Editing Parabola (Guide)

<center>'''A Comprehensive and Descriptive Guide Detailing the Procedures by Which a Fallen Londoner Ought to First Visit Parabola'''
''[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yy2Ao1uUVat_yRt2IeD_WEtV3SqF2GkMqRUUwtHjlJQ/edit# Original] By [[User:Vainfire|Vainfire]], Edited by Maddie (Crepe Ava), [[User:Horsea X|Lux Gracetail]] and BraydonM''

'' Wiki formatting and copy editing by [[User:Asarta|Asarta]]''

[[File:Parabola-header.png|800px|link=Parabolan Base-Camp]]
</center>{{DecLine}}This guide details the preparations for entering Parabola and guides you through important steps when exploring Parabola and unlocking new areas and skills.

Parabola is a very expansive area of the game, and much of the content available in Parabola cannot be covered in a single guide. For guides to specific areas of Parabola, see the Area Guides (below).

This guide assumes that you do not have Fate, but does take note of festival items, as well as items which were previously available for free but now require Fate.

__TOC__
== Parabola Area Guides==
[[Oneiropomp (Guide)]] For a guide to dream guiding in the [[Viric Jungle]], which is notable as the best source of [[Comprehensive Bribe|Comprehensive Bribes]].

[[Parabolan War (Guide)]] For a guide to war in Parabola. A more advanced weekly activity that requires you first [[Build up your Base-Camp]] defenses.

[[Parabolan Hunting (Guide)]] For a quick guide to hunting Parabolan creatures and locations.

[[The Sacroboscan Calendar (Guide)]] For a guide to past events available in [[The Waswood]].

[[A Cub's Education (Guide)]] For a brief list of ways to raise a {{IL|Parabolan Kitten}} while cats are dominant in Parabolan War.

[[The Chessboard (Guide)]] For a detailed look at actions at the Chessboard.
== Preparing to Enter==

===Obtain Memories of Light===
This isn't quite as big a gate as it used to be, but you'll still need significantly more than most people keep on hand. See [[:File:Flowchart for the Grinding of Memories of Light.png|this flowchart]] for a comprehensive (but slightly outdated) guide to sources of Memories of Light.
===Acquire the necessary materials to enter Parabola===
*This requires 200 {{IL|Memory of Light|Appearance=Memories of Light}}, 1 {{IL|Antique Mystery}}, and 1 {{IL|Direful Reflection}} (or 50 {{IL|Memory of Light|Appearance=Memories of Light}}, 1 {{IL|Antique Mystery}}, and 1 {{IL|Uncanny Incunabulum}} if you're doing the research project instead).
*{{IL|Direful Reflection}}s can be bought from Veilgarden ([[Dabble in the Great Game]]) for 2 {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}s, 10 {{IL|Maniac's Prayer}}s, 10 {{IL|Scrap of Incendiary Gossip|Appearance=Incendiary Gossip}}, and 10 CP of either {{IL|Ruthless}} or {{IL|Magnanimous}}.
*{{IL|Uncanny Incunabulum|Appearance=Uncanny Incunabula}} are obtained from [[A Silverer's Penny|the weekly payment]] for being a {{IL|Silverer}} among other sources. See [[Mysteries Grinding (Guide)]] for other sources.
* Most players will need 100 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey}} every time you enter. (Silverers only require 50.) When bought directly from the Bazaar, this is 4{{e}}. See [[Nostalgia Grinding (Guide)#Drop of Prisoner's Honey|this page]] for grinding recommendations.

===Recommended before first entry===
* For unlocking places in Parabola:
**{{IL|Having Recurring Dreams: A Game of Chess}} 2
**{{IL|Having Recurring Dreams: Is Someone There?}} 2
**A {{IL|Shared a Phantasie of the Bazaar|Appearance=Phantasie of the Bazaar}} (found only during [[Feast of the Exceptional Rose|Feast of the Rose]])
** {{IL|Having Recurring Dreams: What the Thunder Said}} 5
**Either 50 additional {{IL|Memory of Light|Appearance=Memories of Light}} or reaching {{IL|Touched by Fingerwork}} 15

