E2M4: Otkachka (Heretic Upstart Mapping Project)

E2M4: Otkachka is the fourth map in the Mount Suffering episode of Heretic Upstart Mapping Project. It was designed by BeeWen and uses the music track "Mole" by Kevin Schilder.

Essentials
Turn round and go down the steps behind you to a switch which will lower a lift behind it, as well as releasing two groups of fire gargoyles behind you (plus two ophidians on thou art a smite-meister (TAASM) skill level or higher). Go down the steps to your left or right and blow up the pods in the water below, hopefully destroying some waiting sabreclaws, then grab the Ethereal Crossbow on the lift and ride it up before turning left and following the path round to some steps leading down. Follow the ledge round the corner to encounter some golem ghosts (while also watching out for the iron lich on the floor above) then head east through a wooden door and look right to see one or two undead warriors guarding a switch - this switch will lower a set of bars to the west, which is optional but may help with backtracking later.

Head north up some steps to a Dragon Claw then turn left and follow the path past the lich and round the corner to some steps leading up to a switch which is guarded by undead warrior and nitrogolem ghosts. After pressing the switch, go back down the steps that led to the Dragon Claw and go through the now-open east door, then turn right and climb the steps to a door that will open and reveal a switch on your right; remember this switch as you will need it later. Head south to a hall with nitrogolems and fire gargoyles on either side, drop down to a water pool with a Bag of Holding then press the switch between the south walls to reveal an ophidian (or iron lich on bringest them oneth (BTO) or higher) guarding a second switch. This switch opens a metal pillar between the walls; kill any disciples of D'Sparil that teleport in, use the steps to the north to get back up to the entrance, then follow the wooden walkway all the way round to another doorway in the north-east corner.

Kill any disciples waiting on the bridge ahead then go across and press the blue switch on the other side to open it and reveal a circular staircase. Head up to the top, killing any undead warriors that block your way, and press a switch to reveal an ophidian and an Inferno Orb in a window. Drop out of the window to a water pool with pods and blow these up to destroy some approaching sabreclaws then go up the steps in the south-east corner to a moss-covered walkway; head south to find a Mystic Urn guarded by fire gargoyles, then head north past a weredragon to some steps leading up to a chamber containing the yellow key. Kill any golems that teleport in behind you then press the spine wall in the north-west corner to lower a lift leading up to a passage near the circular staircase you climbed earlier.

Backtrack to the door leading to the southern-most hall with the Bag of Holding and open it, then press the switch on your left to lower a lift with an undead warrior ghost. Ride the lift up and look round the corner, press another switch on your right then follow the ledge behind you to collect several Lesser Runes and a Hellstaff. Drop into the water below and head west to some water steps which lead up to a chamber containing disciples as well as the blue key; after taking the key, go back to the water and head north to a door requiring the yellow key, but arm yourself before opening the door as an iron lich and nitrogolems are waiting ahead, as well as a maulotaur on BTO on higher. Lower the lift behind the lich to reveal a switch, press it to raise a platform behind you then ride the lift up and head south to the platform you just raised; step across it to reach another ledge on the east side of the room, go up to a path with one or two ophidians then open the metal door here to find one or two disciples guarding an Enchanted Shield, two Quartz Flasks and a switch.

Pressing the switch will drain the water pool outside and reveal a path to the level exit, but it will also open two walls behind you revealing a number of sabreclaws as well as two weredragons on TAASM or higher. Fight your way out of the trap, open the metal door in the north-west corner to enter a chamber with one or two undead warrior ghosts, then head east through a tunnel to a switch that leads back to the starting area. Several weredragons and nitrogolems have appeared on the walkway above the now-empty pool; drop to the ground and climb up the steps, then press the switch to lower the lift again and cause an iron lich to teleport in behind you. Destroy or avoid the lich, step past the lift to enter a water-filled tunnel then open the bars at the end (which require the blue key) and drop down the hole in front of you to finish the level.

Other points of interest
The three windows around you at the start can be shot to remove them. The east window leads to secret #1, while the other windows hide an Enchanted Shield and an Energy Orb.

West of the staircase with the Dragon Claw is a stone platform holding a Phoenix Rod. Head north from this platform and go up the steps to a stone path, then follow the path round to a blue switch. Approaching the switch will lower the platform automatically, but you can also press the switch to perform the same function.

Secrets

 * 1) Shoot the window east of the start and pick up the Bag of Holding behind it. There is a Dragon Claw to the north. (sector 50)
 * 2) After lowering the bars at the top of the steps leading down to the water pool with the yellow key door, use the bars to get on the rail to the south. Run north along the rail to land on a platform with a Chaos Device. (sector 479)
 * 3) After pressing the blue switch at the top of the circular staircase, stand in the window behind it and look down at the bridge you crossed earlier. Drop out of the window so you land on one of the moss-covered walls either side of the bridge, then run west to drop down to a water pool with Energy Orbs and a Map Scroll. (sector 515)

Current records
The records for the map at the Doom Speed Demo Archive are:

The (absence of) data was last verified in its entirety on January 16, 2022.

Things
This level contains the following numbers of things per skill level: