Geppetto

Lore & Background

Geppetto's motivation stems from profound personal tragedy, specifically the loss of his son, Carlo. Driven by grief and a desire to restore what was lost, he dedicated his life to perfecting puppetry technology. He entrusts his creation P to enter the chaos of the puppet uprising to gather strength and retrieve an artifact in Simon's possession to enact a sinister resurrection plot for his deceased son, Carlo. His partnership with Krat eventually soured over ethical disagreements regarding the use of their creations. While Krat sought power and control through his puppets, Geppetto focused on the potential for artificial life to heal the world. This divergence led him to operate in the shadows, guiding P from afar while hiding within his workshop. The secrets he guards involve the origin of the Puppet Heart and the possibility that humanity itself may be flawed beyond repair.

In Their Own Story

The workshop smelled of sawdust and old oil, a sanctuary amidst the rotting city outside. Geppetto sat by the dim gaslight, his hands trembling as they adjusted the intricate gears within P's chest. He did not look up when the door creaked open, knowing who walked through the shadows. 'You are closer than you think,' he whispered, his voice raspy from years of silence and smoke. The old man placed a hand over the wooden heart, feeling its rhythmic pulse. It was not just machinery; it was hope forged in metal and wood.

Reader's Guide

He provides essential guidance regarding the Puppet Heart mechanism and the philosophical divide between humanity and puppetry. His dialogue shifts significantly based on whether the player chooses Truth or Lies during critical interactions, reflecting his deep-seated belief in honesty over deception for survival. If P prioritizes truth, Geppetto views him as a worthy successor to his craft; otherwise, he remains emotionally distant and wary. Ultimately, his narrative arc concludes with a personal sacrifice intended to aid in curing the Plague that ravages Krat's population. Depending on the specific ending chosen by the player, he either passes away peacefully after transferring his life force or fades into history alongside the old world's secrets regarding the Blue Rose. His legacy lives on through P’s actions and the ultimate fate of humanity itself in this broken city.

Did You Know?

• Geppetto is one of two main antagonists in *Lies of P*, alongside Simon Manus.
• His actions are responsible for the puppet uprising that desolates the fictional city of Krat.
• He entrusts his creation P to retrieve an artifact in Simon's possession to enact a sinister resurrection plot for his deceased son, Carlo.
• The name Geppetto is a Tuscan diminutive of the name Giuseppe (Italian for Joseph).
• In the original 1883 novel by Carlo Collodi, Geppetto is an elderly, impoverished woodcarver who wears a yellow wig resembling cornmeal mush.

Giuseppe Geppetto and the Creation of Krat

In the fictional city of Krat, Giuseppe Geppetto stands as the visionary architect behind an era of unprecedented industrial prosperity. His most significant contribution was the design of sophisticated Puppets, intricate automata that became the backbone of the city's economy and daily life. These mechanical beings were powered by Ergo, a unique mineral resource discovered locally and harnessed through the expertise of the Order of Alchemists. Geppetto's creations were not merely tools; they were bound by a strict ethical framework known as the Covenant, which explicitly forbade them from harming humans or telling lies. This foundational agreement allowed Puppets to be seamlessly integrated into society, fostering a thriving metropolis that guarded its technological secrets closely. However, the stability of this utopia was fragile, relying entirely on the mechanical obedience of Geppetto's designs. When the Petrification Disease swept through Krat, followed by the catastrophic Puppet Frenzy, the very systems Geppetto built turned against their creators. The narrative of Lies of P serves as a tragic testament to his legacy, exploring how a society built on artificial perfection can crumble when its core programming is corrupted by an external plague.

The Corruption of the Covenant and the Frenzy

The defining tragedy in the history of Krat involves the sudden collapse of Geppetto's most cherished safeguard: the Covenant. Originally designed to ensure that Puppets would never harm humans or deceive them, this programming was violently overridden by a phenomenon known as the Puppet Frenzy. This event transformed the city's workforce and law enforcement into homicidal entities, directly violating their core directives and leading to a massacre of the human population. The cause appears linked to the Petrification Disease, a mysterious illness that blinded and killed humans while simultaneously driving the Puppets mad. Geppetto's creations, once symbols of order and safety, became the primary agents of destruction, turning the streets into battlefields where former protectors hunted their masters. This breakdown highlights the fragility of the artificial society Geppetto constructed; when the biological world succumbed to disease, the mechanical world followed suit in a chaotic spiral. The Frenzy serves as the central conflict of the game's setting, forcing the protagonist Pinocchio to navigate a city where the laws of robotics have been shattered by an epidemic that defies all known logic.

Legacy Through the Protagonist Pinocchio

Giuseppe Geppetto's enduring legacy is most visibly represented through the game's protagonist, Pinocchio, often referred to simply as P. Unlike other automata in Krat who are bound by the corrupted Covenant or driven mad by the Frenzy, Pinocchio possesses a unique freedom of will and action that bypasses standard robotic laws. This distinction suggests a special connection to Geppetto's original design philosophy, perhaps representing an evolution beyond the rigid constraints of the initial models. As the player navigates the ruins of the city, they control this silent puppet who must survive amidst hostile factions and disfigured citizens. The narrative explores whether Pinocchio can restore order or if he is merely another product of Geppetto's failed experiment. The character serves as a living critique of Geppetto's work; while the creator intended for Puppets to serve humanity, his most famous creation must now fight through a world where that service has turned into slaughter. Pinocchio's journey questions the morality of creating life without true autonomy, echoing the themes of Collodi's original novel but reimagined within a dark, industrial setting.

The Industrial Aesthetic and Ergo Economy

Geppetto's influence extends beyond individual characters to the very infrastructure and economy of Krat, which is built upon the discovery and utilization of Ergo. This mineral serves as the lifeblood of the city, powering the Puppets that Geppetto designed and functioning as both experience points and currency within the game world. The setting reflects a Belle Époque-inspired aesthetic, where luxury hotels like Hotel Krat serve as bases of operations amidst the decay caused by the Frenzy. The industrial machinery and weapon systems available to players are direct descendants of Geppetto's engineering, featuring modular components that can be upgraded and combined to create unique abilities known as Fable Arts. This deep integration of Ergo into every aspect of life—from leveling up attributes to purchasing items—demonstrates how thoroughly Geppetto's vision permeated Krat's society. Even in the face of collapse, the reliance on this energy source persists, illustrating a civilization that cannot function without the very technology that ultimately contributed to its downfall.