Editing Ambitions (Guide)

[[File:Fallenlondon.png|right]]{{Audience|EarlyMYN|Evergreen=yes}}{{GuideNeedsWork|Reason=Adding more extensive guidance on choosing an Ambition, with contributions from other players.|User=Fynnkaterin}}
Ambitions are massive stories spanning the entirety of the game. Each will start easy but grow harder as it goes on, until it becomes nigh impossible for all but the most prepared players.

This Guide is meant to be a '''spoiler-free''' introduction to the concept of Ambitions and give a quick overview of the premise of each. Note that links from this guide to other articles are '''not''' likely to be free from spoilers.

For more in-depth (and spoiler-y) walkthroughs, see each Ambition's own guide, linked in its relevant section below and on the [[Guides]] page.
==Introduction==
[[File:Bookblue.png|right]]
Ambitions are the reason your character is in Fallen London. Each Ambition provides a reason why your character descended to the city. There are four Ambitions. Before choosing one, consider carefully which you want as, once chosen, you currently can't [[Bag of Lethean Tea-Leaves|change it]] without paying {{IL|Fate}} (except at one point during Light Fingers).

Every Ambition makes use of all four [[:Category:Attributes|Main Attributes]], but each Ambition focuses on two attributes in particular, in both mechanics and narrative.

{{:Table: Ambition Attributes}}

==Which Ambition should I choose?==
The short answer is, whichever you want. But we know—choosing an Ambition can be daunting. It's a significant part of your experience of the game, and (with one exception, or with Fate) cannot be changed once you've committed to your choice. Therefore, this guide aims to help you choose your Ambition based on some of the most common considerations: the '''story''' each Ambition tells, its implications for '''roleplaying''' and character development, the '''mechanical rewards''' available in the form of unique Ambition items, and how it is made continually relevant through '''callbacks''' in other game content. Each Ambition-specific section of this guide will give you a spoiler-free glimpse of what each Ambition offers in these four areas.

===Story ===
Each Ambition is a story designed to be played over the course of many months. It's likely to be the longest story you play through with your character, and as such, you'll likely want to pick an Ambition whose premise appeals to you. That said, all four Ambitions are good stories. In each one, your character will be confronted with difficult choices, learn surprising things about the Neath, and eventually come face-to-face with one or more of the Masters of the Bazaar, who may help or hinder their pursuit of the Ambition. In three cases, these choices will be closely related to the goal that you picked at the outset. 

===Roleplaying===
Ostensibly, your character's Ambition is what brought them to the Neath in the first place. If you already know a lot about your character, one Ambition or another may be a better fit for them, depending on their affiliations, beliefs, and interests. Alternatively, you might choose an Ambition without having a firm idea of who your character is, and let the story influence who they become. You can choose an Ambition that complements your character's [[Professions (Guide)|Profession]]... or perhaps their Profession is just a job, and their Ambition is their true passion. Whatever Ambition you choose, there are endless ways to incorporate it into the story you're telling with your character.

===Mechanical rewards===
The item rewards of each Ambition are fairly balanced—everyone who plays through any of these stories will be compensated significantly for their time and effort. The primary reward is a unique [[:Category:Treasure|Treasure]] item with substantial stats, which varies among Ambitions and according to key choices you make in the story. There are also less powerful unique items available during the course of each Ambition, some of which are optional or mutually exclusive. Mechanical rewards that are equippable, or have other uses outside the Ambition, will be provided in tables below—with some item names redacted to avoid spoilers.

===Callbacks===
Ambitions have also been incorporated into other areas of the game, with flavour text and additional options available in certain stories to characters who are pursuing or have completed a certain Ambition. These tie-ins have continued to appear in newly added stories and seasonal events, so it's a good bet that, whatever your Ambition, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find it popping up in future content. For this reason, the lists below are not exhaustive.