*And some things to buy from the Bazaar:
**If you already have the Echoes easily available and don't need to grind, bring along a {{IL|Parabola-Linen Suit}} and/or {{IL|Parabola-Linen Frock}} (purchased from the Bazaar for 470 Echoes), as raw material to acquire a unique piece of clothing.
***If you have access to the {{IL|Cave of the Nadir (Guide)|Appearance=Cave of the Nadir|Image=Caveofthenadir.png}}, the {{IL|Strange-Shore Parabola Suit}} and/or {{IL|Strange-Shore Parabola Frock}} are generally more useful than this item, so if you're purely after efficiency you don't need another one.
**Optional: one {{IL|Sporing Bonnet}} (purchased from the Bazaar for 3 Echoes) to increase Nightmares faster. 
**Ten of any combination of the following for gaining {{IL|Favours: Fingerkings}}:
***At least one (ideally 6-8) {{IL|Cheerful Goldfish}}
*** 1 {{IL|Lucky Weasel}}
*** 1 {{IL|Reprehensible Lizard}}
***You can substitute 5 {{IL|Memory of Distant Shores|Appearance=Memories of Distant Shores}} for each pet you don't bring. However, the pets are not only cheaper, they will also give you special Bizarre/Dreaded/Respectable-manipulating companions.
**You may wish to obtain 5-10 additional {{IL|Cheerful Goldfish}} for bait on hunts.

===Resources to grind advanced stats later===
You do not need all of these to first enter Parabola, but you will need them eventually, so keep an eye out and stockpile what you can.
*Obtain a stockpile of {{IL|An Identity Uncovered!|Appearance=Identities Uncovered}} or {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}s
** Ideally obtain about 12-16 of each, but you will probably not spend this many. You will, however, at minimum consume 12 {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}s and 4 {{IL|An Identity Uncovered!|Appearance=Identities Uncovered}}.
*Obtain at least two {{IL|Vital Intelligence}}s for {{IL|A Player of Chess}} level 7 (you will receive all other levels in Parabola).
**A third {{IL|Vital Intelligence}} can be used to speed up this step but it is not required.
*Obtain at least four {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s.
**If you do not have access to the {{IL|The Bone Market}} to obtain these, you can acquire them in Parabola, but it is generally less efficient.
* Any of the following item(set)s, preferably several times over, to help unlock and grind {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}:
**Five {{IL|Aeolian Scream}}s
**1100 {{IL|Bone Fragments}}
**An {{IL|Augmented Electrostatic Machine}}, 6+ {{IL|Hedonist}}, and 100 {{IL|Bone Fragments}} (The {{IL|Augmented Electrostatic Machine}} is not consumed.)
** If you can manage to do this ten times, you will be able to harvest 10 {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple|Appearance=Parabolan Orange-apples}}, used in increasing [[Kataleptic Toxicology Studies]] to 2.

===Check on your research projects===
When you [[Put everything back where you found it]] after an experiment, '''all your {{IL|Parabolan Research}} will be removed, and you will not be compensated.''' Thus, make sure not to acquire more than you need.
* Most projects that require {{IL|Parabolan Research}} will only require 10-30 of it. [[Assess your Progress regarding the (Project Name)]] to see how much you need.
* If you have an in-progress research project which does not require {{IL|Parabolan Research}}, finishing it will still reset your Parabolan Research to 0 even if you didn't use any. 
* On the other hand, if you obtain {{IL|Parabolan Research}} ''before'' starting a project, it does stick around, so you can begin a project with your Parabolan Research already all finished.

===Optional: Change professions to Silverer===

This is much less necessary than it used to be. Swapping to {{IL|Silverer}} no longer offers such a massive gap in cost compared to the [[Find a Route to Parabola|research project]], as the research project now only takes 50 {{IL|Memory of Light|Appearance=Memories}}.<ref>It used to take 300 MoL for a Silverer and 1000 for a non-Silverer, making the actions required to switch professions there and back equivalent to a 21 EPA grind!</ref> However, doing it using this method still skips the need for a [[University Laboratory (Guide)|University Lab]], making it potentially worth it for those who don't wish to undergo the whole project or don't have a lab yet.
* Some other professions, most notably {{IL|Monster-Hunter}} and {{IL|Midnighter}}, open up other options in Parabola.

Here are instructions on how to switch your profession as quickly as possible. This is so that you will not be stuck with bad profession gear for any longer than necessary, and will ensure that your weekly wage remains uninterrupted.

* You will require: 5 {{IL|Notability}}, an [[An Unsigned Message|Unsigned Message]] in hand, a {{IL|Favourable Circumstance}}, either the [[Altars and Alms-Houses: the Church|Church]] or [[Gunpowder and Zeal: the Revolutionaries|Revolutionary]] Faction card in hand, and five favours of the appropriate type. 
* Resign from your existing profession (do this by [[Send a Message to a Contact|Sending a Message to a Contact]] in {{IL|Your Social Engagements}}, then choosing to [[Resign from your Profession|Resign From Your Profession]]).
* Play the faction card you have and become a {{IL|Campaigner}}.
** '''Do not pick the wrong option. Make sure you pick the one that says [[Choose Campaigner as your Profession 2|Choose Campaigner as your Profession]], and not [[Choose Enforcer as your Profession (The Revolutionaries)|Enforcer]].'''
* Play the [[An Unsigned Message|Unsigned Message]] from your hand and become a {{IL|Mystic}}.
* Using your {{IL|Favourable Circumstance}}, force-draw another Unsigned Message. Use a Second Chance on the check to become a {{IL|Silverer}}.
** If unsuccessful, wait for another Unsigned Message draw or until next week for the {{IL|Favourable Circumstance}} refresh.

