Guess I shouldn’t have used that subtitle for the Magic Woods thread, huh?
As Oryx saw his minions fail to defeat the heroes time and time again, he devised a plan with less reliance on brute force. Thanks to some connections with Mixcoatl, he was able to commission the aid of a remote tribe dwelling deep in realm’s densest jungle. Rather than outright pitting the heroes against another one of his underlings, Oryx instead opted to throw the heroes into these woods without hope of escape, waiting to be killed by any number of wild threats.
This accursed jungle is home to some of the realm’s most vicious animals, fiercest natives, and deities of incomprehensible strength waiting for an opportunity to wield their arcane powers. The denizens exert wicked black magic, and their leader commands the almighty power of lightning itself in ways which have never been witnessed before. Brandish your mightiest weapons, for Oryx’s latest bounty hunting court member means business.
Introducing the Secluded Thicket, AKA the Epic Forbidden Jungle! This place takes a more unique approach to the epic dungeon structure. Rather than being a direct difficulty upgrade like the Kabam epic dungeons or a far harder event dungeon with the same theme like the Nest, this is instead a three part boss dungeon intended for the Court of Oryx. Each of the three minibosses has their own mechanics, and as a bonus detail, every single enemy is tied to one of the original Forbidden Jungle enemies as an epic counterpart.
This is no doubt the hardest of the Court dungeons so far. A good sized group (the type that will usually be at the Court anyway) should be able to get through it without too much trouble as long as they aren’t careless, but it won’t be as mindless as Shaitan and the Encore typically are. Groups should still feel engaged for the duration of it, and a solo attempt is fairly challenging (I have managed to do a petless solo on an Archer as well, though it’s excruciatingly difficult). The first two Court dungeons are far too much of a pushover for castle-sized groups and fail to put up enough of a fight, so the dangers of this and the Reef ought to help change that.
Tezcacoatl the Great Basilisk
A savage beast that makes its home in the tropical forest. Basilisks are natural predators, but Tezcacoatl in particular has gained notoriety among the local tribesmen. Many hunters have attempted to slay him as a display of might, but none have succeeded.
The first boss is the easiest of the bunch, but also the most aggressive and in-your-face. The main gimmick of this fight is not the boss himself, but the minions that accompany him for most of the battle. Inspired by Chicken Oryx’s (sorely underappreciated) fight, these smaller basilisks work in tandem with their master, possessing their own sub-phases which supplement the primary attacks.
El Dorado
An immaculate golden idol rests in a temple at the heart of this uncharted jungle. Its origin is unknown, but what is apparent is the curse that lives within it. The natives worship it as a treasure from the gods, and may be willing to give more than their life to defend it.
The second boss against this cursed golden idol is entirely stationary. The fight has an emphasis on player movement and navigation, forcing people to stay on the move at all times to avoid lethal red zones and various other hazards that are added during the fight. More notably, this encounter features an inheritance system similar to that of the LoD. At each intermission, El Dorado will spawn one of three colored tribesmen in a random order. Whichever one is chosen will influence the next phase against El Dorado with masks that spawn on the side of the room, each with their own attacks to watch out for. This is meant to give the fight extra replayability, requiring people to be on their guard for any combination they may encounter.
Xolotl the Lightning God
A relative of Mixcoatl, Xolotl was appointed to Oryx’s court as his official bounty hunter. Being a more primitive god, Xolotl wields lightning and rules over the isolated tribe of the Secluded Thicket. Living with hunters has made him an expert killer, able to take out high profile targets at Oryx’s command.
The third and final boss pits you against what is essentially Epic Mixcoatl. As the name implies, this boss wields lightning, spawning warning targets that will strike down anyone who fails to get out of the way. These red targets are meant to be treated as the top priority to avoid at all times, as they are extremely punishing if you get hit and may lead to death if you’re too reckless. The lightning strikes also have a brand new sound effect, the first new sound file added to the game since 2011! You should especially beware of his final phase in which he unleashes a storm upon you. You may end up needing to use his own strength against him somehow. Tip: Go with the flow.
This dungeon initially started development in late November, overlapping with the Magic Woods which came together quite quickly. The bulk of development happened within February-April, however. I hope you’ll enjoy, and be sure to leave all feedback in this thread to ensure I see it!