==[[Ambition: Bag a Legend!|Bag a Legend!]]==
[[File:Bagalegend.png|right]]{{HasGuide|GuidePage=Ambition: Bag a Legend (Guide)}}''On long evenings at the Medusa's Head, where the monster-hunters drink, they brag about the beasts they've bagged - the Cantigaster, the Eater-of-Chains, the Spider Council, Jack-of-Smiles in his many bodies. But no-one tells stories about the Vake: the Vake, for whose head the Department offers a standing reward of four million Echoes. Four million.''

'''Story:''' {{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!}} is about hunting a mysterious monster terrorising London, and the story is primarily about discovering what this monster is and figuring out how to kill it. It also delves into lore about previous fallen cities, and draws in characters as varied as Sinning Jenny, some very unconventional nuns, and a Revolutionary with a penchant for building weapons. It has elements of monster horror and Gothic horror, evoking stories like ''Dracula'', ''Frankenstein,'' and ''The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.''

'''Roleplaying:''' Bag a Legend might be especially suitable for characters in the Rat-Catcher branch of [[Professions (Guide)|Professions]], which culminates in the Advanced Profession of {{IL|Monster-Hunter}}. Characters particularly inclined to pursue the Vake might spend a lot of time in {{IL|Watchmaker's Hill}} or {{IL|Wolfstack Docks}}, and be associated with {{IL|Faction: The Docks|Appearance=The Docks}} or {{IL|Faction: Revolutionaries|Appearance=Revolutionaries}} or a member of {{IL|Sophia's}}—though no one in London is safe from this monster. {{IL|Dangerous}} and {{IL|Watchful}} characters have an advantage in this hunt.

'''Mechanical rewards:''' Rewards of Ambition, and some of the unique items available, vary according to your story choices.
{| class="sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
|+Unique Items
!Item (spoiler-free description)
! Stage when acquired
!Item effects
!Uses
|-
|[[A Vast Network of Connections Wherever the Bazaar's Influence can be Found]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|A Vast Network of Connections Wherever the Bazaar's Influence can be Found|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Appropriate whatever you need|Refreshing Lab consumables]]; [[Become the Director they can't get rid of|joining the Railway Board]]; [[Don't pay a thing (Network)|Bone Market stall]]; [[Rely on your connections to the Masters|Beyond the Cordon]]
|-
|[[The Long-Dead Priests of the Red Bird]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|The Long-Dead Priests of the Red Bird|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Accept help|The Efficient Commissioner's Tale]]; Lab ([[Invoke the Long-Dead Priests|storylet]] and [[Consult the Priests of the Red Bird|card]]) and [[Consult the Priests of the Red Bird (Lab)|Reflected Lab]] research; [[Hand over this dream as an offering|Oneiropomp]]; [[Lead them like sacrifices to the Priests of the Red Bird|Helicon House]]
|-
|[[Society of the Three-Fingered Hand]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|Society of the Three-Fingered Hand|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|Cover identities ([[Make the Society of the Three-Fingered Hand support your lies|Surface ties]]); [[Obliterate your weaknesses|Chessboard]]
|-
|[[A Winged and Taloned Steed Formerly Mr Veils|A Winged and Taloned Steed Formerly [spoiler]]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|A Winged and Taloned Steed Formerly Mr Veils|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Build up your Base-Camp Further|Parabolan Defences]]; [[Fly out to a dig site of your choosing|Magistracy digs]]; [[Wait until the dirigible takes off, then follow on your steed|Station VIII]]
|-
|[[Deafening Hat]] (Hat)
|4
|{{Item Effects|Deafening Hat|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Free-roving Teeth]] (Hat)
|160
|{{Item Effects|Free-roving Teeth|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Gradually Recuperating Pony]] (Transport)
|150 (with [[Thoroughly Cowed Pony|prerequisite]])
|{{Item Effects|Gradually Recuperating Pony|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Half-Wild Mandrake]] (Companion)
|5
|{{Item Effects|Half-Wild Mandrake|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Jaguar Blade, Remembered]] (Weapon)
|2000
|{{Item Effects|Jaguar Blade, Remembered|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Vake-Killing Club]] (Weapon)
|22
|{{Item Effects|Vake-Killing Club|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Severed Chimaerical Head of the Vake|[spoiler] of the Vake]] (Weapon)
|400
|{{Item Effects|Severed Chimaerical Head of the Vake|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Duplicate the Vake's skull and use it to decorate your (Skeleton Type)|Assemble a skeleton]]
|-
|[[Spiked Rosary]] (Weapon)
|31
|{{Item Effects|Spiked Rosary|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Vake Claw]] (Weapon)
| 230
|<ul style="list-style-type: none; margin-left: 0;"><li>{{IL|Dangerous}} +6</li><li>{{IL|Suspicion}} +10% gain</li><li>{{IL|Nightmares}} +10% gain</li></ul>
|[[Offer her a surgery|The Efficient Commissioner's Nightmare]]
|}
{| class="article-table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+[[The Rewards of Ambition|Rewards of Ambition]], available every 4 weeks
!Ending Value
!Rewards
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!|Appearance=BaL}} 2000 (Connections)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Parabola-Linen Scrap|1x}}|{{IL|Hinterland Scrip|5x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|4x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!|Appearance=BaL}} 3000–3100 (Society)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Searing Enigma|1x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|2x}}|{{IL|Sudden Insight|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!|Appearance=BaL}} 4000–4100 (Steed)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Night-Whisper|1x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|4x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Wounds|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!|Appearance=BaL}} 5000–5100 (Priests)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Primaeval Hint|1x}}|{{IL|Sudden Insight|4x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Wounds|−5 CP}}}}
|}
'''Callbacks'''

