MAP31: Birds of a Feather (Sunlust)

MAP31: Birds of a Feather is the first secret map of Sunlust. It uses the music track "Garden" composed by Stuart Rynn.

This level is accessed from Strength and Anger and leads only to the second secret level, Postcoitus Doom.

Essentials
First, take the shotgun, if HMP skill level or lower is chosen, and turn back and collect a chaingun. Return to the starting position and drop to the wooden floor. On hard skill levels, UV and Nightmare!, the shotgun will be here instead. Otherwise a green armor is present. Collect whatever item and head to the right (south). Do not forget to collect soulsphere on the fountain. When you reach the last steps while ascending on the staircase, turn left (you can see numerous platforms and water at the bottom). Ascend on the platforms to the two keycards, Yellow and Red. Collect both keys.

Now when all keys are collected you need to visit two places with switches that require both keys. Continue walking on the staircase until it leads you to the large area with two raised platforms to the right. Kill the mancubi on these platforms and continue going further, to the water. In the following area a blue portal and three switches can be seen. In order to escape this area click all three switches. Each of the three lowers a metal barrier not far away but be noted that in addition to this they disclose the square columns next to them that hide dangerous monsters inside. They also drop useful items to the water. Once all three are pressed travel further toward west where wooden flight is seen. Ascend on the flight and turn left (metal barriers should be already lowered). Ascend on other stairs. Once you try to collect plasma gun chaingunners will spawn in and attack you. Dispatch with them. Now decide what area you wish to visit first (to press two, red and yellow, switches mentioned above).

West switches
Once you rose on the staircase turn right and spring over the raised platforms toward west. You should be back in the starting area. The yellow and red switches are located in the far west in this area. You could not press them, since you did not have the keys then. For now, head there. Approach the skull buttons but do not press them. In front of you are Hell knight, revenant and arch vile that now are unleashed to this area. Fight them first. After you dispose of them return to the buttons. Press them both and prepare for another fight with revenant or arch vile (this depends on the selected skill level). This explains why it is better to fight with first enemies and then to press the skull buttons.

Now, go toward east from this area and drop to the wooden floor as you did on the beginning the level (the raised platforms will not lead you to the proper place, as they are not raised enough). This time, turn left and use the blue teleporter as your shortcut. In the familiar place, turn right to the wooden staircase you ascended earlier. Ascend the second staircase and you will be back in the needed area.

East switches
At the staircase you ascended turn to the east. You will see a jumping-off staircase. Go to it and make a run jump toward eastern side. On the HMP skill level and lower four columns will help you getting to that side, however on the Ultra-Violence and Nightmare! you need to take some more practice to do this, as there are no columns at all. Once you will be there, dispose of the Hell knights and flip the lion switch to lower metal barriers. Take the soul sphere and head through the blue portal. This will lead you to a weird watery area. Go forth to the skull buttons and dispose of all enemies here. Press both buttons here and prepare to fight with a crowd of imps. Once done head to the stairs. Before dropping down you can walk on the ledges to the left and right where you can collect health bonuses. Once you drop down revisit the central area from where you access the western and eastern parts.

Exit
Turn to the north where numerous fire torches located and press four switches on the walls. Turn around and you will see another switch risen from the ground and fire torches spawned. Press the switch to lower a lift which brings you to a teleporter (walk on the invisible bridge toward it). In the next area just go forward to the floating structure until you end the level.

Secrets
You need to gather all the armor bonuses found on the level to access this only secret: After all the armor bonuses collected head to the area with two raised platforms and mancubi on them. Reveal a new switch on the metal columns to the west. Press it and you will be teleported to a new area immediately. In that new area walk up the stairs until you come to a dark place with a column at the center (it is difficult to notice, so use automap). Lower this column as a lift and take a BFG9000. (sector 275)
 * At the start, drop to the wooden floor and head to the staircase to the right. Ascend until you can see the yellow and red platforms to your left. Instead of going on these platforms drop to the water below. Take the armor bonus here.
 * Return to the area where you drop after the start and take the blue portal. In this area walk around the second blue portal and you will find the second armor bonus.
 * Go to the central area on the upper level where a plasma gun can be found. Look at the numerous fire torches and visit the compartment at the top right and you will find the third armor bonus.

Things
The level contains following number of things: