If you’ve been spending any time in the rain-slicked, puppet-infested streets of Krat, you’ve probably stumbled upon a weird, cylindrical tube that your inventory calls a Cryptic Vessel. Honestly, these things are a massive headache if you don't know what you're doing. They don't just give you loot; they give you a chores list. You take them to Venigni, he deciphers them, and then you’re left staring at a grainy photograph or a cryptic bit of text wondering where on earth you're supposed to go. Hunting down Lies of P all cryptic vessels is basically the game’s way of rewarding you for actually paying attention to the environment instead of just panic-rolling away from boss fights.
Most players miss at least two of these on their first run. It's easy to see why. One is tucked behind a shopkeeper's inventory that you might never check, and another requires you to literally complete an entire NPC's side quest before it even appears. But the rewards? They’re non-negotiable. We're talking about Quartz for your P-Organ, high-tier defense parts, and some of the coolest outfits in the game. If you’re trying to hit that Platinum trophy or just want to look stylish while getting pulverized by the Nameless Puppet, you need these.
The Deciphering Process: Why Venigni is Your Best Friend
Before you can actually "use" a vessel, you have to talk to Venigni at Hotel Krat. You’ll find him early on in Venigni Works, but he won't be able to help you until you clear the boss of that area and he moves back to the hub. Once he’s set up near the Stargazer, you just hand the items over. He tinkers with them, hands you a "Deciphered Storage" note, and that’s your treasure map.
The catch? The game doesn't mark your map. You have to recognize the architecture. It’s a very "Old School Resident Evil" vibe. If you haven't been taking mental notes of the weird statues or locked doors you passed three hours ago, you're going to be doing a lot of backtracking.
Finding the Crafted Cryptic Vessel
This is the first one most people find. It’s located in the St. Frangelico Cathedral Chapel. You’ll reach a point where you’re climbing up rafters and dodging blobs of decay. There’s a large brazier filled with fire that you can kick off a ledge. This is key. Kicking it clears a pool of decay at the bottom of the tower, revealing a hidden staircase.
Go down there, and the vessel is sitting in a chest.
How to solve it
Venigni’s deciphered note shows a picture of the bridge leading to Elysion Boulevard. Fast travel to the Krat City Hall Courtyard. Walk back toward the bridge where you fought the first big puppet boss. You’ll see a puppet hanging from a rope under the bridge.
Hit it with a throwable item like a Sawtoothed Wheel or a Thermal Buffer. It’ll drop a letter. This letter tells you to go to Elysion Boulevard Address 221. This is right next to the Inside the House on Elysion Boulevard Stargazer. Outside on the balcony, there’s a door you could never open before. Now you can. Inside is the Owl Doctor’s Hunting Apparel and a Quartz.
The Jeweled Cryptic Vessel: Hidden in Plain Sight
The Jeweled Cryptic Vessel is tucked away in Estella Opera House. This place is a nightmare of spider-puppets and swinging chandeliers. Right before you reach the boss room, there’s a room with a small hole in the floor and a ladder leading down into a dark hallway.
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Don't go down the ladder yet. Instead, look for a side path that leads to a chest tucked behind some wooden crates. That’s your vessel.
The Solution
The picture shows a cliffside with a view of the Cerasani Stargazer. Go to the Cerasani Alley Stargazer (the very first one outside the hotel). Walk back toward the cliff where you can see the city in the distance. Go to the very end of the path, right by the barrels.
You need to use the Check Ground gesture. If you haven't been swapping out your gestures, this is the one where P kneels down and looks at the dirt. Do it right at the edge of the cliff. A chest will pop out of the ground.
Seriously. It just appears. It contains the The Atoned’s Hunting Apparel and another Quartz.
Getting the Old Cryptic Vessel
This one is a bit more involved. You get it from a NPC named Rookie Explorer Hugo at the Barren Swamp. He’s standing right next to a closed gate. Talk to him until you exhaust his dialogue. He’s obsessed with Alidoro, the treasure hunter.
Solving the Old Cryptic Vessel
This note shows a picture of a shack near a collapsed path. You need to head to the Path of the Pilgrim Stargazer. Near the elevator that leads down to the tomb area, there’s a small residential hut. You might remember a guy standing there earlier who gave you a key.
Now, there’s a new NPC near that hut. Talk to him, and he’ll give you the Robber's Hut Key. Go down the hill, open the shack, and be ready for a fight. The floor will collapse, dropping you into a pit with some nasty enemies. Kill them, grab the loot, and you'll find the Life Amulet +1 and a Legion Caliper.
