E3M8: The Shadow and the Flame (Curse of D'Sparil)

E3M8: The Shadow and the Flame is the eighth and final map of Curse of D'Sparil. It was designed by Kristian Käll (Kristus) and uses the music track from Heretic's E1M9: The Graveyard.

Essentials
Step off the teleport pad you start on to collect a Bag of Holding - the pad also holds a Dragon Claw and Enchanted Shield on easy skill levels, a Silver Shield on medium, and no extra items on hard. Shortly after stepping off the pad, you will come under attack from multiple copies of D'Sparil without his chaos serpent - two on easy, three on medium and four on hard. Only one has to be killed, as doing so instantly destroys all other monsters in the level.

As well as the D'Sparils, the starting area is overlooked by a number of gargoyles; sabreclaws, undead warriors, golems and ophidians can also be found in the outlying areas depending on skill level. These monsters are largely a distraction, but can present an obstacle when avoiding the D'Sparils' attacks.

If you need more weapons or ammo, climb to the raised platforms surrounding the start point. Be aware that the D'Sparils may teleport to these platforms when injured or under attack.
 * The north-west platform holds a Firemace and Gauntlets of the Necromancer plus three Energy Orbs and Greater Runes.
 * The south-west platform holds a Dragon Claw and Hellstaff plus three Quivers of Ethereal Arrows and Piles of Mace Spheres (replaced with Mace Spheres on hard skill levels).
 * The north-east platform holds an Ethereal Crossbow and Wings of Wrath, plus three Energy Orbs and Piles of Mace Spheres (replaced with Mace Spheres on hard skill levels).
 * The south-east platform holds a Mystic Urn and a Tome of Power, plus two more Mystic Urns and another Wings of Wrath artifact on easy and medium. This platform can initially only be reached by flying; once you reach the platform, two silver doors will open in the east and south walls so you can return at any time.

Once one of the D'Sparils is killed, every monster in the level will die with him. A wall due east of the start point will lower, revealing the exit teleporter - step into it to complete the game.

Other points of interest
An Enchanted Shield can be found at the top of the stairs due west of the start point on easy and medium skill levels. On hard, a Silver Shield will appear here instead.

A Chaos Device can be found between the staircases due north of the start point on easy skill levels. On medium and hard, a Mystic Urn will appear here instead.

Secrets

 * 1) In the south-west corner of the level is a sludge pool containing a Mystic Urn. North of this pool are two walls with spine patterns on them - open the east wall to reveal a Tome of Power, plus two Quartz Flasks on easy and medium. (sector 1147)
 * 2) Similar to secret #1 but open the west wall to reveal a Map Scroll, plus two Quartz Flasks on easy and medium. (sector 1274)
 * 3) in the north-east corner of the level is a teleporter inside a dark stone passage. Head down the stairs south of this teleporter to find two walls with spine textures; opening the east wall will reveal a Morph Ovum, plus two Quartz Flasks on easy and medium. (sector 1326)
 * 4) Similar to secret #3 but open the west wall to reveal another Morph Ovum, plus two Quartz Flasks on easy and medium. (sector 1327)
 * 5) From secrets #3 and #4, follow the passage west and south through two archways. You will see another spined wall to the south, which can be opened to reveal a Torch. (sector 1362)
 * 6) After flying to the south-east platform, open the wall in the south-east corner of this platform to reveal a Ring of Invincibility on easy skill levels, or an Enchanted Shield on medium and hard. (sector 1137)

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 December 12, 2021.

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