MAP21: Entering Aquatic Desert (Sunlust)

MAP21: Entering Aquatic Desert is the twenty-first map of Sunlust. It uses the music track "Ocean Flute" composed by Stuart Rynn.

Essentials
Three keys are on this level but the level does not require you to collect all of them.

Blue key

Collect all needed items in the room and leave it. Drop down to the room below where the blue key platform is seen and dispose of zombies that hide in alcoves, then head to the stairs leading to the western compartment. Dispose of revenants in the western room. After this, press the switch to unlock the key. Return to the previous room. Take the keycard and quickly go to the stairs, then to the east room, as a bunch of demons will be spawned along with an arch-vile or a revenant (this depends on the skill level). Use the blue teleporter to get back to the starting place looking toward east.

Yellow key

If you have the blue key it is not necessary to obtain the yellow one and vice versa, if you will get this key it will be not necessary to get the blue key. With the yellow key, however, you can gain a plasma rifle.

Leave the starting room and drop down to the room below where the blue key should be (and dispose of enemies in the alcoves). Head up on the stairs and look at the watery area. Kill the mancubi first and jump to the area. Kill all enemies here and press the switch (from Hexen). This switch will lower a blue teleporter pad on which chaingunners spawned. Use this to teleport to the yellow keycard (which is right behind you). Now fight the enemies and find the blue teleporter to get back to the starting area.

If you want the plasma gun drop down to the blue key room again and head to the stairs. Go right and walk up the other stairs. Open the yellow barriers and get the weapon.

Red key

Once returned to the starting room go on the stairs that will lead you to the jumping ledges. Run-jump to the other side. Press the blue switch or the yellow switch in the room depending on what key you have or press them both (a switch is enough). Once you did, the bars will lower letting you visit the south-east. Drop to the ground. A spiderdemon should spawn on the large pool of mud (if you have BFG9000 and enough cells better drop on this pool and kill the spiderdemon with this weapon). The overall courtyard will be soon infested with enemies too. Deal with them and explore the perimeter around. Press the skull switch and you will be able to enter the bottom parts of the castle. However, the mud hurts. Prepare to fight with a cyberdemon on HMP and higher or four barons on HNTR and lower. Though, you can quickly dodge him running forth if you are not prepared. The walls will open revealing spawning of other monsters. Infighting is possible but the mud hurts. There is a radiation suit behind mud waterfall which can be seen to the left of the cyberdemon's (or barons') platform. After all, go on the staircase to the other room. After you get the key the wall to the left will open, so prepare for a chaingunners ambush. Then, drop down to the castle room (which is the western room you were in).

Exit

Get back to the starting room again by using the blue teleporter. Run to the room with three switches each requiring the key. Flip the red switch now and mind a mancubus behind you (also, you may wish to find secret #2 here). To the right of the red switch you can discover another area which has a tile floor. Jump there. Click a switch here (Hexen) and prepare to fight with two clusters of enemies, one of which is revealed behind the opening wall. The second cluster will spawn a bit later. Find the second switch (either from Hexen) and wait (probably fighting back of spawned ones) until the exit staircase will be accessible. When the staircase is built and the long bridge is risen you can finish the level by stepping over the portal.

Other points of interest
The player will always pistol start this level.

Secrets

 * 1) From the start head to the stairs on the left side. Walk up and go to the square water pit. Go back to the room where you started. A secret is open to your left. (sector 352)
 * 2) Head back to the stairs on the left side. Walk the stairs up and run-jump to the room on the other side where the three switches are. At the end of the room are the megaarmor and the red switch. To the left of them is a brick wall which can be opened to find a single medikit.  (sector 464)
 * 3) Run to the watery area to the north (the yellow key is found there). Once you will be able to teleport to the large mud pool and obtain the key itself jump to the outer mud of the level below. A large brick structure can be seen here. Go to the right of it (east) and you will discover the stairs leading down. At the bottom take blur sphere, radiation suit and megasphere and fight 68 former humans and one or two arch-viles.  (sector 279)
 * 4) When you gain access to the bottom part of the castle there will be a little fight with cyberdemon or barons of Hell. Go to the southern room where an invulnerability can be seen. In the far south to this sphere is a switch. Shoot it and the lift to the left of you will rise. Lower it by using the skull switch. The lift will lead you to the above area from which you can access the invulnerability sphere now.  (sector 493)

Things
The level contains following number of things: