He's just standing there. Most players sprint right past him every time they return to Hotel Krat, heading straight for Sophia to dump their Ergo and level up. But Polendina is more than just a shopkeeper with a stiff posture. In a game like Lies of P, where the "Grand Covenant" supposedly dictates every single movement a puppet makes, Polendina is a massive, walking glitch in the system. Or maybe he’s the most human character in the whole game.
It's easy to dismiss him as the "receptionist puppet." He’s polite. He’s formal. He’s helpful. Yet, if you actually pay attention to his dialogue across the different stages of the game, you’ll see a tragic arc that mirrors P's own journey toward humanity.
Why Polendina in Lies of P Breaks All the Rules
Most puppets in Krat went insane because of the Puppet Frenzy. They started slaughtering people because the "King of Puppets" sent a signal that overrode their logic. Polendina didn't. He stayed behind to protect Antonia. That's the first hint that something is different about him. He isn't just following a command; he’s exhibiting something that looks suspiciously like devotion.
He serves Antonia, the lady of the manor. But it isn't just "butlering." As Antonia’s health declines from the Petrification Disease, Polendina’s distress becomes palpable. Can a puppet feel grief? The game asks this constantly. When you find the "Wedding Ring" or interact with him after certain boss fights, his dialogue shifts from mechanical updates to genuine, stuttering existential dread. He is terrified of losing her. This contradicts the basic lore that puppets are tools. If he were just a tool, he’d wait for a new master. Instead, he contemplates his own "ending" alongside hers.
You've probably noticed that his shop expands over time. That’s standard RPG stuff, right? Not really. It’s a reflection of his effort to find anything that might help Antonia. He isn't just stocking items for you; he’s curating a desperate inventory.
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The Question of Love
There is a specific side quest involving a wedding ring that hits like a freight train. Polendina asks you if it’s possible for a puppet to love a human. It's a binary choice for the player, usually. But for him, it’s a crisis of identity. If you tell him it’s possible, you’re not just being nice; you’re validating his entire existence.
He’s deeply logical, yet he’s trying to process an emotion that doesn't have a line of code. Honestly, it’s one of the most heartbreaking subplots in the game because Antonia clearly knows. She sees him. She doesn't see a machine. She sees the companion who has stayed by her side while the world literally turned to stone and madness.
The Logistics of His Shop and Why It Matters
Let’s get practical for a second. You need this guy. He is your primary source for Quartz, Legion Calibers, and those crucial Fable Catalysts.
- Supply Boxes: You find these scattered in the world (like the Krat Supply Box or the Sturdy Supply Box). When you hand these to Polendina, he doesn't just "unlock" items. He "sorts through the chaos of the city" to find things P can use.
- The Cure: His involvement in the quest for Antonia’s cure is the emotional peak of his character. When you’re faced with the choice of giving Antonia the cure or letting her go naturally, Polendina is the one who has to live with the fallout.
- Late Game Materials: Toward the end of the game, he becomes the only reliable way to get full Moonstones. If you haven't been checking back with him after major boss kills, you're making the game significantly harder for yourself.
The way his inventory grows isn't just a gameplay mechanic. It’s a narrative device. Every time he gets new stock, it’s because the world is getting more dangerous, and he’s digging deeper into the hotel’s reserves to keep you—Antonia’s only hope—alive.
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Dealing with the "Petrification" Arc
When Antonia finally succumbs to her illness, Polendina’s reaction is arguably more "human" than many of the NPCs in the game. He doesn't reset. He doesn't go back to a default state. He remains in the garden or by her chair, a hollowed-out version of a machine.
If you chose to give her the cure, he thanks you, but there’s a bittersweet edge to it. He knows it’s a temporary reprieve. If you didn't, his mourning is quiet and devastating. It’s a masterclass in subtle writing. He doesn't scream or break things. He just... lingers.
What Most Players Miss About His Design
Look closely at his clothes. He’s pristine. In a city covered in blood, oil, and grime, Polendina is spotless. This isn't just because he stays inside. It’s a sign of his obsession with order in a world that has succumbed to chaos. He maintains the "lie" that the hotel is a safe, civilized haven.
He represents the "Old Krat"—the city of elegance and progress—while the outside world represents the "New Krat" of twisted metal and disease. By keeping his uniform clean and his manners perfect, he’s holding back the darkness as much as P is with a sword.
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He also has some of the best voice acting in the game. The subtle shifts in his tone when he mentions Antonia’s name are easy to miss if you're just clicking through dialogue to get back to the combat. Don't do that. Listen to the way his voice catches. The developers at Neowiz clearly wanted him to be the emotional anchor of the hub world.
Practical Tips for Polendina's Questline
- Check back after every boss. Seriously. Even if you don't have a supply box, his dialogue often changes based on the state of the world.
- The Wedding Ring is key. When you find the ring (after the King of Puppets fight), talking to him about it triggers a major shift in his personality.
- Don't lie just to lie. In Lies of P, lying makes you more human, but with Polendina, sometimes the "truth" is what he needs to hear to find peace. It’s a nuanced balance.
- Save your Ergo. He sells the most expensive but most valuable upgrade materials in the late game. Don't blow all your cash on throwables if you haven't cleared his stock of Quartz first.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough
If you want to get the most out of Polendina's story and ensure you don't miss out on high-tier gear, follow these steps immediately:
- Prioritize the Krat Supply Boxes: These are found in the Cathedral and the Opera House. Returning these to Polendina is the only way to get the materials needed to max out your Legion Arm and P-Organ early.
- Complete the Antonia "Cure" Quest: This requires talking to Polendina after you defeat the Corrupted Parade Master. You'll need to talk to Giangio to get the cure. Whether you use it or not is up to your moral compass, but the quest must be initiated through Polendina.
- Read the Letters: After certain events, Polendina will leave notes or items on the desk. Don't just pick them up; read them in your inventory. They provide the context for why he’s doing what he’s doing.
- Listen for the Music: There are moments when the music in the hotel changes based on Polendina’s mood and the state of Antonia’s health. It’s a small detail that adds layers to the atmosphere.
Polendina isn't just a vendor. He’s the heart of Hotel Krat. While P is out there fighting gods and monsters, Polendina is fighting the most human battle of all: the fear of being alone. Treating him like a simple NPC is missing half the point of the game's message. He’s proof that in this world, a heart isn't something you're born with; it’s something you earn through loyalty and loss.