E3M4: George of Podiebrad

Wind your way through the **George of Poděbrady** (**Jiřího z Poděbrad**) metro station to the Art Nouveau Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord (**Kostel Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně**). Here, within its subterranean passages, awaits the ancient spirit of an ancient king of Bohemia who is looking for a challenge, with opportunities to be kind to animals

# Walkthrough

The Player emerges from the panelák construction site at **Roztyly** into the utility tunnels beneath **George of Podiebrad** (**Jiřího z Poděbrad**) station. Directly in front of you is the Common Key lock with a pail of Soup Main Course Cake, while to the right is a rusty catwalk with the Common Key.

Unfortunately the catwalk is not too sturdy, and it collapses just when you pickup the key, dropping you in a room with a storage container, a Soviet Shotgun, and small pet carrier containing a small dog known as a Prague Ratter. Poor little thing, shivering there, surrounded by a swarm of flies. Interact with the cage to free the poor animal, and maybe take a moment to toss it a treat that you happen to have in your pocket. You will have a new friend!

On the other side of the room is a boarded up doorway that leads to a storage room filled with Propane Tanks near the location of the first secret. At the top of some stairs a Kejdovec is organizing the tanks, while around the corner another Kejdovec and a Hazmat Suit are guarding the back entrance to the station, somewhere near the location of the second secret. There is also a trusty Hussite Hand Cannon just waiting to be used on Enemies who do not deserve to live.

Through a doorway at the top of a second staircase is an empty platform at the end of a sealed train shed, where a roll of Kifli awaits. Proceed down the dark tunnel, which is guarded by two Hazmat Suits who would like to inspect the Player's identification. There is a valve at the end of the tunnel to the left, which when turned, will open the door to the shed and reveal to the metro station platform.

Wandering on the platform are three Hazmat Suits and a Kejdovec who are simply looking to get to Leninova and Želivského, and are wondering why the trains are not running. The Player's very presence adds to their sour mood, which they are perfectly willing to share.

On the right side of the platform is a door to a room containing a pair of lockers which are near the location of the third secret. You will also find the Aluminum Key, which when taken will open a grated window with a Turret lurking behind it and ready to surprise you.

On the wall opposite the Player will note a lovely calendar, filled with photographs of twelve handsome steeds. Use this opportunity to peruse the months of the year and choose your favorite. Which is to be? Is it **September** (**Září**)? No, is it **November** (**Listopad**)? So close. **March** (**Březen**)! It must be **March** (**Březen**)!

Exit the room with the Aluminum Key, and make your way to the other side of the platform. There the Aluminum Key lock is waiting at the end of the escalator, with two bollards blocking access to the staircases. On the way you will observe a metro train on the right, which is near the location of the fourth secret. Unlock the lock to open an access grate to your left, where you will find a maintenance space beneath with the switch that will open the bollards.

Ascend the motionless escalator to exit the station. Here the Player will meet two descending Miners who are eager to play **BoomGuy** with you and cannot wait to get started. Just behind them is a Kejdovec who is patiently waiting to take his turn whenever the first one of you loses.

At the top of the escalator is a lovely bas-relief frieze of the head of Lenin, along with the inscription **Lenin, now more than before, lives and will live, He is our consciousness, our strength and our weapon** (**Lenin, ted’ víc než dřív žije a bude žít jsa naším vědomím silou a zbraní**). It is somewhere near the location of the fifth secret.

Past the frieze are the stairs to the square, where an Infested Rider is hanging out asking for money. Listen to his story of hardship and indulge him if you will before pressing on to **George of Poděbrady Square** (**Jiřího z Poděbrad Square**), where the Player will find the entrance to the **Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord** (**Kostel Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně**).

There are lots of goodies scattered around the square, including a Medkit, some Shells, Grenades, and a Submachine Gun. There is also another Prague Ratter in an animal carrier on the stoop of the entrance to the church. Take pity on the little pooch and set him free!