===Bring some Nightmares along===

*Ideally, you should enter when you already have a significant amount of Nightmares. You'll want to reach 8 Nightmares multiple times to grind [[Sighted the Storm-bird|a specific quality]], and there is [[Cry to the storm-bird|an efficient way to reduce Nightmares]] available once you are inside.

==Entering Parabola==
===As a Silverer===
*Go to [[The Honey-Dens of Veilgarden]].
*There, you will see an option to [[Establish a Parabolan Base-Camp]]. Choose it. You will enter your {{IL|Parabolan Base-Camp}}.
=== As a Laboratory Researcher===
Here's everyone else's way in:
*In your {{IL|University Laboratory}}, start the experiment to [[Find a Route to Parabola]]. This will start a 50 {{IL|Laboratory Research}} project.
*Once you're done with that, you'll progress to the second stage of the experiment, which takes 75 {{IL|Laboratory Research}}. 
* While you're researching, you will draw the card [[Realisation]], which has various options for you to acquire {{IL|Laboratory Research}}. None of them are good.
*Finish the second stage of the experiment. (Considering that you likely only have {{IL|Equipment for Scientific Experimentation}} 4 at the moment, this might take a bit.)
*When you try to [[Leave your Lab (with Base-Camp)|Leave Your Lab]], you'll find an option to [[Enter the mirror|Enter the Mirror]] for 1 action and 100 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|Appearance=Drops of Prisoner's Honey}}. Choose it.
===Ambitions===
Three Ambitions eventually wind through Parabola: {{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|appearance=Heart's Desire}}, {{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!|appearance=Bag a Legend}}, and {{IL|Ambition: Light Fingers!|appearance=Light Fingers}}. Accordingly, each has its own method of getting to Parabola:
* Those with {{IL|Ambition: Light Fingers!|appearance=Light Fingers}} may facilitate the Obliging Silverer: they must give the Silverer access to either [[Invite the Silverer to your Salon|a salon]] or [[Give the Silverer a key to your rooms above a Gambling-Den|a gambling den]], [[Supply the Silverer needs]], and then [[Work together with the Silverer]].
* Those seeking their {{IL|Ambition: Heart's Desire!|appearance=Heart's Desire}} may [[Contact a Silverer]], paying a frankly egregious number of {{IL|Memory of Light|Appearance=Memories of Light}}<ref>500, to be precise</ref> for the privilege. (The time spent grinding out this many Memories of Light is better spent on more interesting pursuits, such as obtaining aforementioned University Lab.)
* Those wishing to {{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!|appearance=Bag a Legend}} will be asked to complete an extended set of Laboratory experiments involving [[Ambition: Bag a Legend! – Transport the Bomb|transporting a bomb]] and then [[Complete a Route to Parabola|completing a route]]. Technically this can be bypassed by doing the research the normal way round, but the research projects in question have Ambition-specific text and thus are recommended.

