E4M1: Catafalque (Heretic)

E4M1: Catafalque is the first level in The Ossuary episode of Heretic Shadow of the Serpent Riders.

Walkthrough
You start in a small chamber that is connected to two side rooms. They are filled with a bunch of gargoyles. Make a run to the green key in the distance, as it is a way to face the gargoyles one by one. This level is short of ammo so alternatively you can switch to melee and make use of the crusher. Collect the ammo, the vials and the Silver Shield in the rooms and hit the switch in the southeast corner of the crusher room, as it lets you to drop down from the balcony at West.

You can collect the yellow key in the outside area. However, there are also sabreclaws and a maulotaur down the balcony, and a few ophidians in the central building. The best strategy is to run westbound to the key and to return as quickly to the eastern end of the area. A part of the wall has risen there while you approached the key. You can use the teleporter in the room beyond the wall, but beware the awaiting gargoyles.

You will end up into the central building with a couple of gargoyles. Press on one banner wall and all four will lower. Go out to trigger the pillar in the middle, hiding a teleporter, and come back in. In this way, you can return to the balcony. Make good use of the crusher to kill the pursuing monsters. You can repeat the above trick to lure more of them to death.

Behind the yellow door, there are sabreclaws and gargoyles in the first room. Push the switch behind the wooden door, and two passages will open high in the first room, the northern containing disciples and the southern sabreclaws. Dispatch the disciples in sight and go into the southern room.

The switches there supply stairs to the Gauntlets of the Necromancer. Collecting them triggers an ambush by gargoyles and disciples. Try to escape or fight them without becoming surrounded. Collect the goodies. Pressing the eagle wall will reveal a room with disciples. Further in the opened passage, there are some sabreclaws as well. By following the way to the end, you will find yourself in the starting room, welcomed by gargoyles and having triggered secret 1.

Re-enter the yellow door. On the left, you can see a switch. By hitting it, a teleporter on the top of the other stairs becomes available. Go into the northern room, instead, kill another disciple and hit the switch. A platform descends, and you can move to the exposed area to pick up some timebombs. Go to step on the aforementioned teleporter.

You will end up in a dark water passage, just North of the outside area, with many ophidians. Once dispatched, do not head to the enlightened area, but look instead for two hanging skulls. Hit the wall between them to reveal a teleporter leading to secret 2, placed on a high ledge outside.

Go back to the water passage and approach the enlightened area. A pillar descends, carrying a Dragon Claw. Step in. The elevator leads you above the green key. The pillars in the crusher room will go down showing goodies and more ophidians. Kill them and enter the green door at East. In the room beyond, there are gargoyles and the Hellstaff.

Press the middle painting on the southern wall and kill the sabreclaws. Hit the switch, and the door opens to the last room of the level. Now you have also two teleporters available. The one in middle North is for returning to the starting point, while the one in the northeast corner brings you to the upper floor of the final room. Using it will subsequently trigger secret 3.

As soon as you walk on the red border in the final room, the center platform will rise, and you have to face some iron liches. Climb the platform to reveal a switch. Pressing it will give access to a second one, and the second one will open yet a third one. Hit the third switch to reveal the exit teleporter.

Secrets

 * 1) In the Gauntlets room, following the passage behind the eagle shaped wall and returning to the starting room. (sector 137)
 * 2) In the dark room in the water, gaining access to the teleporter between two hanging skulls, and getting to the elevated ledge. (sector 199)
 * 3) Past the green door, after hitting the switch, stepping on the teleporter (and collecting a Ring of Invincibility) in the northeastern cubicle, and walking on the upper floor in the next room. (sector 10)