Darkening Deeps (Dungeon)

A dungeon instance within Gloamwood from which the Goblin blight is spilling forth. The goblins built their city in the drainage system for Shadefallen Keep, expanding it with their own rude tunnels and gouging ever deeper into the ground. Adventurers bold and foolish enough to invade these Darkening Deeps might find the source of the goblins’ newfound aggression, rescue villagers from Gloamwood Pines, or meet their end in a storm of fire and claw.

Overview
In the deepest part of Gloamwood, the waterways under a once-stately Mathosian castle play host to the frenzied stirrings of creatures from the rifts. Gloamwood's goblins built a city into this chasm's walls, their hovels lining a path spiraling deep into the bedrock. Every day, goblins skulk from this hole to wreak havoc through the woods.

It was all the people of Gloamwood could do to control the goblin menace, until the Gedlo priests came through the Fire Rifts, whipping their lesser goblin brethren into a fighting force bold enough to harass even armed patrols. Victims report muscle-bound, frenzied goblins that maul defenders at the Gedlo priests' command.

Always vicious, the goblins' newly focused ferocity is taking a heavy toll on their High Elf blood-foes, and Silverwood was almost razed in a recent raid. Uproar over this threat cost the Guardians the allegiance of the Elf prince Hylas.

Creatures found in the Deeps
Adventurers who brave Darkening Deeps will find a vast chasm, choked with smoke and the reek of goblins. The vicious little creatures attack anyone who comes too near their city, spurred on and backed by the magic of their Gedlo rulers. Normal goblins are dangerous enough, but the new breed of hulking berserkers that swarm through Darkening Deeps are as eager to rend intruders limb from limb as they are to crush the skulls of fat villagers on a raid.

Goblins have never been much for pest control, and an entire wing of Darkening Deeps has been overrun by spiders from Silkweb Pass. Likewise, the sewer system the goblins first colonized is now jealously guarded by water elementals so polluted with foulness their mere stench can overcome hardy invaders.

Recent Events
Several villagers from Gloamwood Pines have vanished after encounters with goblins. Their desperate cries can sometimes be heard over the din of the goblin city, subsiding only on full moon nights to be replaced by the howling of wolves -- though no wolves are known to live in Gloamwood. The wood has seen less treant activity of late, and though locals bear no love for these invaders from the Life Plane, their disappearance might have some connection to the goblin berserkers.

Heroes uninterested in kidnapped villagers or goblin alchemy are nonetheless tempted to enter the Darkening Deeps, for the Gedlo use potent magic and artifacts to protect some secret hidden deep underground. Whatever has the goblins in such a paranoid frenzy would be of value to any Ascended bold enough to delve into Darkening Deeps.

Bosses
The Darkening Deeps has Four bosses (in normal mode):
 * First boss - Alchemist Braxtepel
 * Second boss - Michael Bringhurst
 * Third boss - Tegenar Deepfang
 * Final boss - Council Geldo

The Darkening Depps has Five bosses (in expert mode):
 * Final boss - Scarn

The Darkening Deeps has six bosses (in master mode):
 * Additional boss is between Alchemist Braxtepel and Michael Bringhurst

Other links and information
The area was first revealed visually in the Gloamwood Flythrough video at about the 0:19 mark. , and then expanded upon on 04 August 2010 in a Trion Press release.
 * Darkening Deeps dungeon guide at RiftJunkies
 * Gloamwood Flythrough Video
 * Darkening Deeps Flythrough Video