Events

Halloween 2008: Join The Mad King’s Revel

It’s Halloween in Tyria, and the Mad King Thorn is back to spread his own malevolent brand of lunatic fun. The maniacal monarch has come to play, and he’s got a cornucopia of mini-games, jokes, and riddles to delight and dismay his fellow revelers. You can play along if you’ve got the nerve and the know-how, but before you accept his challenges you need to understand the stakes. If you beat the Mad King at his own games, you’ll earn fabulous prizes and special mementos to mark the occasion; if you lose, you get killed.

Fortunately, Mad King Thorn’s idea of fun includes letting the vanquished come back for more, so you’re always encouraged to return from the grave and give it another try. You don’t even have to contend with the Mad King’s tricks to get a treat—there are plenty of other ways to earn prizes, like participating in special events throughout the weekend, or simply exploring in the eerie glow of the King’s flickering firelight smile.

The ghoul-apalooza begins on October 24th and runs until 07:59 GMT on November 3rd, in both the Tyrian port of Lion's Arch and the Elonian port of Kamadan. Mad King Thorn will appear in both places multiple times, always preceded by his undead horsemen and accompanied by his entourage of nightmarish cohorts. Participate in any of his appearances and you’ll earn a special piece of holiday event headgear.

If you miss this annual celebration of dark delights and wild chicanery, you’ll never get the chance to take home the kinds of rewards that only a Mad King can offer. You’ll also miss out on enough thrills and chills to last a lifetime (no matter how long that lifetime turns out to be).

After all, a little scary fun never killed anybody…though in this case it probably will….

As much as he likes to be the center of attention, the Mad King isn't the only exciting part of the festivities.

  • Suit up and join in the Costume Brawl (now with a brand-new map)!Come to the party dressed as one of many famous Guild Wars characters and fight your way to rich rewards!

  • Visit the collectors in Lion's Arch and Kamadan—these dreadful peddlers of all things spooky are always willing to barter for more of their creepy curios!

  • Find the perfect place for those special holiday photo ops among the holiday decorations and props in Kamadan.

  • Dare to explore the darkness and track down additional treasures floating on the chilly autumn wind...

Here's a calendar of the festive events:

  • Thursday, October 23: Lion's Arch and Kamadan are decorated in the Halloween spirit.

  • Friday, October 24:The Costume Brawl opens. Various NPCs and holiday characters begin to appear in Lion's Arch and Kamadan.

  • Friday, October 31:Mad King Thorn makes appearances every three hours throughout the day in Lion's Arch and Kamadan. His first appearance will take place at 07:01 GMT and his final appearance will begin on November 1 at 07:01 GMT.

  • Sunday, November 2: Festivities conclude at the stroke of midnight pacific time (03.11 08:00 GMT).

Here are some of the treats in store for you during the Halloween Event:

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 Witch's Brew: One sip will set your world spinning 'round and 'round…and where it stops, nobody knows.
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 Absinthe: If you think it burns going down, wait until it engulfs your body in ghoulish flames.
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 Ghost-in-the-Box: Feeling brave? Open this mysterious box to receive a spooky surprise.
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 Squash Serum: You’re out of your gourd if you swallow this potion…though it will give you an immediate replacement.
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 Transmogrifier Tonic: One sip transforms you into the spirit of Halloween itself!
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 Trick-or-Treat Bag: What’s inside? What does it do? Does it taste good? The only way to find out is to earn one and open it up.
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 Candy Apple: Two treats in one: the apple for good health, the candy for extra energy…or is that the other way around?
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 Candy Corn: Ride this sugar rush for a 10-minute bump to all your attributes.
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 Pumpkin Cookie: Nothing boosts morale like a big orange cookie.