Lies of P isn't just a game about parrying giant mechanical police officers or dying to swamp monsters. It’s a tragedy. Among the decaying streets of Rosa Isabelle Street, you’ll stumble across a man kneeling by a corpse. This is Lies of P Julian the Gentleman, a character who embodies the game’s obsession with the line between puppet and human. Most players just want the loot, but Julian represents something much heavier: the social taboo of "forbidden" love in a world gone mad.
If you’ve played Neowiz’s masterpiece, you know the vibe. It’s gloomy. It’s oppressive. Then you meet Julian near the Culvert Stargazer. He’s dressed impeccably, yet he’s devastated. He asks you to retrieve something from his dead wife. Sounds simple, right? It isn't.
The Tragic Reality of Julian the Gentleman
Julian isn't your average NPC. He’s a man mourning a puppet. In the world of Krat, puppets are tools. They are objects. Loving one is considered a perversion, or at the very least, a sign of mental instability. When you find the "wife" Julian is talking about, she isn't a human woman. She’s a puppet, sprawled out on the pavement.
This is where the game tests your humanity.
Julian wants her belongings back, specifically a wedding ring. But he's terrified of what people think. He’s a "gentleman" by title, yet his heart is tied to something the rest of society considers junk. It’s a brilliant bit of environmental storytelling. You see the puppet's body, and if you’re paying attention, you realize she was unique. She was part of the uprising, yet Julian claims she loved him.
Was it a bug in her coding? Or was it the "Ego" that puppets develop in this universe?
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How to Complete the Quest Without Messing Up
You need to find the body. It’s just past the gate Julian is standing near. You’ll fight some annoying enemies—watch out for the puppet maids with the fire bombs—and eventually, you’ll see her. She’s resting against a wall. When you interact with her, you get the Wedding Ring.
Now, here is the kicker. You go back to Julian. He asks you if you believe her. He asks if you think a puppet can love a human.
- Option A: The Lie (I love her). This is generally considered the "correct" path for the Rise of P ending. Telling Julian that his puppet wife loved him grants you humanity. You can literally feel the springs turning in P’s chest.
- Option B: The Truth (I've never seen that happen). This is the cold, hard reality. It’s "logical." But in Krat, logic is often synonymous with being a soulless machine.
Honestly, seeing Julian’s reaction to the lie is one of the most moving moments in the early game. He gives you his wedding ring and the Sad gesture. That gesture is actually vital for later gameplay mechanics, particularly if you're trying to interact with the statues or boost your humanity levels to get the Golden Lie weapon.
Why This Specific Quest Matters for Your Humanity
Humanity in Lies of P isn't just a hidden stat. It changes how P looks. It changes how the cat in Hotel Krat reacts to you. Julian the Gentleman is one of the earliest "gut checks" the game throws at you.
If you tell him the truth, you’re essentially saying he’s crazy. You’re telling him his grief is invalid. By lying, you’re providing comfort, which is a fundamentally human trait. It’s a paradox Neowiz loves: lying makes you more human, while telling the truth keeps you a puppet.
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The ring itself, the Melody Wedding Ring, has a description that'll make you feel like dirt if you were mean to him. It talks about the "unconditional love" between two beings that shouldn't have been able to communicate. It's deep stuff for a soulslike.
Common Misconceptions About Julian and the Ring
A lot of people think the ring is just a quest item you dump and forget. It’s actually more of a lore piece. Some players have tried to wear it or find a secret use for it later in the game at the Cathedral or with Antonia. While it doesn't have a combat stat buff, its presence in your inventory serves as a reminder of the choices you've made.
Another thing? People often miss the body entirely. They run past the puppet thinking it's just another enemy corpse that didn't de-spawn. Look for the white dress. It stands out against the grime of the city.
Julian’s location is also a bit tricky if you’re rushing. He’s tucked away near the Rosa Isabelle Street Culvert Stargazer. If you’ve already beaten the boss of the area (the Romeo, King of Puppets), Julian will still be there, but the emotional weight feels different once you know the "truth" about the puppet frenzy.
The Technical Side: Rewards and Impact
Let’s talk meta. You want the Sad gesture. You need it if you’re a completionist.
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- Humanity points: Essential for the best ending.
- The Gesture: Used to interact with the world and gain even more humanity later.
- The Ring: A permanent reminder of your capacity for empathy (or lack thereof).
If you’re going for a "No Lie" run, Julian is your first real test of resolve. It feels terrible to tell him the truth. You watch his shoulders slump. He doesn't get angry; he just looks defeated. Like the world finally convinced him he’s as delusional as everyone says he is.
The Deeper Lore: Was the Puppet Actually Sentient?
Later in the game, we learn about the "Ego." It’s basically the soul of a human awakened in a puppet body through Ergo. It’s entirely possible that Julian’s wife wasn't just "programmed" to be nice. She might have been a fully realized consciousness trapped in a brass and gear shell.
This makes Julian’s grief legitimate. He wasn't mourning a toaster; he was mourning a person in a mechanical body. The tragedy of Lies of P Julian the Gentleman is that he lived in a time before the player (P) proved that puppets could be just as "real" as humans. He was a pioneer of an idea that the world wasn't ready for.
Actionable Tips for Your Playthrough
- Don't sell the ring. It doesn't give you much gold, and it’s a unique item. Keep it for the lore.
- Check your humanity frequently. If you’re lying to Julian, go back to the Hotel and try to pick up the cat. If the cat lets you hold it, you’re on the right track.
- Listen to the music. After completing Julian’s quest, the ambient music in some areas feels a bit heavier. Or maybe that's just the psychological effect of the writing.
- Examine the puppet body closely. Neowiz put a lot of detail into her design. She isn't a standard combat model. She was built for companionship, which adds another layer of "yikes" to the whole situation.
When you're done with Julian, head back to the Hotel and talk to Polendina. Polendina is the receptionist puppet who is going through a very similar existential crisis. Seeing Julian’s story actually provides a lot of context for Polendina’s personal quest line later regarding his feelings for Lady Antonia. The two stories are mirrors of each other. Julian is the human side of the equation; Polendina is the puppet side.
The game wants you to see that love is messy, mechanical or not.
Don't just breeze through the dialogue. Lies of P is at its best when it's making you feel uncomfortable about the "right" thing to do. Julian is the perfect example of that. He’s just a man with a ring and a broken heart, waiting for a puppet to tell him it was all real.
Next Steps for Players:
After finishing Julian's quest, immediately head to the Hotel and speak with Polendina. If you have the Wedding Ring in your inventory, it can trigger specific dialogue checks later in the game when Polendina asks about the possibility of love between different species. This is a crucial step for unlocking the full emotional arc of the Hotel's staff and maximizing your humanity score before the final act. Also, make sure to use the "Sad" gesture in front of the statue in the St. Frangelico Cathedral to see if you've gained enough humanity to trigger a hidden interaction.