*Completing any Ambition is a prerequisite for the [[Parabolan War (Guide)|Parabolan War]] campaign against yourself, with [[As You Were|flavour text]] specific to your Ambition and ending. 
*As part of your Rewards of Ambition every 4 weeks, you receive +5 CP of {{IL|Bragging Rights at the Medusa's Head}}, good for some {{IL|Making Waves}} and either {{Il|Wounds}} reduction or {{IL|Favours: Revolutionaries}}.
*The character's involvement in the Vake hunt is referenced or alluded to in the text of other storylines, particularly those involving any Masters the character interacted with during the Ambition.
*It comes up in the Exceptional Story [[Paisley (Story)|Paisley]].
*This Ambition is the only way to get [[University Laboratory (Guide)|Laboratory]] services from {{IL|Laboratory Services from April|Appearance=April}}, who can also join the [[Railway Board (Guide)|Railway Board]].
*Flavour text when [[Brawling with Dockers (Guide)|Brawling]] as [[Present yourself as something out of their nightmares|something out of their nightmares]] with {{IL|Free-roving Teeth}}
*A unique [[Get a tattoo|tattoo]] during [[Feast of the Rose (Guide)|The Feast of the Rose]].
*An option for increasing {{IL|Noman Knows}} at [[Christmas (Guide)|Christmas]].
*Mentions in one-off events, including additional options during [[F.F. Gebrandt's Prelapsarian Exhibition (Guide)|F.F. Gebrandt's Prelapsarian Exhibition]], and the lock-out of a certain option during [[Mr Chimes' Grand Clearing-Out (Guide)|Mr Chimes' Grand Clearing-Out]].
<blockquote>“He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” <small>—Friedrich Nietzsche, ''Beyond Good and Evil'' (1886)</small></blockquote>

==[[Ambition: Heart's Desire!|Heart's Desire!]]==
[[File:Heartsdesire.png|right]]{{HasGuide|GuidePage=Ambition: Heart's Desire (Guide)}}
''They say that once every nine years there's a card game where you can gamble your soul and win your heart's desire. That sounds like tremendous fun.''

''The bit about gambling your soul is bound to be an exaggeration. Surely.''

