E3M2: The Cesspool

The Cesspool
Level Information
Game	Heretic
Episode	The Dome of D'Sparil
Level Statistics
Secrets	3
Level Map
Level Chronology
Previous Level	The Storehouse
Next Level	The Confluence

The Cesspool is the second level of The Dome of D'Sparil, the third episode of Heretic.

As the name suggests, it consists primarily of sewer-like tunnels, as well as several rooms with water pools and a storage room. The Cesspool is likely to have been destroyed after the dome protecting it shatters upon D’Sparil’s defeat.

This is one of only two levels of episode 3 with original background music, the other being its successor, "The Confluence."

Walkthrough

You start inside a small azure brick room filled with columns. Just ahead lies two cages, left and right to your position, which contain an Ophidian and some bonus respectively. Ignore them for now and go forth. Across the room you can see two yellow key doors nested at the corners that have fire gargoyles guarding them. Between them there is a tunnel out of the room. Take that and enter a small court-like area with water and four high pillars. You can see the yellow key ahead on an altar but you can not get it yet.

Clear the court from the sabreclaws and gargoyles if you wish and then climb up the stairs to the stone tiled floor. Enter any of the two openings located right and left of the tunnel that brought you here. Go down in the moss-themed water tunnels and fight your way to the center killing gargoyles. The left path there contains a Silver Shield and some ammo while the right one has the first Ethereal Crossbow found in the episode, the Wings of Wrath and a Tome of Power. When you have reached the center, press the switch. You have lowered the altar upon which the yellow key was placed.

Go and get it while being aware of the stalking sabreclaws and then head back to the yellow doors at the starting room. Choose the right one and follow the corridor you see to another set of water tunnels.

Secret 1: Just before going down the tunnels, use the trident banner to open a room with a Bag of Holding and a Silver Shield.

Now go down the green stone-tiled tunnel and go up a set of stairs just across the green door. You may want to get the Hellstaff first (you can easily dispatch the weredragons with some careful use of the pods). After that, enter the teleporter to a square room with some disciples guarding the green key. Collect the goodies and the key and take care of the ophidians who ambush right after. Now exit the room using the teleporter right opposite the one who brought you here.

You should land on a flooded room with some caged ophidians. You are inside the left yellow door you left before. Make quick work of the monsters and collect any goodies and then go towards the outside area. You will see another green door here. Open it and enter a castle-like big corridor. As you go down the corridor, you will notice a small warehouse-like building to your left, containing some disciples. Enter it, clearing everything. You will see an Enchanted Shield behind some barrels to the other edge of the room but it is recommendable to get it at the end of the level.

Secret 2: Go inside the dirt tiled floor and use the banner to get a doorway to one of the two Ophidian cages you saw in the start of the level, containing a Phoenix Rod.

After that, resume your path on the corridor, taking care of the Ophidian who will try to ambush you opposite of the blue door. A passage has opened to the starting room. Open the wooden door just in front of that passage to a room with the some Gauntlets and a switch you should use. The blue door has been unbarred but you still need the blue key, though.

Now go forth into a square stone room with some wooden risings and more mobs to slaughter. You can see a door on the other end of the room and by opening, it you can notice that it was the first green door you encountered back in the green stone tunnels.

Secret 3: In this room, do some clever climbs and get the Map Scroll. Right in front of it is a wall with a trident banner. Open it to the second Ophidian cage, containing a Ring of Invulnerability.

After you are done with your scavenging, take the blue key and take care of the ambushing disciples. Now go back to the blue door and open it to find an Iron Lich. After you kill it you are free to leave. Be sure that you have taken the Enchanted Shield by now. In addition, if you want to get the rest of the items you could not reach before, you can obtain them by using the Wings of Wrath.

E3M2 is the first level in the episode where a Firemace can be found. If it has appeared at the level startup, you will find it from one of five different positions. In order of appearance, they are located

• In the water tunnel, southwest of the switch that lowers the yellow key.
• Next to the western teleporter leading to the green key hall.
• In the middle of the green key hall.
• Atop a crate in the warehouse area.
• In the exit chamber.

In case the weapon did not appear, the next chance to obtain it is on the following level.

Gallery

The beautifully decorated starting area.

A storage room.

Single-Player Stats

Enemies Difficulty Level 1-2 3 4-5 15 27 33 8 14 17 1 2 3 - - - 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - 8 12 16 2 3 3 8 10 14 7 9 11 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - Total 51 79 99

Weapons and Ammo Difficulty Level 1-2 3 4-5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 5 Difficulty Level 1-2 3 4-5 33 31 32 2 2 2 19 16 17 1 1 1 28 21 19 1 1 1 11 9 10 1 1 1 6 4 4 1 1 1 4 4 4 1 1 1

Artifacts Difficulty Level 1-2 3 4-5 44 36 25 10 10 6 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 15 12 8

Multiplayer Stats

To be Added

Notes & Trivia

• Linedefs from 521 to 528 have their upper textures on the wrong side. The lines are located in the corner alcoves of the green key hall that is separated from the rest of the level. The bug can be detected by looking up, but only when viewed at an alcove or when approaching an alcove while hugging a wall.

External Links

• The Cesspool on The Doom Wiki
• The Cesspool on DoomWiki.org

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