Making Your Name (Guide)

During the early part of the game, the Making Your Name stories are the main way you'll progress through the story, raise your attributes, and unlock new locations.

Introduction

The Making Your Name stories begin in the starting locations: Ladybones Road, Spite, Watchmaker's Hill, and Veilgarden. Each one helps you raise the attribute associated with that location, and your progress in Making Your Name is tracked by a quality beginning with A Name..., which you can check on the Myself tab.

Location	Attribute	Making Your Name
Ladybones Road	Watchful	A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets
Spite	Shadowy	A Name Whispered in Darkness
Watchmaker's Hill	Dangerous	A Name Scrawled in Blood
Veilgarden	Persuasive	A Name Signed with a Flourish

As you progress along each story, the associated quality will increase, unlocking new storylets. The maximum value for each quality is 7.

Combined with the attribute boosts you get from the training professions, the Making Your Name stories will get you much of the way to raising each main attribute to 100 and becoming A Person of Some Importance.

A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets

This story begins in Ladybones Road and the associated Attribute is Watchful. It eventually unlocks the locations Mrs Plenty's Carnival, Moloch Street, The Clay Quarters, The Forgotten Quarter, and The University.

The Case of the Honey-Addled Detective

To start making your name as a detective in London, you'll first need to establish some contacts. That's why your first case will be to track down the Honey-Addled Detective.

Start: Making Your Name: The Case of the Honey-Addled Detective in Ladybones Road

Your goal is to reach Detective's Progress 10 in order to track down the Honey-Addled Detective and close the case on Pursue your current Case.

Find a Tattooed Courier's Contact

Your next venture is assisting the Constables, who suspect something sinister regarding the tattoos coming out of Clathermont's Tattoo Parlor.

Start: Making Your Name: Find a Tattooed Courier's contact in Ladybones Road

Unlocked with A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets 1

Your goal is to raise Seeking... so you can attempt challenges to increase the quality Surveillance Contract: Find a Tattooed Messenger's contact. As that quality increases, new options are unlocked, allowing you to progress in the case. Once the Surveillance Contract quality reaches 4, you can proceed to Mrs Plenty's Carnival for the conclusion.

The Case of the Absconding Devil

A Devil is missing from The Brass Embassy, and the Honey-Addled Detective is on the case. He wants your help.

Start: Working with the Honey-Addled Detective in Moloch Street. Choose the option Making Your Name: The Case of the Absconding Devil.

Unlocked with A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets 2

Your goal is to raise Detective's Progress, which you will then spend to increase Evidence in the Case of the Absconding Devil. You will have different options for how to raise Detective's Progress as your Evidence quality increases.

You also have a complication in the form of a Surly Goat-Demon, which appears in your Opportunity cards. Confronting it can either increase or decrease your Detective's Progress, along with other effects.

The Disappearing Heiress

The Comtessa has disappeared with a quantity of her father's money. He wants you to get it — er, and her, of course — back.

Start: Life on Ladybones Road in Ladybones Road. Choose the option Making Your Name - Begin a Case: the Disappearing Heiress.

Unlocked with A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets 3

Your goal is to use Pursue your current Case to increase Detective's Progress.

When Detective's Progress reaches 10, the option A development: the Disappearing Heiress appears, giving you opportunities to increase Evidence in the Case of the Missing Heiress.

At Evidence 3, you'll gain the quality A Visitor to the Clay Quarters if you don't already have it. With Evidence 4, the conclusion of the case takes place in The Clay Quarters.

A Raid on the Brass Embassy

The Constables plan to raid a Devils' warehouse. You've done work for both, but this time you'll have to pick a side.

Start: Making Your Name: A Raid on the Brass Embassy! in Ladybones Road

Unlocked with A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets 4

Choose whether to side with the Constables or the Devils. Concluding this part unlocks the location The Forgotten Quarter.

The Tomb of the Seven

You've found clues indicating something intriguing buried in The Forgotten Quarter. Time for a crash course in Archaeology.