'''Story:''' {{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!}} is about investigating, staging, and playing an underground card game, The Marvellous, in the hope of winning what you want most in the world. The promise of this prize draws players from all over the Neath: a bishop, a madman, a deviless, and even stranger beings. What ''is'' your heart's desire? And what are you prepared to do—or willing to risk—to get it? Heart's Desire is part mystery, part high-stakes game of advantages and sabotage, but with a lighter tone than other Ambitions, and offers a glimpse of the inner lives and most fervent wishes of several familiar faces in Fallen London.

'''Roleplaying:''' A character who wants something seemingly unattainable—or who only knows they desperately need ''something'', but isn't sure what—might be drawn to The Marvellous. Or perhaps they're driven by curiosity about what ''other'' people want so desperately? {{IL|Persuasive}} and {{IL|Watchful}} characters are particularly suited to this Ambition.<blockquote>Perhaps the ambition best suited to a kindly character ... you can endeavour to aid others for no reason but it being the morally right thing to do. A hedonist with a heart of gold (like my Bohemian-loving character) will have a good time. <small>—[https://www.reddit.com/r/fallenlondon/comments/wh89se/comment/ij5vcud/ Austellus]</small></blockquote>'''Mechanical rewards:'''
{| class="sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
|+Unique items
!Item (spoiler-free description)
!Stage when acquired
!Item effects
!Uses
|-
|[[A Bestiary of the Hearts' Desires]] (Weapon)
|320–700
|{{Item Effects|A Bestiary of the Hearts' Desires|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[A Bright Brass Button]] (Weapon)
|620
|{{Item Effects|A Bright Brass Button|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[An Abrupt Door|A state of some confusion]]; [[Acquiring the Manager's Help|The Efficient Commissioner's Tale]];  [[Let this vista influence the dreamers of the Royal Beth|Oneiropomp]]
|-
|[[A Dream of Truth-Strangling]] (Hat)
|680
|{{Item Effects|A Dream of Truth-Strangling|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[A Leasehold on All of London|A Leasehold on [spoiler]]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|A Leasehold on All of London|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Become the Director they can't avoid|Joining the Railway board]]; [[Don't pay a thing (Leasehold)|Bone Market stall]]; 
|-
|[[A Palatial Holiday Home in the Arctic Circle|A Palatial Holiday Home in [spoiler]]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|A Palatial Holiday Home in the Arctic Circle|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Inspire her with a patroness of Freedom|Oneiropomp]]; [[Step outside into the snow|Adulterine Castle]]; [[Take an extended sabbatical|Laboratory research]]; [[Use your Surface address to establish a background for a new cover identity|Cover Identity]]
|-
|[[Cardsharp Monkey]] (Companion)
|9
|{{Item Effects|Cardsharp Monkey|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Condemned Cardsharp Monkey|[spoiler] Cardsharp Monkey]] (Companion)
|680
|{{Item Effects|Condemned Cardsharp Monkey|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil]] (Home Comfort)
|680
|{{Item Effects|Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Marvellous Monkey]] (Companion)
|1904
|{{Item Effects|Marvellous Monkey|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Newly-Cast Crown of the City of London|Newly-Cast Crown of [spoiler]]] (Treasure)
|Ending (Choice)
|{{Item Effects|Newly-Cast Crown of the City of London|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[["Regent"|Addressed as]]; [[Bask in Admiration|Helicon House]]; [[Become the Director with royal affiliations|join the Railway Board]]; [[You yourself, the Regent|A Trade in Reputations]]
|-
|[[The Marvellous]] (Treasure)
|Ending (Choice)
|{{Item Effects|The Marvellous|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Let the Marvellous supply any randomness you may require|Laboratory upgrade]]; [[Play a round with your own deck|cards in The Hurlers]]; Cover Identity ([[Start a cover identity with a reputation among gamblers|Dispossessed ties]]); [[Transform dream into prophecy|Oneiropomp]]; [[Wager a penny on a hand of Spite Dr. Blemmigan (The Marvellous)|Spite Dr Blemmigan]]
|-
|[[The Robe of Mr Cards|The Robe of [spoiler]]] (Treasure)
|Ending (Choice)
|{{Item Effects|The Robe of Mr Cards|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[Accept with your Robe of Mr Cards|Join the Clay Tailor Club]]; [[Demand a delivery|refreshing Lab consumables]]; [[Put up a statue honouring Mr Cards, which is to say, yourself|Station VIII statue]]; [[Wager a penny on a hand of Spite Dr. Blemmigan (Mr Cards)|Spite Dr Blemmigan]];  [[Dose yourself with the Curatorial Cocktail|A Kitchen for Artists]]; [[Play an entirely different game as Mr Cards|cards in The Hurlers]]
|-
|[[The Thief-Oath of Tristram Bagley]] (Affiliation) 
|620
|{{Item Effects|The Thief-Oath of Tristram Bagley|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|[[An Encounter with Tristram Bagley]] (card)
|}
{| class="article-table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+[[The Rewards of Ambition|Rewards of Ambition]], available every 4 weeks
!Ending Value
! Rewards
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|Appearance=HD}} 1100 (Robe)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Fragment of the Tragedy Procedures|1x}}|{{IL|Confident Smile|2x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Suspicion|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|Appearance=HD}} 1200 (Crown)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Bottle of Fourth City Airag: Year of the Tortoise|1x}}|{{IL|Confident Smile|4x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Scandal|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|Appearance=HD}} 1300 (Leasehold)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Searing Enigma|1x}}|{{IL|Confident Smile|2x}}|{{IL|Sudden Insight|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Wounds|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|Appearance=HD}} 1400 (Home)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Night-Whisper|1x}}|{{IL|Hastily Scrawled Warning Note|2x}}|{{IL|Sudden Insight|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|Appearance=HD}} 3000 (Marvellous)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Primaeval Hint|1x}}|{{IL|Hastily Scrawled Warning Note|2x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−1 CP}}|{{IL|Scandal|−1 CP}}|{{IL|Suspicion|−1 CP}}}}
|} 