The doors to the church are closed, but that will not discourage a determined Player. On the right side of the building is a familiar electrical panel that hides a button. On the left side of the square is an HVAC ventilation unit which has a second button. Once both are pressed, the doors will open and three Headsmen will come rushing out to explain that there are no church services at the present time.

Inside the foyer to the church you will find the Horse Key door and a barrel. Beneath the barrel is a small white sign that reads **Key is on the chandelier** (**Klíč je na lustru**). Look up and you will observe the referenced chandelier with the Horse Key at the center. Destroy the chandelier and the key will drop to the floor.

Open the Horse Key door and ascend the steps to the bell tower, where you will find a bottle of Red Wine used for communion. Ring the bell and prepare yourself. Not only does the floor drop away, leaving the Player to fall onto a grate, but in the process of falling you drop all of your weapons into a room just below the grate.

This is an unexpected turn of events, but if the Player has freed and fed the Prague Ratters, then they will follow him and he will not be lonely. You now find yourself in the catacombs beneath the church and need to find your way out. Passing a nook with an odd graffiti of a circle with an **X** through it, follow the passageways to the left and then to right, where you will find 5 Koruna on a short ledge.

Along the way the Player will pass through a room with a skull on the floor and a locked door. Continue down to the left and right again to find a room with a passageway blocked by a bollard with a switch puzzle on the left wall.

Flip the buttons on the switch panel and the Rusted Key will rise through a grate on the floor. However, once the key is taken several Sewer Rats will emerge from their hiding places to make themselves a nuisance. Not to worry! Your faithful doggy companions are on the case and will make quick work of these annoying vermin. This of course assumes that the Player has chosen to be kind to animals.

Retracing your steps, the Player will find himself beset by waves of Sewer Rats at every turn as if the Pied Piper himself had summoned them. They will be an amusing distraction for your Prague Ratters. Proceed back across the landing from where you entered the catacombs and turn right where you will find the Rusted Key door.

Through the Rusted Key door around to the right you FIND YOUR WEAPONS! Looking behind from the right the Player will note a Land Mine and a valve. Return back the way you came and there will be who appear to inform the Player that access to the catacombs requires the presence of a priest.

If the Player has any Red Wine remaining, now is the time to drink up because you will need it. Retrace your steps to the room with the skull where you will find two additional Headsmen with nothing better to do than fall before your shotgun. Then you are introduced to your new friend, the Hussite King.

Here the Player faces off against the Hussite King, a reincarnation of George of Podiebrad, who happens to be a pretty tanky enemy. Hussite King is the second toughest boss in the game after Gusta and not by just a little. And not only is Hussite King beefy, he also has a defensive maneuver where he blocks incoming fire, and is confronting the Player in cramped quarters.

With Hussite King vanquished, return to the room with the switch puzzle to find the bollard blocking the passage now open, from which emerges a Headsman. The passage leads to a small sewer where a Hazmat Suit and a Kejdovec attempt to block your progress, and at the top of some stairs, more Sewer Rats for your Prague Ratters to chase.

As the Player moves forward a wall between the catacombs and the metro station crumbles revealing part of a train tunnel and the end of a car. There is also a angry Kejdovec who will accuse the Player of knocking the wall down. There is also a Grenade and a can of Tasty Canned Chicken.

Clamber up into the tunnel and find a ladder to your right. At the top of the ladder is a small room with a grate and a ventilation fan. Behind the grate, a Miner starts running and shouting once he sees you. Break open the ventilation fan, enter the shaft, and drop back into the room where you started with the Common Key door.

There is little doubt who is waiting for the Player behind the Common Key door, and sure enough, when opened, the screaming Miner rushes to greet you, who is followed by a Kejdovec, somewhere near the path to the secret level. Behind them is still another ladder, at the top of which you will find the **AZ-5** button.