The Rusty Cryptic Vessel: The One Everyone Misses
This is arguably the most important one because it unlocks an entire secret area. To get the Rusty Cryptic Vessel, you have to buy it from Polendina at Hotel Krat. But he won't have it in stock by default. You first have to find the Special Krat Supply Box in the Collapsed Street area and hand it to him.
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Once he has the box, he sells the vessel for some Ergo. Buy it immediately.
The Path to the Hermit’s Cave
Deciphering this one doesn't lead to a chest. It leads to a location. Go back to the Barren Swamp Bridge Stargazer. Remember that gate next to Hugo? It’s now open. This leads to the Hermit’s Cave.
This area is brutal. It’s filled with traps, narrow ledges, and a very annoyed Elite enemy at the end. Fight your way through to the very end of the cave system. You’ll find a safe. Inside is the Black Cat’s Hunting Apparel and a Quartz. More importantly, this area contains a lot of lore about the "Great Venigni" and the downfall of the city. It's one of the densest atmosphere-heavy spots in the game.
Alidoro’s Cryptic Vessel: The Story Payoff
This one is heavy on spoilers, so fair warning. You get Alidoro’s Cryptic Vessel after the encounter with the real (or fake) Alidoro at the Relic of Trismegistus. After you deal with him—and honestly, most players choose to kill him because he's a jerk—you’ll get this vessel.
Reading the Truth
Take this to Venigni. He’ll be hesitant to read it because it’s a personal letter. Tell him to do it anyway. This doesn't lead to a treasure chest in the world. Instead, you have to read the deciphered text in your inventory. It reveals the true identity of Eugénie’s brother.
After reading it, go talk to Eugénie. Your dialogue choices here are vital for her questline and the "Far East Princess" trophy/achievement. If you want the best reward, tell her the truth about her brother. You’ll get a unique record (music disc) which is required for the "Golden Melodies" achievement.
The Mechanical Cryptic Vessel
The final one. You’ll find the Mechanical Cryptic Vessel in the Arche Abbey. Specifically, after you beat the mid-boss of the area (the one with the giant mace), you’ll find a chest hidden behind a wall of crates near a lift.
The Frozen Feast Requirement
This is the "Gear Check" vessel. The note shows a picture of the Abandoned Apartment Stargazer area. Go there, walk across the signpost bridge, and find the merchant.
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Wait. Before you go, make sure you have the Frozen Feast weapon equipped. You get this weapon by trading the Reborn Champion’s Ergo (from the Victor boss fight) with Alidoro. If you used that Ergo for the amulet instead, you are locked out of this vessel until New Game Plus.
Show the merchant the weapon. He’ll be so impressed he gives you the Red Fox’s Hunting Apparel and a Quartz. It’s a bit of a weird requirement, but hey, that's Lies of P for you.
Why You Should Care About These
If you're just playing for the story, you might think you can skip these. Don't. Lies of P is a game where power creep is real. The enemies in the final two chapters (Arche Abbey is a slog, let's be real) hit like freight trains.
The Quartz you get from these vessels allows you to upgrade your P-Organ to levels that give you extra pulse cells or faster stamina recovery. Without those upgrades, the final boss fights feel borderline unfair. Plus, the outfits are some of the best-looking assets in the game. Who doesn't want to fight a giant monster while looking like a high-fashion Victorian doctor?
Quick Checklist for Success:
- Always check back with Venigni. He won't tell you when he's ready to talk; you just have to go see him.
- Don't consume Boss Ergo immediately. Especially the Reborn Champion’s Ergo. You need it for the Mechanical Vessel.
- Read the notes. Sometimes the clues aren't in the picture but in the flavor text of the deciphered document.
- Use your gestures. The "Check Ground" and "Show" gestures are actually functional mechanics, not just for multiplayer emotes.
Cracking every one of the Lies of P all cryptic vessels isn't just about the loot. It’s about the world-building. These side quests flesh out the tragedy of Krat, showing you the lives of the people who lived in those apartments before the puppets went haywire. It’s the difference between playing a combat sim and experiencing a dark fantasy epic.
Now, get back out there. That puppet on the bridge isn't going to hit itself with a saw blade.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your "Collectibles" tab to see which vessels you've already found.
- If you have the Special Krat Supply Box, head to Hotel Krat immediately to unlock the Rusty Cryptic Vessel from Polendina.
- Verify if you traded Victor’s Ergo for the Frozen Feast weapon; if not, prioritize the other vessels first as you'll need a second playthrough for the Mechanical one.
- Go to the St. Frangelico Cathedral and kick that brazier if you haven't yet—it's the easiest way to start the chain.