==Getting Around Parabola==
*Movement within Parabola is free, but requires lots of clicking to go between places. Movement within Parabola will also shuffle {{IL|Airs of Parabola}} for free, which can be taken advantage of.
* You cannot draw London or Upper River cards in Parabola. Your opportunity deck will still fill up after an hour of real time (or an hour and 40 minutes for [[Exceptional Friendship|Exceptional Friends]]). If you really want, you can leave Parabola at intervals to empty your opportunity deck, though note that you'll need to pay the entrance fee<ref>equivalent to 2{{e}}</ref> again every time you go back, which is intensely inefficient.
===Entrances and Exits===
* Entering Parabola takes an action and 100 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|Appearance=Drops of Prisoner's Honey}} (half off for Silverers). Because of the entrance fee, consider saving up Parabola actions.
** You can always enter through {{IL|Your Lodgings}} in London.
** You can also always enter through {{IL|The Honey-Dens of Veilgarden}}. This location is unique in that it allows you to pick where exactly you will show up. (This saves clicks but not actions.)
** If you have a {{IL|University Laboratory (Place)|Appearance=University Laboratory}}, you can use that to enter Parabola, whether or not you actually did the research project, so long as you have a Base-Camp.
** There are three places on the Railway that allow you to add [[Railway Station Developments (Guide)|station developments]] that have mirrors in them.
*** If you have built out to at least {{IL|Balmoral}}, you can [[Install an enormous mirror in your Cabinet Noir]].
*** If you get to {{IL|Station VIII}}, you can [[Place a mirror in the washrooms]].
*** If you're all the way out at {{IL|The Hurlers}}, you can [[Build a lavatory equipped with a mirror]].
*** Either way, you will get the card {{IL|An Unattended Mirror}} in your Upper River deck. (This card can be drawn ''anywhere'' in the Upper River, not just where the mirrors are.) No matter where the card is, you can use it to drop into Parabola, paying the usual honey entrance fee.
** [[The Great Mirror]] in {{IL|The Wellspring of Moulin}} will also allow you to enter Parabola if you have at least {{IL|Glasswork}} 5... and you will see something truly unique, or uniquely true, along the way.
** The only way to leave [[The Castle That Isn't Here]] is by dream. If you don't have enough materials when you're there, you can go to {{IL|The Mirror-Marches}} (which, unfortunately, is not connected to the main Parabola area). Or you can [[Establish a route to your Parabolan Base-Camp]], costing 3000 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey}} and a {{IL|Crystallised Euphoria}}, and then [[Travel to your Parabolan Base-Camp]] (non-Silverer)/[[Travel to your Parabolan Base-Camp (2)]] (Silverer).
** (When [[Becalmed]] in {{IL|The Pillared Sea}}, it is highly inadvisable to [[Cross the threshold|take a swan-dive off the back of your own ship]], not even if the ocean looks like a mirror and the option is unlocked by having {{IL|Glasswork}} 5. That will ''not'' take you to Parabola. You will just end up in [[Your Lodgings]] coughing up a lungful of water. Nice try, though.)
* You can leave Parabola to several locations. It does not matter where you entered; exit is free.
** It is always possible to return to {{IL|Your Lodgings}} in London.
** If you have a {{IL|University Laboratory (Place)|Appearance=University Laboratory}}, you can exit directly into it, whether or not you actually did the research project.
** If you have built the relevant train station developments, you can pass through [[Pass through to Balmoral|to Balmoral]], [[Pass through to Station VIII|to Station VIII]], and/or [[Pass through to the Hurlers Station|to the Hurlers]].
** If you unlocked the bridge to it, you can [[Visit the Adulterine Castle]]. <ref>Although whether this really counts as leaving Parabola is questionable, as the only way to leave the Adulterine Castle is by going back to Parabola regardless.</ref>

===Menaces in Parabola===
*While in Parabola, {{IL|Scandal}} and {{IL|Suspicion}} have no effect when they reach 8, and kick in only once you return to London.<ref>notably ''not'' while you are in the University Laboratory, which may give you a last-ditch chance to use [[Tomb Sciences]] to save yourself from scandal</ref> However, no actions in Parabola increase either.
* At {{IL|Wounds}} 8, the storylet [[Falling apart]] will auto-fire at your Base-Camp. This will consume {{IL|Glasswork}} and {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}. If you do not have any Kataleptic Toxicology this storylet is harmless, but if you do it is very important to avoid 8 wounds in Parabola, as KT is relatively difficult to grind.
* When reaching 8 {{IL|Nightmares}} in your Parabolan Base Camp, the Storylet [[Conflagration]] will auto-fire. This storylet will consume 8 CP of  Nightmares, increase {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}} by 1, and lower you {{IL|Glasswork}} and {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} skills by 1 level each. Since those new to Parabola will usually not have any CP of Glasswork or Monstrous Anatomy, this storylet will initially allow you to gain Sighted the Storm-bird without any negative consequence and efficiently reduces {{IL|Nightmares}}.
** If you have already acquired some amount of {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} (such as from experiments in the [[University Laboratory]]), you will lose your CP, but don't worry! Parabola allows players to easily and quickly grind higher levels of MA.
** You want {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}} because sightings make finding and hunting said bird easier. The Storm-Bird is eventually required for important activities such as increasing your {{IL|Monstrous Studies}}.
*** Assuming you follow this guide, your first few Hunts in Parabola will naturally get you the Nightmares you need to do this, and you will not need to go out of your way for them.