**Previous:** E3M3: Roztyly

**Next:** E3M5: Incinerator

# Secrets

### Secret 1

Found in the room with the Propane Tanks, there is a cracked wall to the left once you enter the room, hidden behind one of the tanks. Shoot the tank to blow open the wall to find three Grenades.

### Secret 2

The fire extinguisher box near the entrance to the metro is breakable and will reveal a switch. Flip the switch and a portion of the wall to the left will open to reveal a small room containing two cans of Tasty Canned Poultry and a Medal.

### Secret 3

In the room with the Aluminum Key is a locker with some empty space just to the left of it. Interact with the wall and it will open to reveal a Backpack.

### Secret 4

On the station platform facing the escalator there is a subway train to the right. One of the ceiling tiles above the train is a hidden switch, which will open a portion of the wall to the left. Enter the passage and walk around behind the train until you reach a closed panel on the wall to the right. Open the panel to find another dog cage with a Prague Ratter.

### Secret 5

The frieze of Lenin in the metro can be broken apart to reveal a switch. Flip the switch and a portion of the wall to the left will open, where the Player will find a useful Lightning Gun.

### Secret Level

Instead of climbing the second ladder, return to the area with the Common Key door where the Player entered the station. Retrace your steps to the **Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord** (**Kostel Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně**), climb the bell tower, and jump down into the area where you previously lost your weapons. Make your way back to the nook with the circle with an **X** which you will now find open. Jump into the open hole to be transported to E3MS: Rathaus.

# Speedrunning

Main article: Speedrunning
* At the start of the level it is possible to acquire the Common Key and return to room with the Common Key door when the catwalk breaks. Bounce a Grenade beneath the catwalk or use the Hussite Hand Cannon to rocket jump back to where you started. This will eliminate having to traverse almost the entire map.

# Lore

* **George of Kunštát and Poděbrady** (23 April 1420 – 22 March 1471) was the sixteenth King of Bohemia, who ruled in 1458–1471. He was a leader of the Hussites, however, moderate and tolerant toward the Catholic faith. His rule was marked by great efforts to preserve peace and tolerance between the Hussites and Catholics in the religiously divided Crown of Bohemia – hence his contemporary nicknames: **King of two peoples** and **Friend of peace**. During the 19th century, in period of the Czech National Revival, he began to be praised as the last Czech national monarch, a great diplomat and a courageous fighter against the domination of the Catholic Church. In modern times he is remembered mainly for his idea and attempt to establish common European Christian institutions, which is now seen as the first historical vision of European unity.

Prague Radio InternationalTime NoteReflex.czEquestrian StatuesTime Note

* **Jiřího z Poděbrad** is an underground train station named after the eponymous square it lies beneath, which was itself named after **George of Poděbrady**. The main materials used on walls and ceilings are anodized aluminium, marble and granite. The only exit leads to an underground vestibule, which is connected with the platform by escalator tunnel. The station was opened on 19 December 1980 as part of the extension of the line between **Náměstí Míru** and **Želivského**. At the beginning of the **Radiohead** song **A Reminder** the female voice of the Metro's automated announcement system can be heard announcing this station. It is also used in the song **Mind the Gap** by **Calexico**.

(contributed by Suule)AktronAktronAktron

* The **Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord** (**Kostel Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně**) is a Roman Catholic church at **Jiřího z Poděbrad Square** in Prague's **Vinohrady** district. It was built between 1929 and 1932 and designed by the Slovene architect **Jože Plečnik**. Plečnik found the inspiration for this construction in old Christian and ancient patterns. It is considered one of the most significant Czech religious constructions of the 20th century. In the wide 42 meter high tower wall is a huge, 7.6 m diameter glazed clock, which is the largest in the Czech Republic. During World War II, the six bells from the tower were melted down for arms production, and in 1992, two copies were returned.

(contributed by frostchrae)Thomas LedlPrague City LinePrague City LinePrague City Line