Start: Making Your Name: the Tomb of the Seven in the Base Camp area of The Forgotten Quarter

Unlocked with A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets 5

Your ultimate goal here is to make a successful expedition to The Tomb of Seven and recover the Set of Correspondence Stones. Doing so will make you A Scholar of the Correspondence and unlock the location The University.

In order to even attempt the expedition to the Tomb, you have to build up your Archaeologist quality to 3. First, Learn the Traditions of the Forgotten Quarter, then complete the easier expeditions Seek a thieves' cache and Seek a shrine of the Deep Blue Heaven. Once you reach Archaeologist 3, the one-time expedition The Tomb of Seven is unlocked.

For tips on expeditions, refer to the guide to Forgotten Quarter Expeditions.

Tales of the University

As a Scholar of the Correspondence, you've attracted the attention of both The University's colleges, the radical Benthic and the more traditional Summerset. Which one will you ally yourself with?

Start: Invitations from the University, a universal storylet

Unlocked with A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets 6

Your goal is to progress through the University storyline, increasing the quality Featuring in the Tales of the University up to 25, and concluding by solving a case.

For help with the University storyline, refer to Featuring in the Tales of the University (Guide)

A Name Whispered in Darkness

This story begins in Spite and the associated attribute is Shadowy. It eventually unlocks the locations Area-Diving in Spite, The Flit, and (optionally) Mahogany Hall.

A Courier's Secret

It seems the anarchists of Fallen London are communicating through one of Spite's couriers. Intercepting their messages would be a good exercise of your Shadowy skills.

Start: Making your Name: a Courier's Secret in Spite

Your goal is to build up your Shadowy until you can succeed at A Trove of Secrets. There are several ways to do this in the storylet The Alleys of Spite.

A Journalist and a Cat

You're starting to get the hang of this stealthy business. Time to see what else you can uncover in Spite.

Start: Making Your Name: the Next Step in Spite

Unlocked with A Name Whispered in Darkness 1

Your goals are to investigate the Careworn Journalist and to catch a grey cat.

Area-Diving

Find your way into one of Fallen London's finer homes via the staff entrance and liberate some valuables.

Start: Making your Name: Area-diving! in Spite

Unlocked with A Name Whispered in Darkness 2

Your goal is to complete an area-dive.

For information on building up Casing..., refer to the Casing guide.

Going Up in the World

The Flit is the rooftop world of thieves, urchins, and the Topsy King, and it's time for you to learn the ropes.

Start: Making your Name: Going Up in the World in The Flit

Unlocked with A Name Whispered in Darkness 3

To access The Flit, click the location on the map to open Enter the Flit. The route can be unlocked either by passing the Shadowy 50 challenge or by spending 1200 x Moon-Pearl.

A Rash of Burglaries

If you want to prove you're more than a common criminal, you need to pull off bigger robberies.

Start: Making your Name: a Rash of Burglaries in The Flit

Unlocked with A Name Whispered in Darkness 4

Your goal is to raise Casing... and pull off burglaries in The Flit until your Master Thief quality reaches 5.

For information on building up Casing..., refer to the Casing guide.

The Records Office in Concord Square

You know where the Constables store their records, and there's bound to be some valuable information among all that paperwork.

Start: Planning a Heist in the Plan a Heist area of The Flit

Unlocked with A Name Whispered in Darkness 5

Your goal is to successfully complete the heist Making Your Name: the records office in Concord Square.

You need Casing... of at least 5 to begin a heist. For additional Casing..., you can purchase advantages that will help you complete a heist successfully. During a heist, you draw Opportunity cards to take actions, with the goal of reaching The Burglar's Progress 5 without reducing Cat-Like Tread to 0.

For information on building up Casing..., refer to the Casing guide. For tips on heists, consult the On a Heist guide.

Embroiled in the Wars of Illusion

There's another world hidden in these shadows, but so far you've seen only glimpses of it. The bats and cats of The Flit know something about it, but will they tell you their secrets?