'''Callbacks:''' [in progress] 

* Completing any Ambition is a prerequisite for the [[Parabolan War (Guide)|Parabolan War]] campaign against yourself, with [[As You Were|flavour text]] specific to your Ambition and ending. 
* All endings have unique options during [[A Meeting Chaired by the Efficient Commissioner]]. 
* The Robe ending has a ''lot'' of unique flavour text, especially in the Railway storyline 
* [[Cards in the Cold|Playing cards]] in {{Il|The Hurlers}} has unique options for the Robe and Marvellous ending
* Flavour text when [[Brawling with Dockers (Guide)|Brawling]] as [[Present yourself as something out of their nightmares|something out of their nightmares]] with {{IL|A Bright Brass Button}} or the Robe ending
* The Crown and Leasehold endings [[Advertisements of a New Venture|earn you a place]] on the [[Railway Board (Guide)|Railway Board]] for free. 
<blockquote>We are always striving for things forbidden, and coveting those denied us. <small>—Ovid, ''Amorum'' (16 B.C.)</small></blockquote>

==[[Ambition: Light Fingers!|Light Fingers!]]==
[[File:Lightfingers.png|right]]{{HasGuide|GuidePage=Ambition: Light Fingers (Guide)}}
''Before you came down here, you heard through a contact here that she had a line on a diamond 'the size of a cow'. She did tend to exaggerate. But even if it's only the size of, say, a pig, or even a kitten, it's worth your time.''

''Of course, by the time you got out of New Newgate she'd disappeared. No-one seems to know how, or where, or they're not prepared to admit it.''