==Hunting in Parabola (the First Pass)==
Hunting Parabolan animals can be accessed through [[Track the Animals of Parabola]], available in your Base-Camp.
===Your First Hunt: the Seven-Throated Warbler===
*All the other Parabolan Quarries have prerequisites, though you will be hunting all three in this guide. Besides, you'll want to do this a few times anyway for the {{IL|Hillmover}}s (see below).
*All your options here change the {{IL|Airs of Parabola}}. Look for the options that appear to reference other locations. These are dependent on Airs and they give you the route to other locations. When they show up, play them if you don't have their Route yet. If they don't show up this hunt, don't worry. You'll be doing more.
**The most important one is to [[Ascend the side of a dome]], since this is the only way to gain access to {{IL|The Dome of Scales}} right now.
**If you don't have a {{IL|Shared a Phantasie of the Bazaar|Appearance=Phantasie of the Bazaar}} for the {{IL|Viric Jungle}}, that's all right. There are other options.
**If you do not have the required dream qualities for {{IL|The Chessboard}} or {{IL|The Waswood}}, do not worry. Instead, unlock these routes by playing the storylet options in [[Leave your Parabolan Base-Camp]] later.
*Unless you have a special airs option available that you haven't played yet, the best way to hunt right now is just to [[Push onward]] over and over. This gives you {{IL|Nightmares}} on failure, which is a good thing.
**'''Allow your nightmares to reach 8 and enter [[Conflagration]].'''
**Play the option given. It will lower your nightmares by 8 CP and give you one instance of {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}}. If you are following this guide, the penalty to {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} or {{IL|Glasswork}} won't matter yet.
*Once you succeed in Pushing Onward, you're given two options: to fight the beast in its lair or out here, in the open (has {{IL|Nightmares}} requirements). Choosing the lair gives you the opportunity to steal from its nest, which grants you alternative rewards without requiring skill checks, as well as the ability to grind {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} (which we will take advantage of later, but not right now).
**For the Seven-Throated Warbler, stealing from its nest gives a {{IL|Hillmover}}. You will want 3 of these to upgrade your laboratory equipment, and later you will want another 3 for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}.
***Eventually, you will also want some for the [[Railway (Guide)|Railway]].
**The {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}} itself is useful for a variety of things, including being a good {{IL|Persuasive}} companion (+8 Persuasive). You will eventually want 3 for your [[Better understand the metabolism of poisons|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies]], and one more for a {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}. You can also [[Offer a habitation to seven very small Fingerkings|give them to the Fingerkings]] (and be rewarded with a {{IL|Forty-Nine-Voiced Warbler}}).
*If you choose to fight the beast in its lair but still just want to capture it, just play the option to [[Capture the Seven-Throated Warbler]] and ignore the one to [[Ambush the (Parabolan Quarry) at close range|ambush it at close range]]. It might escape and wound you. Increasing {{IL|Wounds}} to 8 is okay if you don't have base {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}.
** Usually it is easier and faster to play the option [[Trick the (Parabolan Quarry) into chasing you]] if you want to capture the beast itself.
===After the Hunt===
*Do not heal your {{IL|Wounds}} unless you have {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} already (allowing them to reach 8 and being forced into [[Falling apart]] is better).
*Do not heal your {{IL|Nightmares}} (allow them to reach 8 and be reduced by [[Conflagration]]).
*Check which routes you have open by playing the storylet [[Leave your Parabolan Base-Camp]]. The three options you want to see are [[Visit the Moonlit Chessboard]], [[Visit the Waswood]], and [[Visit the Dome of Scales]], though the only vital one is {{IL|The Dome of Scales}}. The other routes you can deal with later.
* If you don't have all the routes, no problem. Do another hunt! You'll eventually want at least 6 {{IL|Hillmover}}s and 4 {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}}s (5 if you plan to keep one as a companion following its usage in lab experiments).
===Your Other Hunt: the Focused Albatross ===
*After you capture one {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}}, you'll gain a {{IL|Dream-Trophies of Parabola|Appearance=Parabolan Trophy}}. This unlocks the option to hunt the {{IL|Focused Albatross}}.
*This hunt is much the same as the former, except the checks are more difficult and you can't steal anything of value from its nest.
* Use the option to [[Bait the Focused Albatross|bait it with a goldfish]]. This makes it substantially easier to capture and failing will give you {{IL|Wounds}} and force you to spend an additional action chasing it.
*You will eventually want 3 Focused Albatrosses for {{IL|Monstrous Studies}}, and one for the {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}. It also has value as a companion for completionists and those who want a companion who gives nightmares.
*Note: Do not hunt the Storm-Bird yet.
===Acquire the following items from your hunts===
You don't have to get these all at once, but this is what you'll eventually come out with.
*6 {{IL|Hillmover}}s
*4 {{IL|Focused Albatross}}es
*1 less than your intended number of {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}}s (3 or 4, you will come back for the last one later)
*Several instances of {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}} (there will be another way to increase your {{IL|Nightmares}}, later, but try to get some now)
== Grinding Advanced Stats==
===A Player of Chess===
For a more in-depth look at the Chessboard, see [[The Chessboard (Guide)|this guide]].
* If you haven't found the route to {{IL|The Chessboard}} already, you may leave this step for later. The Chessboard will allow you to gain {{IL|A Player of Chess}} and increase it to base level 7. It also allows players who do not have {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s a chance to acquire them but it is otherwise independent from the rest of your progress through Parabola.
* At the chess-board, it will eventually be most rewarding to [[play as white]]. If you have advanced your {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|Appearance=Liberation of Night}} to the point where you cannot pick white, pick black instead.
*Start off by playing the option to [[Follow the movements of the pieces]] twice. (A rare/alternative success here grants an {{IL|Incisive Observation}}. You will probably pick up some by the time you finish grinding {{IL|A Player of Chess}}.) It is a good idea to spend a {{IL|Sudden Insight}} on this check as you will need to spend three actions to return to the start of the game and get another chance to raise {{IL|A Player of Chess}}.
*In the midgame:
** As white, simply [[Play aggressively]]. You will probably fail, which is good right now. Alternatively, you can [[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] to progress the {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|Appearance=Liberation of Night}} and guarantee failure (failing will be important).
** As black, [[Sabotage your side (Black)|Sabotage your side]]—you want to swap to white. Don't worry about losing your {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|Appearance=Liberation of Night}}, there are ways to grind it back up. Alternatively, if your {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night}} quality is too high to quickly lower below 10, there is another method to swap to white. Either way, sabotage is a good idea; failing is important!
** In order to quickly level {{IL|A Player of Chess}}, spend your new game [[Follow the movements of the pieces|Following the Movements of the Pieces]], then in the midgame take any two actions before [[Allow yourself to be sacrificed|Allowing Yourself to be Sacrificed]]—it's much quicker to do this than to continue the game, since at low values of {{IL|A Player of Chess}} it is extremely difficult to actually win games.  The midgame action you take doesn't matter, but you probably don't want to spend the {{IL|Justificande Coin|Appearance=Justificandes}} you get from sacrificing yourself to gain {{IL|Moves in the Great Game}}. Save them for railway progress later.
*{{IL|A Player's Studies}}
**You first need to raise {{IL|A Player of Chess}} to 5 and then reach {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses}} 7. In the endgame, [[Recognise new possibilities in the depth of your loss]]. This will give you a level of {{IL|A Player's Studies|Appearance=Player of Chess Studies}}, boosting your maximum to 6.
**If your {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night}} quality was too high to reduce below 10 by standard means, as discussed above, you'll want to swap to white by winning a game then [[Betray! Destroy! Take black down from the inside!|Betraying Black]]. Note that this option is locked if you have 5 or more {{IL|Favours: The Great Game|Appearance=Great Game favours}}.
**Once you have achieved {{IL|A Player of Chess}} 6 and are playing as white, you will want to achieve a game where you have {{IL|Positional Advantages}} 23 and {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses}} under 7. To do this, start by [[Open according to accepted best practices]] and then anything else (the choice should not matter; just don't spend your {{IL|Vital Intelligence}}). In the midgame [[Play aggressively|Play Aggressively]] three times. If you fail two or more checks at any point (except the one you wasted to leave the early game), sacrifice yourself and start over. But if you have succeeded in all or all but one check by the time you reach {{IL|Progress on the Board}} 5, spend your {{IL|Vital Intelligence}} by [[Take advantage of your Intelligence|Taking Advantage of Your Intelligence]] twice. This will take you to exactly 23 {{IL|Positional Advantages}} with the minimal amount of echoes/RNG involved. In the endgame, [[Recognise new possibilities in the height of your win]].
**Grind up to {{IL|A Player of Chess}} 7 in the manner previously described. At this point you should be able to consistently win even when [[Follow the movements of the pieces|following the movements of the pieces]], so feel free to grab some {{IL|Epaulette Mate|Appearance=Epaulette Mates}} and {{IL|Queen Mate|Appearance=Queen Mates}}.
* Consider swapping to black before you leave; this will make it easier to grind {{IL|Mithridacy}} later.
*This entire process ''can'' be done in one long session in the Chessboard, though doing so is not necessary — traveling away and back in Parabola is free, and your place is always saved. Also, don't bother healing the wounds you acquired sacrificing yourself unless you have base {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}.
===Mithridacy===
*If you do not have the route to {{IL|The Waswood}}, and do not have {{IL|Having Recurring Dreams: Is Someone There?}} 2 or higher, you may find the route by playing the storylet [[Leave your Parabolan Base-Camp]] and [[Look for the Waswood|attempting the check]]. It will eventually succeed. If you do have {{IL|Having Recurring Dreams: Is Someone There?}} 2 or higher, keep doing more hunts until the option [[Cut through a forest of things-that-were]] appears and play it.
*Check the [[The Sacroboscan Calendar (Guide)]] to see what is currently available in  {{IL|The Waswood}}. Choosing to [[Search out the lost histories of London]] will allow you to play out a shortened version of a past event, and some reward useful items. This event rotates out every week, and whenever you play one you will be able to return in a week.
*Pick the option to [[Compose a Corrective History]]. If it fails, it increases your {{IL|Mithridacy}} and gives {{IL|Nightmares}}.
*After you successfully compose a {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}}, switch to [[Compose a Revisionist History|composing Revisionist Histories]].
*'''Allow your {{IL|Nightmares}} to reach 8, like previous'''
**Upon returning to your Base-Camp, you will enter [[Conflagration]].
**This should quickly increase your {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}} quality. '''You will eventually want 7.'''
* You will eventually want to acquire 3 {{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}}s and 1 {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}} for {{IL|Mithridant Studies}}. 
*If you accidentally use all your {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s, don't worry. See below ({{IL|Glass Studies}}) for how to get more.
*If you are extremely stingy, a {{IL|Talkative Rattus Faber}} or {{IL|Weasel of Woe}} may be useful to help you fail checks so you can increase {{IL|Mithridacy}} without consuming items.
===Glasswork===
*'''Before you grind {{IL|Glasswork}}, make sure you have 7 {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}}. If you don't, continue grinding {{IL|Nightmares}} until you do.'''
**Players who have additional  '''{{IL|Glasswork}}''' increasing items will need 1 less {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}} per point they have. The difficulty of the check to begin hunting the {{Il|Storm-bird}} is 10 minus your amount of {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}}. This is why you want 7 {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}}: a difficulty of 3 allows you to 100% the check at 8 adjusted {{IL|Glasswork}}.
**To make it easier to get to 7, you can equip the {{IL|Sporing Bonnet}} and the {{IL|Focused Albatross}}. Each of these will increase your {{IL|Nightmares}} gain, allowing you to encounter the Storm-Bird more quickly.
** The two methods most useful for gaining CP in  '''{{IL|Glasswork}}''' are by playing the option [[Apply your own knowledge]] while tracking Parabolan prey or by playing [[Sneak away from your wounds]] from [[Attend to Your Health]] in your Parabolan Base Camp. Either option gives +1 CP  '''{{IL|Glasswork}}''', success or failure.
*** If you haven't yet opened the route to {{IL|The Dome of Scales}}, use [[Apply your own knowledge]] to grind Glasswork CP, and be sure to watch for the option to [[Ascend the side of a dome]] as this is the only way to open the route.

