I was hanging out in Maj'Dul, watching grey-con beggars cringe from me.  The Nights of the Dead costume I was still wearing clashed with the giant candy canes the city fathers had scattered over the landscape.  Suddenly the world began to fade. "You have been summoned by the gods!"

"Aw, Tunare's teeth, not again!" I muttered as the world went black.

I looked around as my vision cleared.  Dancing fawns.  Rainbows.  Giant Frostfell tree.  Yep, looked like Wonderland - the Frostfell fluff fest is on Test!  "Helloooooo!  Anyone home?"

"Down here!" a tiny figure down by the humoungus frost-covered evergreen waved.  I hopped the rainbow slide down to the bay, went to wade over to her... and promptly slipped and fell on my half-elven hiney on the frozen-over bay.  Wicked laugher filled the zone as I got to my feet on the slippery surface, and an icy snowball sent me spinning.

I guess Frostfell can give a giggle to even dark-elven Community Managers!  I dashed behind a group of Frostfell Fae to avoid Kiara's dexterously flung snowballs and threw questions about this year's Frostfell world event back at her.

Frostfell 2008 has all the features of prior Norrathian winter holiday celebrations, but there's some new goodies including fun changes to the zone.  It's chillier here this year, I think.  The ice between the islets makes for fun snowball fights and the mad dash for the one prezzie node you really need could get interesting on the low-friction surface.  Brenlo Bixiebopper VI, namesake of the SOE Director of Global Community Relations, is practicing for the Halfling Olympics and there's other ice skaters having a little fun.

Tradeskills have gotten some new goodies.  Your old Frostfell recipes have been removed to make room for new, and there's quite a few new harvests.  Some of those Frostfell resources you've been hoarding may no longer be useful, but don't despair, there's still plenty of holiday crafting.  There are three scrolls full of fun fluff, including a ham, snowflakes, new greeting cards, and (by popular demand I'm sure) hanging lanterns. Decorators with a penchant for the darker side will be pleased to find decorations in black, purple, and leather.

Oh, Quests!  There are of course new quests, including another tree quest.  The rewards for the new Frostfell quest is on the token system, and Testers are still exploring the reward possibilities which are not visible unless you have earned tokens. All the old favorites are back, including the player-requested return of the original 2005 frostfell quest, "The Tale of the Gigglegibber Grump".  The old quests have new rewards, including snifty new cloaks and these fabulous baubles I found.  There's a special tree quest just for dezinens of Neriak and Freeport which sent our own Bludwyng into a near-fatal fit of the giggles.  Oh, and wait until you see the cute dragon plushies!  Keep an eye out for collection shinies, visible only after you finish one of the quests. 

Prezzies!  Yes, we have presents again this year.  Players can see Santa Glug and receive a gift every 24 hours during the event.  It is with mixed feelings I announce that there are no snowglobes this year.

So grab your best Frostfell outfit (or make a new one!) and enjoy Frostfell, which will run on Live servers from December 11, 2008 to January 6, 2009.