'''Story:''' {{IL|Ambition: Light Fingers!}} is a horror story disguised as a heist caper. Its sudden (and surprisingly early) twist, and shift to a much darker tone, is why it's the only Ambition offering a free chance to forget the whole thing and pick a different story. Despite this opt-out, it remains by far the most controversial Ambition as a story. Characters who choose to keep going face difficult moral decisions and high emotional stakes—yet with the potential of a small, glimmering hope at the end of it all. <blockquote>I can think of at least three points in the ambition where people/beings/entities who previously had antagonistic roles can become allies. And I think that plays into the hopeful tone that Light Fingers can take, even with its horrific atmosphere. <small>—[https://www.reddit.com/r/fallenlondon/comments/wh89se/comment/ij5fkf6/ Even-Narwhal-75]</small> </blockquote>{{ExSpan|Title=Content warnings (spoiler)|Hidden=Body horror (pregnancy-related), non-consent, stalking}}

'''Roleplaying:''' <blockquote>If you want to roleplay a character who starts as a less morally sound origin and comes to make good choices in the end, it's the perfect ambition. <small>—[https://www.reddit.com/r/fallenlondon/comments/wh89se/comment/ij4cj84/ The-Deaf-Prophet]</small></blockquote>Though Light Fingers is the sole Shadowy-focused Ambition, many character concepts which emphasise Shadowy traits — deception, stealth, subtlety and cunning — would be a poor fit for it. You may wish to consider Nemesis or Bag a Legend as alternatives.

Instead, Light Fingers focuses on the human side of shadowy lifestyles, and so provides an opportunity to explore and deepen the characterization of your FLPC.

'''Mechanical rewards:''' [in progress]
{| class="sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
|+Unique items 
!Item (spoiler-free description)
!Stage when acquired
!Item effects
!Uses
|-
|[[A False-Star of your Own]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|A False-Star of your Own|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[A Kitten-Sized Diamond, Liberated from the Mountain]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|A Kitten-Sized Diamond, Liberated from the Mountain|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[A Loyal Nightmare of Poor Edward|A Loyal Nightmare of [spoiler]]] (Affiliation)
|390
|{{Item Effects|A Loyal Nightmare of Poor Edward|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Drownie Song of the Deep]] (Weapon)
|21
|{{Item Effects|Drownie Song of the Deep|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Everlasting Candle]] (Weapon)
|42
|{{Item Effects|Everlasting Candle|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Lyon Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary]] (Affiliation)
|375 (choice)
|{{Item Effects|Lyon Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Smiling Mask]] (Hat)
|285
|{{Item Effects|Smiling Mask|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Tatterskin Shawl]] (Clothing)
|375 (choice)
|{{Item Effects|Tatterskin Shawl|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|}
{| class="article-table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+[[The Rewards of Ambition|Rewards of Ambition]], available every 4 weeks
!Ending Value
!Rewards
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Light Fingers!|Appearance=LF}} 1500 (Diamond)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Primaeval Hint|1x}}|{{IL|Magnificent Diamond|1x}}|{{IL|Ostentatious Diamond|−1x}}|{{IL|Confident Smile|4x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Wounds|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Light Fingers!|Appearance=LF}} 2500 (Star)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Searing Enigma|1x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|2x}}|{{IL|Sudden Insight|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−5 CP}}}}
|}'''Callbacks:''' [in progress]

* Completing any Ambition is a prerequisite for the [[Parabolan War (Guide)|Parabolan War]] campaign against yourself, with [[As You Were|flavour text]] specific to your Ambition and ending. 
* Flavour text when [[Brawling with Dockers (Guide)|Brawling]] as [[Present yourself as something out of their nightmares|something out of their nightmares]] with the {{IL|Tatterskin Shawl}}
* A handful of options having to do with Zee-navigation (and a few options in the air) benefit from having picked one of the ending options.

==[[Ambition: Nemesis|Nemesis]]==
[[File:Nemesis.png|right]]{{HasGuide|GuidePage=Ambition: Nemesis (Guide)}}
''Someone you loved is dead. You swore you'd scour the world for the killer. Your search brought you under the world.''

''You have crossed oceans and spent your whole inheritance to find this man. You even had yourself sent to New Newgate, as the quickest route down here to the Neath. Surely the hardest parts are behind you?''