*{{IL|Glass Studies}}
**Once you reach 5  '''{{IL|Glasswork}}''', you can [[Leave your Parabolan Base-Camp]] and [[Visit the Dome of Scales]]
** If you really need more {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s, you can choose the option [[The Top of the Dome]] and [[Climb the dome itself]], though this will be very difficult without higher levels of {{IL|Glasswork}}. Consider coming back later for the {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s.
**Play the storylet [[The Dome of Scales, Occupied]] and either [[Recognise the Fingerking]] or [[Be introduced to the enormous snake]]. This will grant you a level of {{IL|Glass Studies}}, boosting your maximum to 6.
**Choose any seven options to give the Fingerkings items in exchange for favours. '''Do not give them your {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}} unless you intend to go hunt more.'''
**Once at 7 {{IL|Favours: Fingerkings}}, play the option [[Purchase a greater freedom of the place]]. This will grant you a second level of {{IL|Glass Studies}}, boosting your maximum to 7.
**Give the Fingerkings three more items to gain more favours, then leave.
**'''If you don't like the Fingerkings, there are options later to raise Glass Studies by siding with the Cats or with the Red-Handed Queen in the [[Parabolan War (Guide)|Parabolan War]].'''

*Interlude: Viric Clothing
**If you already have the route to the {{IL|Viric Jungle}}, now is an acceptable time to visit. Play the option [[The Most Searing Green]] and trade in your Parabola-Linen clothing for Viric clothing that gives you +1 {{IL|Glasswork}}.
**Note: the reward for doing this, the {{IL|Viric Frock}}/{{IL|Viric Suit|Appearance=Suit}}, has a similar use to the {{IL|Strange-Shore Parabola Frock}}/{{IL|Strange-Shore Parabola Suit|Appearance=Suit}} which can be [[A Familiar Face?|obtained from the Nadir]], also by trading in a {{IL|Parabola-Linen Frock}}/{{IL|Parabola-Linen Suit|Appearance=Suit}}, or [[The Maundering Rat's Stall|bought]] from [[The Rat Market (Guide)|The Rat Market]] in the Flit.
**If you don't like the Fingerkings, you can also get this by [[Pay to have a frock dipped in Viric|paying a small fortune]] in the [[Visit the Clay Tailor|Clay Tailor]] at the {{IL|Bazaar Side-Streets|Appearance=Sidestreets}} in London proper.
* To increase  '''{{IL|Glasswork}}''' the final level, we will chase another Parabolan quarry.
* Once you are properly [[Lost in Strange Lands]], repeatedly choose the option to [[Apply your own knowledge]].
**Starting from {{IL|Glasswork}} 0, you will have to increase {{IL|Glasswork}} 28 times to get to 7. You do not have to do this all right now: your next hunt is the {{IL|Storm-bird}}, which will present more opportunities to spam this option.
** You will also be able to build up {{IL|Glasswork}} by healing the {{IL|Wounds}} you acquire on this hunt (you will definitely acquire {{IL|Wounds}} on this hunt).
*Once at {{IL|Glasswork}} 5-7 (7+1 due to {{IL|Set of Cosmogone Spectacles|Appearance=Cosmogone Spectacles}}), or just when the option [[Push onward]] is at a 100% chance to succeed, move onto the next step by playing the option [[Push onward]].