Start: The Heights of Chicanery in The Flit

Unlocked with A Name Whispered in Darkness 6

Your goal is to increase Embroiled in the Wars of Illusion (via rare successes on actions from The Heights of Chicanery) to discover the secrets of The Flit.

Note: You will reach A Name Whispered in Darkness 7 by completing the Bats and Cats section and reaching Embroiled 9, but the Wars of Illusion storyline continues from there and eventually leads to Mahogany Hall.

Refer to Embroiled in the Wars of Illusion (Guide) for more detailed information on progressing this storyline.

A Name Scrawled in Blood

This story begins in Watchmaker's Hill and the associated attribute is Dangerous. It eventually unlocks the locations Dept. of Menace Eradication, Wolfstack Docks, and The Labyrinth of Tigers.

A Worryingly Large Rat

There's talk of a rat in Watchmaker's Hill that's bigger than a rat has any business being. The Department of Menace Eradication is offering a sizable reward for bringing it in.

Start: Making your Name: the Contract in Watchmaker's Hill

Choose Visit the Department of Menace Eradication to unlock that location. There, find the storylet Make your name! Contract: a Worryingly Large Rat.

Your goal is to use the options in the Dept. of Menace Eradication storylet Hunting across London to reduce Quarry: Confounded Thing is Hiding to 0 and catch the rat. 

Once you've reduced Quarry to 0, you can choose the option You know where the Rat is lairing... which leads to the conclusion of the hunt.

An Infestation of Sorrow-Spiders

These aren't your garden-variety spiders. Slay them and bring back their legs as proof, and you'll have boosted your reputation as a monster-hunter — and probably saved a few eyeballs.

Start: The Department of Menace Eradication in The Dept. of Menace Eradication; choose the option Make your name! Contract: destroy an infestation of sorrow-spiders

Unlocked with: A Name Scrawled in Blood 1

Your goal is to build up Running Battle... to at least 4 in order to defeat a sorrow-spider infestation and turn in a sack of spider legs at the Dept. of Menace Eradication.

For more information on running battle, consult the Running Battle... guide.

A Picnic on the Marsh's Edge

You just want to enjoy your picnic, but unfortunately so do these rats.

Start: Business on Watchmaker's Hill in Watchmaker's Hill

Unlocked with: A Name Scrawled in Blood 2

Your goal is to ward off an infestation of rats that first spoils your picnic and then takes up residence closer to home.

The Fighting Rings

The duellist Feducci runs a series of fighting rings in Fallen London. If you can survive them, he's sure to take notice of you.

Start: Making your Name: the Fighting Rings in Watchmaker's Hill

Unlocked with: A Name Scrawled in Blood 3

Your goal is to advance through the fighting rings and win in The Painted Ring.

A Conspiracy of Spiders

More spiders? Time to get to the bottom of this.

Start: Making your Name: a Conspiracy of Spiders in Wolfstack Docks

Unlocked with: A Name Scrawled in Blood 4

Your goal is to investigate the spiders in Wolfstack Docks and figure out where they're coming from and what to do about them.

Duelling with the Black Ribbon

Your fighting prowess has earned you the privilege of dueling the Black Ribbon. Defeating them will earn you great renown, and if you lose… well, your reputation won't much matter anymore.

Start: Making your Name: a Letter from Feducci in Wolfstack Docks

Unlocked with: Arachnologist 3 ( A Name Scrawled in Blood will be set to 5 by whatever option you choose in responding to the letter)

Your goal is to raise Running Battle... in order to challenge progressively stronger Black Ribbon duellists, ultimately raising your A Fearsome Duellist quality to 5.

For information on duels, refer to the page on Duelling with the Black Ribbon.

Acquiring Exhibits for the Labyrinth of Tigers

Mr. Inch is in need of new creatures for his most unusual zoological exhibition.

Start: Making your Name: a Proposition from an Acquaintance in Wolfstack Docks

Unlocked with: A Name Scrawled in Blood 6

Your goal is to raise The Hunt is On! so you can attempt to kill or capture the exhibits Mr. Inch wants and raise A Procurer of Savage Beasts to 5. This will unlock the location The Labyrinth of Tigers. You will then need to find Mr Inch in the Labyrinth, which will ultimately set A Name Scrawled in Blood to 7.

