Gottwald

**Klement Gottwald** is the final boss of Episode 1 serving as the final opponent the player faces after making their way through the 8 levels of the episode and as well as a great example of the fascinating unknown horrors that exist in HROT's universe.

He can be fought at E1M8 - Mausoleum right after the player accesses the tower via the underground areas of the mausoleum's facilities, at first resting in his coffin to later be found at the aforementioned tower where the fight occurs.

## Appearance

The first encounter with Gottwald occurs once the player enters the Mausoleum's locked chamber. After collecting the required keys and clearing enemy presence, when shooting the two electric panels the coffin with the seemingly dead Gottwald will go down allowing the player access the underground area that takes care of preserving Klement before accessing the tower where he's seen hanging awaiting to start the battle with the player. At first, it looks normal and covered in the coffin with his chest and head in clear sight but when battling him and after one can see his true form.

From below the ribs, starts a metallic belt-like zone that leads to a spider-like lower body with four large limbs used for locomotion and attacking the player. His arms also seem to have been affected by the procedures that have taken him to his current form having two limbs like pincers of seemingly the same tissue as the legs. He's seen wearing a formal outfit with a few medals and holding a pipe at his mouth.

Upon death, the tower's floor will raise as an elevator taking the player to the outside area with the fountain and the switch to end the level, It'll also be high enough so the player can go down the hall they accessed the tower with to find a very interesting surprise.

## Tactical Analysis

Once the player climbs to the tower of the mausoleum, Gottwald can be seen hanging from the ceiling, almost attached by a strange-looking mass protruding from him. When the player shoots him, he will make a loud screech before throwing himself down to level the player.

It's the currently tougher enemy in the game with his health going always by 1000 or more according to the difficulty. It will jump around attempting to stomp the player. After running around chasing them or trying to stomp them, he'll come to a halt and will throw round saw blades from his abdomen in various angles intended to strike and harm or kill the player. These deal a fair amount of damage and seem to explode upon hitting any surface.

The main strategy is to, of course, avoid all of his attacks by dodging the projectiles and being stomped by its jumps as well as attacking him with one's arsenal, especially with heavy weapons to make the battle easier and shorter.

## Lore

* Klement Gottwald was the Chairman of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia between 1929 and 1953 as well as the president of the CSSR between 1948 and 1953. Both charges came to an end with his death.
* It is noticeable that he has been revived and given artificial augmentations turning him from a dead political figure to an incredible enemy.
* The dev made a tweet showcasing the hole the model has.
* If the player chooses to go back down the hallway they used to access the tower back to the chamber the coffin was in, it'll be all empty as Gottwald has moved to the tower and by that point killed by the player. Seeing this event for the first time will grant the player the "Where's Gottwald?" achievement.

Enemies

Bosses