You’re walking through Elysion Boulevard, the rain is slicking the cobblestones, and everything wants to kill you. The puppets have gone absolutely berserk. But then, you see a light in a window. You hear a cough. Someone is still alive in this hellhole. If you've played more than twenty minutes of Round8 Studio's hit, you know that finding a survivor in Lies of P isn't just a side quest; it's the only thing that makes the world of Krat feel like it's worth saving.
Krat is lonely. It's empty. Most people are dead or turned into something much worse by the Petrification Disease. But the few who remain—tucked away behind barred doors or hiding in the rafters of a burning cathedral—hold the keys to the game’s best gear and its most emotional moments.
The Survivors Behind the Windows
Early on, the game introduces a mechanic that feels straight out of Bloodborne. You see a silhouette behind a glowing window. You can't see their faces, but you can hear their desperation. These are the survivors who haven't lost their minds yet.
Take the Weeping Woman, for example. She's right there in the Elysion Boulevard entrance area. She’s losing her sight, her mind is slipping, and she just wants her baby back. It’s a gut-punch of a quest because, as the player, you find the "baby" and realize it’s just a puppet. This is where the core "Lie or Truth" mechanic first really hits home. Do you tell a dying woman the truth and shatter her heart, or do you lie to give her a moment of peace?
Most players stumble past these windows because they're too busy worrying about a puppet with a giant top hat trying to flatten them. Don't do that. Listen for the voices. Look for the lanterns. These NPCs give you Humanity, and Humanity is the secret stat that determines whether you get the "good" ending or just another tragic one.
Tommy and the Cecile Questline
Then there are the survivors who actually have names and faces. Cecile in the St. Frangelico Cathedral is a fan favorite for a reason. She’s a sister of the church, surrounded by mindless carcasses, yet she stays put. She’s looking for a holy mark. If you find it and bring it back to her before defeating the Fallen Archbishop Andreus, her story concludes with a tragic but beautiful reward: a letter and a record.
🔗 Read more: Amy Rose Sex Doll: What Most People Get Wrong
If you miss her, you miss one of the best songs in the game. Records are vital. They aren't just collectibles; listening to them at Hotel Krat is the primary way P develops "warmth."
The Stalkers: Survivors or Predators?
Not every survivor in Lies of P is a helpless victim hiding in a room. Some of them are Stalkers. These are the mercenaries and hunters who were supposed to protect the city but mostly ended up looking out for themselves.
The Black Rabbit Brotherhood? They're survivors. The Red Fox and the Black Cat? Survivors. They represent the moral gray area of Krat. They aren't mindless puppets, but they aren't exactly "good guys" either. You'll run into the Red Fox and Black Cat multiple times. They’re charming, they’re witty, and they will absolutely betray you if the price is right.
But here’s the thing: you can choose to help them. You can give them Gold Coin Fruit. By helping these specific survivors, you avoid some of the most annoying boss fights in the late game. It’s a trade-off. Do you want the loot from their corpses, or do you want the narrative satisfaction of seeing them make it out of the city alive?
The Owl Doctor and the Mad Donkey
The Mad Donkey is likely the first Stalker survivor you'll fight. He’s losing it. He’s standing on a bridge, screaming about Geppetto, and wearing a donkey mask that is frankly terrifying. He’s a survivor of the initial puppet frenzy, but the trauma broke him.
💡 You might also like: A Little to the Left Calendar: Why the Daily Tidy is Actually Genius
Later, you might find the Owl Doctor in a hidden basement in the Barren Swamp. He’s just sitting there. He’s not aggressive at first. He’s just a man who has seen too much and decided that a basement is the only safe place left in the world. These encounters remind you that in Lies of P, surviving isn't just about staying physically alive; it's about keeping your sanity intact.
Why the Survivor Quests Actually Matter
If you’re just playing for the combat, you’re missing half the game. The survivor in Lies of P encounters are the primary drivers of the "Humanity" system.
Every time you interact with a survivor, you usually have to make a choice. These choices change P’s internal state. You’ll see messages like "The springs are reacting" or "You feel warmth." This isn't flavor text.
- Humanity Levels: High humanity allows you to pick up the Golden Lie weapon later.
- The Ending: You cannot get the "Rise of P" ending (the best one) without interacting with these survivors and lying to them in a way that shows empathy.
- World Building: Each survivor tells a piece of the puzzle. Why did the puppets revolt? What is the Alchemists' real goal? You won't get the full picture from item descriptions alone.
Hidden Survivors You Probably Missed
There are a few people tucked away in corners that most players breeze right past on their first playthrough.
- The Man in the Window near the Malum District: He’s obsessed with the wine of the region. If you bring him a specific bottle found in the arcade, he gives you a gesture. Gestures are actually useful! You can use them in front of certain statues to trigger secrets.
- Julian the Gentleman: Found at the Rosa Isabelle Street entrance. He’s standing by a corpse. He asks you to find his wife's belongings. It turns out his wife was a puppet. In the world of Krat, a human marrying a puppet is a massive scandal, but in this moment, it’s just a tragedy.
- The Atoned: Standing at the entrance to Moonlight Town. If you have the right item or give the right answer, you can avoid a fight entirely. She’s a survivor who has taken a vow of silence and penance.
Survival and the Petrification Disease
We have to talk about the disease. Most of the survivors you meet are in the early stages of the Petrification Disease. Their skin is turning to stone, and they are slowly losing their sight.
📖 Related: Why This Link to the Past GBA Walkthrough Still Hits Different Decades Later
This is why the "Cure" is such a major plot point. The Alchemists, led by Simon Manus, claim they want to evolve humanity to survive the disease. But as you find more survivors, you realize the cost of that "evolution" is the loss of what makes them human in the first place.
The survivors are the benchmark for P's own journey. P is a puppet trying to become a human. The survivors are humans who are slowly becoming something else—either stone or monsters. It’s a beautiful, tragic parallel that Neowiz nailed.
Actionable Tips for Finding Everyone
If you want to ensure you don't miss a single survivor in Lies of P, you need to be methodical. This isn't a game where you should rush from boss to boss.
- Check Windows After Every Major Boss: Some NPCs only start talking after you’ve cleared a specific area. If you see a lit window, walk up to it and interact.
- Read Every Letter: Survivors often leave notes behind if they move or... well, if they die. These notes often contain clues to where they went or what they needed.
- Return to Hotel Krat Frequently: NPCs you rescue or meet will sometimes show up at the Hotel. Antonia, Polendina, and Eugénie are your core survivor group, and their personal quests are among the most rewarding in the game.
- Don't Kill Stalkers Immediately: If an NPC has a "Talk" prompt, use it. You can often talk your way out of fights and gain a merchant or an ally instead of just another pile of Ergo.
- Listen for the Music: If you hear music playing in a weird place, there’s a high chance a survivor or a survivor’s memory is nearby.
Krat is a city of ghosts, but the few heartbeats remaining are what give the game its soul. Pay attention to the voices in the dark. They have more to offer than just items; they offer the very humanity P is searching for.
To maximize your experience, start by revisiting the Rosa Isabelle Street area if you've already cleared it. Many players miss the final beat of Julian's quest or the subtle dialogue changes with the Old Lady at the window after the world state shifts in the late game. Check your inventory for "Collectibles"—if you have a quest item like a wine bottle or a picture, there is a survivor out there waiting for it. Go find them before you trigger the point of no return at the Isle of Alchemists.