'''Story:''' {{IL|Ambition: Nemesis}} is a tale of murder and revenge. A loved one is dead and you will not rest until you've repaid their murderer in kind. You'll travel across London and beyond to find out who did it. It can be started in {{IL|Ladybones Road}} through [[Ambition: Nemesis 0]].<blockquote>At each major turning point of the story, your character gets a choice between mercy and ruthlessness, and it's up to you to decide where they draw the line. <small>—[https://www.reddit.com/r/fallenlondon/comments/wh89se/comment/ij4ml0f/ acetimetraveler]</small></blockquote>

'''Roleplaying:''' Although it shares an emphasis on the {{IL|Watchful}} and {{IL|Dangerous}} attributes with Bag a Legend, Nemesis is (somewhat ironically) more focused on the hunt. Unearthing the killer's identity, locating their hideaway, devising a way to reach them: these are all serious undertakings with many clues held by many unsavoury individuals. Consulting detectives for the [[Faction: Constables|Constables]] or players of [[Faction: The Great Game|the Great Game]] can put their investigative and deductive abilities to the ultimate test. Those with a capacity for violence who chose the [[Enforcer]] branch of [[Professions (Guide)|Professions]] and eventually the advanced profession of [[Licentiate]] are well-suited to exact their bloody price.

'''Mechanical rewards:''' [in progress]
{| class="sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
|+Unique items 
!Item (spoiler-free description)
!Stage when acquired
!Item effects
!Uses
|-
|[[A Book of Red Murder]] (Weapon)
|160–199
|{{Item Effects|A Book of Red Murder|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Blooded Knife]] (Weapon)
|36
|{{Item Effects|Blooded Knife|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Dream-Shadow of a Curator's Vestige|Dream-Shadow]] (Affiliation)
|4300 (choice)
|{{Item Effects|Dream-Shadow of a Curator's Vestige|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Dream-Shard of the Mirror of Knives|Dream-Shard]] (Home Comfort)
|4300 (choice)
|{{Item Effects|Dream-Shard of the Mirror of Knives|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Myriad Keys]] (Weapon)
|9
|{{Item Effects|Myriad Keys|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[The Bloodied Travelling-Coat of Mr Cups|The Bloodied Travelling-Coat]] (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{Item Effects|The Bloodied Travelling-Coat of Mr Cups|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|[[Violant-Winged Bat]] (Companion)
|150
|{{Item Effects|Violant-Winged Bat|bis_strict=bold|bis_shared=italic}}
|
|-
|Your Mercy, Rewarded (Treasure)
|Ending (choice)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Watchful}} +6|''{{IL|Persuasive}} +13''|''{{IL|Respectable}} +4''|''{{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} +2''|{{IL|Visiting your Risen Spouse|Appearance=Visiting (spoiler)}} +1}}
|
|}
{| class="article-table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+[[The Rewards of Ambition|Rewards of Ambition]], available every 4 weeks
!Ending Value
!Rewards
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Nemesis|Appearance=N}} 4300–4500 (Coat)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Searing Enigma|1x}}|{{IL|Blackmail Material|1 x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|2x}}|{{IL|Hastily Scrawled Warning Note|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−5 CP}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Ambition: Nemesis|Appearance=N}} 5000 (Rewarded)
|{{TableList|{{IL|Primaeval Hint|1x}}|{{IL|Hard-Earned Lesson|2x}}|{{IL|Making Waves|+10 CP}}|{{IL|Nightmares|−5 CP}}}}
|}'''Callbacks:''' [in progress] 

* Completing any Ambition is a prerequisite for the [[Parabolan War (Guide)|Parabolan War]] campaign against yourself, with [[As You Were|flavour text]] specific to your Ambition and ending. 
* Flavour text when [[Brawling with Dockers (Guide)|Brawling]] as [[Present yourself as something out of their nightmares|something out of their nightmares]] with the Coat ending.
* Your [[University Laboratory (Guide)|Laboratory]] can employ an [[Laboratory Services from an Esurient Smith|Esurient Smith]] you meet late in the story for his expertise in weapons and metallurgy.