Refer to The Hunt is On! (Guide) for information on acquiring exhibits for the Labyrinth of Tigers.

A Name Signed with a Flourish

This story begins in Veilgarden and the associated attribute is Persuasive. It eventually unlocks the locations The Shuttered Palace and The Empress' Court.

A Commissioned Epic

Inspiration can be found in the commonest of subjects, and there's hardly anything more common in Fallen London than mushrooms.

Start: Make Your Name: A Commissioned Epic in Veilgarden

Your goal is to increase Inspired... so you can write a poem about fungus. You can raise this quality using the options Celebrate Fungus in Verse: Make up the details and Celebrate Fungus in Verse: Field work!

A Notable Affair

In the literary world of Veilgarden, your personal life commands as much interest as your work. Who will you pursue a much-talked-about romance with?

Start: Making Your Name: Engage in a Notable Affair in Veilgarden

Unlocked with: A Name Signed with a Flourish 1

Your goal is to increase Fascinating... to pursue either The Honey-Sipping Heiress or The Honey-Sipping Jewel Thief.

Writing a Short Story

You've been in Fallen London for a while now; you're bound to have some exhilarating experiences to write about.

Start: Making Your Name: Writing a Short Story in Veilgarden

Unlocked with: A Name Signed with a Flourish 2

Your goal is to get Manuscript Page to at least 10 and Potential to 30 to access the option Make Your Name: Publish your story.

Note: any Potential beyond 30 will be wasted here, since the only publication option you get the first time around is Make Your Name: Publish your story. You can try for a higher-quality story only after completing this one.

For information on writing short stories, refer to Short Stories (Guide).

The Ambassador's Ball

It's the place to make your big society debut.

Start: Make Your Name: Getting to the Ball in Veilgarden

Unlocked with: A Name Signed with a Flourish 3

Your goal is to acquire the Favours: Society and other items needed to get to the Ambassador's Ball. You will also unlock the route to The Shuttered Palace.

An Audience with the Duchess

Someone important (and delightfully controversial) has taken notice of you.

Start: Make Your Name: An Audience with the Duchess in The Shuttered Palace

Unlocked with: A Name Signed with a Flourish 4

Your goal is to obtain an audience with the Duchess by fulfilling the requirements of one of the options in this storylet, all of which require Renown: Society 5 and Connected: The Duchess 5, among other things. Completing this will unlock the location The Empress' Court.

A Courtly Romance!

Your honeyed fling in Veilgarden was the talk of the town for a little while, but Fallen London society is eager for a real fairytale romance. Where better to pursue one than a palace?

Start: Making Your Name: Engage in a Courtly Romance! in The Empress' Court

Unlocked with: A Name Signed with a Flourish 5

Your goal is to use Attend to Matters of Romance to raise your Fascinating... quality in order to romance either the Barbed Wit or the Acclaimed Beauty, and ultimately obtain a Memento of Passion.

Carving Out a Reputation at Court

You've commanded the attention of the Court. Now what will you do with it?

Start: A slow day in The Empress' Court

Unlocked with: A Name Signed with a Flourish 6 (You can begin A slow day as soon as you can access the Court, but you can only continue to Why are you doing this? once A Name Signed with a Flourish is 6.)

Your goal is to increase Carving out a Reputation at Court to 6, whereupon you will be asked Why are you doing this? and begin an Opera. Then raise Inspired... to 24 and proceed to The Grand Finale, which will ultimately set A Name Signed with a Flourish to 7.

Note: At the end of this story, you will be Banished from the Court and (temporarily) sent to Disgraced exile in the Tomb-Colonies. Since you can only restore yourself to the Court via a relatively long process once you're A Person of Some Importance, and the main benefit of being Banished is to access the location The Foreign Office (which also requires PoSI status), it may be a good idea to avoid completing this until you're a PoSI.