwalk will make a special appearance during the festival. Play games to earn tickets and boost your luck, or play to lose and work your way down a different life track.

For you racing fans, make your way to the Rollerbeetle Racing Arena and sign up for the next available race. You'll be outfitted in your very own rollerbeetle racer, complete with its own set of racing skills. Races will roll all weekend long. In addition, the Dragon Arena has become an official part of the festival. So head to the arena for a brawling good time.

The Celestial Feast gives players the chance to participate in a cooking competition as they help chefs from across Cantha prepare various dishes for the five-course feast to be presented to the Celestial Rat. Help the chefs acquire all the necessary ingredients for their culinary masterpieces, or suffer bad luck if they fail to please the Celestial Rat. Chefs will reward player generosity with Lunar Tokens, while the Celestial Rat will reward everyone for each properly prepared dish.

Schedule[edit]

  • Friday, February 8th, Noon PST (20:00 GMT): Start of the event
  • Sunday, February 10th, 12:01 AM (08:01 GMT): first appearance of the Celestial Rat
  • Monday, February 11th, 12:01 AM (08:01 GMT): last appearance of the Celestial Rat
  • Monday, February 11th, Noon PST (20:00 GMT): Announced end of the festival.

Redecorated towns[edit]

NPCs[edit]

Lion's Arch[edit]

Shing Jea Monastery[edit]

Kamadan, Jewel of Istan[edit]

Great Temple of Balthazar[edit]

Rollerbeetle Racing (outpost)[edit]

Quests[edit]

A festival chef

Every festival brings with it a variety of problems that can only be solved by enterprising young adventurers willing to undertake a quest or two to ensure the festival runs smoothly. Supplies of everything from red dye (for Nian-scaring party attire) to fireworks (also used to frighten off the nian) will inevitably run low. And, speaking of the Nian, you never know when, or where, these New Year's festival hating creatures might attack. (NOTE: these quests will only be offered to characters that have reached level 5 or higher)

Sunqua Vale

Shing Jea Monastery:

Plains of Jarin:

or

Finale[edit]

Several Chefs stand in Shing Jea Monastery. They will collect specific ingredients during the finale. For each ingredient turned in, you will receive a Lunar Token from that chef. If no dishes are prepared successfully, everyone in the district will be temporarily transformed by the Rat Form disguise.

Imperial Chef Yan
(Appetizers)
Imperial Chef Reun
(Salad)
Imperial Chef Jiong
(Soup)
Imperial Chef Chen
(Main Course)
Imperial Chef Tian
(Dessert)

Dialogue[edit]

Opening Dialogue (2008)[edit]

Coordinator Tahyaa:

""

Dishes Inspection[edit]

Imperial Chef Yan:

" "

Imperial Chef Reun:

" "

Imperial Chef Jiong:

"Today, I have crafted for you, oh great celestial, a delicate kappa shell soup with a tantalizing aroma and a light, but piquant flavor that has no flaw. I have no doubt that once you try this divine concoction, you too, great celestial, shall feel the same."

Imperial Chef Chen:

"It is an honor to stand before you great celestial, and to be allowed to cook for such a divine connoisseur. I hope good fortune goes with you in the coming year."
"I have prepared for you this day a sizzling azure steak broiled to perfection with a side of steamed spider legs and a delicious butter unctuous dipping sauce, all served in a half-shell. It is a dish I call scurry and turfy. I hope you enjoy."

Imperial Chef Tian:

" "

Coordinator Tahyaa:

" "

Item Rewards[edit]

Below is a chart describing the amount of items the player received based on how many successful dishes were presented to the Celestial:

Successful Dishes Lion Mask.png
Lion Mask
Red Gift Bag.png
Red Gift Bag
Crate of Fireworks.png
Crate of Fireworks
0 1 Yes 2 0
1 Yes 4 0
2 Yes 6 0
3 Yes 9 0
4 Yes 12 0
5 Yes 16 5

1 If no succesful dishes were created, players were temporarily turned into Pigs(2007), Rats(2008) or Ox(2009).

Festival Rewards[edit]

Many quests and events reward players with special items only available during the festival. Here are some items you might be lucky enough to come across during the Canthan New Year's festival:

Icon Item
Sugary Blue Drink.png Sugary Blue Drink: Take a drink when you need a quick boost of energy in town.
Champagne Popper.png Champagne Popper: Share these classic party favors used to ring in the New Year in style.
Bottle Rocket.png Bottle Rocket: Set off a single-shot firework—please point away from body.
Sparkler.png Sparkler: Light up to shoot sparks around your body; be careful not to stand near flammable objects.
Red Bean Cake.png Red Bean Cake: These sweet treats are sure to put some pep in your step.
Bottle of Rice Wine.png Bottle of Rice Wine: The traditional festival drink. But don't drink and quest.
Red Gift Bag.png Red Gift Bag: Open for a festival gift; surprises come wrapped in red during the New Year's festival.
Lunar Fortune.png Lunar Fortune: Read your Lunar Fortune to find out whether you will have good luck or bad luck this year.
Lunar Token.png Lunar Token: Collect these tokens throughout the festival and trade them in for prizes.
Crate of Fireworks.png Crate of Fireworks: The Finale reward for a successful feast, See in the New Year with a bang!

Become a Party Animal[edit]

The Canthan New Year festival also marks the introduction of the new Party Animal title track. If you want to be a true Party Animal, (and show your festival spirit), you can earn points all weekend long (and even after the festival ends) by setting off fireworks, burning sparklers, or using any of a variety of other festive consumables from our many celebrations.

Special Miniature Rewards[edit]

In addition to the festival rewards mentioned above, two special miniatures will be available this year. For those lucky enough to receive multiple miniature pigs during last year's celebration, look for Chuntao, and exchange 5 miniature pigs to get a Miniature Celestial Pig. And watch those Lunar Fortunes closely. Your immediate future just might include a miniature Celestial Rat in your pack.

And, if that's not enough to entice you to attend this year's festival, don't forget that should the Celestial Rat fully enjoy its meal, all those attending the feast will receive an exciting, if somewhat volatile, Crate of Fireworks.

Further Information:[edit]


Special events
Canthan New Year 20072008200920102011201220132014 onward
April Fools' Day 20072008200920102011201220132014 onward
Anniversary Celebration 2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th-14th15th onward
Dragon Festival 20062007 (Redux) • 2008200920102011201220132014 onward
Wintersday in July 2008200920102011201220132014 onward
Halloween 2005200620072008 (Redux) • 200920102011201220132014 onward
Wintersday 20052006200720082009 (Redux) • 2010201120122013 onward
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One-time only events Day of the TenguFarewell to Gaile