<blockquote>  

Revenge is the sweetest morsel to the mouth, that ever was cooked in hell. <small>—Walter Scott, ''The Heart of Midlothian'' (1818)</small> </blockquote>

==A True Denizen of the Neath==
[[File:Bag.png|right]]
Completing an Ambition awards you the quality {{IL|A True Denizen of the Neath}} to signify that you've finished the reason you descended and that the Neath is now your home. But what will you do now?

After all the work you've put into your Ambition, you're almost certainly an End Game-level character. Check out the [[Lategame (Guide)|Lategame Guide]] and the [[Special:SearchByProperty/:Intended-20Audience/End-2DGame|dynamic list of End Game-level content]] to find stories that are particularly suited to your level. Some examples—many of which have special options and callbacks that reference Ambitions—include:

*[[:Category:Fate-locked Stories|Fate-locked Stories]]: A massive amount of exclusive content is available by spending Fate, with a new story available each month to Exceptional Friends. Visit [https://www.fallenlondon.com/fate the Fate page] to learn more about these stories and Exceptional Friendship.
*[[Railway (Guide)|The Great Hellbound Railway]]: A transportation works project that opens up several new locations and major activities out in the Hinterlands beyond London.
*[[Parabola (Guide)|Parabola]]: While access to Parabola is available from the midgame, there are a number of pursuits here you may not have delved into while engrossed in your Ambition, including [[Parabolan War (Guide)|waging war]], [[Oneiropomp (Guide)|guiding dreamers]], and [[The Chessboard (Guide)|The Chessboard]].
*[[Khaganian Intrigue (Guide)|Khaganian Intrigue]]: A complex carousel of clandestine activities in the Khanate. (Requires having a Railway out to Balmoral and a Cabinet Noir so that you can create [[Cover Identities (Guide)|Cover Identities]].)
*[[Raising Attribute Caps (Guide)|Overcapping your stats]]: Many late-game activities involve especially high stat challenges, so you will likely want to overcap your main Attributes (up to 230, over several stages) and your [[Advanced Skills (Guide)|Advanced Skills]] (up to 7).
*[[A Paramount Presence (Guide)|Becoming a Paramount Presence]]: The culmination of your journey as a [[A Person of Some Importance (Guide)|A Person of Some Importance]], reflecting your mastery of all four specialisations.
*[[Treasures of the Neath (Guide)|Treasures of the Neath]]: For true completionists (or masochists, depending on your perspective), there are a number of particularly difficult achievements to work toward.
*[[Seeking Mr Eaten's Name (Guide)|Seeking Mr Eaten's Name]]: Speaking of masochistic choices, this incredibly ill-advised quest to answer a question that should never be asked can be considered the original endgame content, with a dreadful emphasis on "end".
{{Wiki Note|Special thanks to members of the Fallen London subreddit who shared their impressions of their Ambitions for inclusion in this guide. Read more of their comments [https://www.reddit.com/r/fallenlondon/comments/wh89se/why_might_someone_choose_your_ambition_a_question/ here].}}
[[Category:Storyline]]
[[Category:Guides]]
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−	{{GuideNeedsWork\|Reason=Adding more extensive guidance on choosing an Ambition, with contributions from other players.\|User=Fynnkaterin~~}}[[File:Fallenlondon.png\|right]]{{Audience\|EarlyMYN\|Evergreen=yes~~}}	+	[[File:Fallenlondon.png\|right]]{{Audience\|EarlyMYN\|Evergreen=yes}}{{GuideNeedsWork\|Reason=Adding more extensive guidance on choosing an Ambition, with contributions from other players.\|User=Fynnkaterin}}
	Ambitions are massive stories spanning the entirety of the game. Each will start easy but grow harder as it goes on, until it becomes nigh impossible for all but the most prepared players.		Ambitions are massive stories spanning the entirety of the game. Each will start easy but grow harder as it goes on, until it becomes nigh impossible for all but the most prepared players.