===Monstrous Anatomy===
*{{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} is most easily farmed by [[Await the (Parabolan Quarry) at its Lair|Awaiting the Seven-Throated Warbler at its Terraced Nest]], then [[Continue towards (Quarry Home)|Continuing Towards its Terraced Nest]].
**Any quarry will do, the Warbler is just the easiest to hunt.
*[[Strike down the (Parabolan Quarry) here in (Quarry Home)|Strike Down the Seven-Throated Warbler Here in Its Terraced Nest]]
*Repeatedly [[Ambush the (Parabolan Quarry) at close range|Ambush the Seven-Throated Warbler at Close Range]]
**You would need to play this option 15 times to increase {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} to 5. You may spread this out across multiple hunts.
*Do not allow yourself to reach 8 {{IL|Wounds}}.
*[[Capture the Seven-Throated Warbler]] and return to Base-Camp. Heal back up by [[Sneak away from your wounds|Sneaking Away From Your Wounds]] (but not up to full, see below).
=== Kataleptic Toxicology===
*{{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}s are how you get {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} in Parabola. Growing Parabolan Orange-apples can be done from your Base-Camp.
* Growing a {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}} is done by playing the option [[Tend a Curious Tree]] in the Base-Camp, and using any of the options to fertilise and subsequently pluck fruit from the tree.
** Then, attempting to [[Eat only the safe part of the Orange-apple]] under the [[Attend to Your Health]] storylet will heal you on success, and grants you 1 CP of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} succeed or fail.
**If you wish to level {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} through the Polite Poisoner, this is a way to get your first level and unlock the {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} option on [[A Curious Taste|her opportunity card]].
** Unlocking your first point can also be gained by researching {{IL|A Vial of Queenly Attar|Appearance=Queenly Attar}}, though that research project is more time-consuming.
**Continuing to raise and eat further Orange-apples is a reliable but very expensive way to raise Kataleptic Toxicology, if you are not going to use Slights/Assassins.  You will, of course, have to pay for an Orange-apple each time, making this option inefficient.
**The other option requires having an {{IL|Acicular Squirrel}} from Whitsun and [[Allow your Acicular Squirrel to lead you|allowing it to lead you]] while on monster hunts.
*Future points of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} are best acquired outside of Parabola, since eating {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}s is expensive. More on how to level {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} is explained below.
* You will eventually need 10 Orange-apples to raise your {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}.
==Hunting in Parabola (the Last Pass) ==
===Your Last Hunt: the Storm-Bird ===
*To even start hunting the Storm-Bird requires you to succeed on [[Pick up the trail of the Storm-bird|a Glasswork check]]. The difficulty of this check is 10 minus your amount of {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}}. This is why you want 7 {{IL|Sighted the Storm-bird}}: a difficulty of 3 allows you to 100% the check at 8 adjusted {{IL|Glasswork}}.
*Hunting the Storm-Bird is much like hunting the other two birds, except now you probably don't want to build up {{IL|Nightmares}}. Instead, you can spam the [[Apply your own knowledge]] and {{IL|Airs of Parabola|Appearance=Airs}} options (all route options give +10 {{IL|Parabolan Scouting}}) before [[Push onward|Pushing Onwards]] as a 100% chance, then instead of fighting the Storm-Bird in the open you can [[Face the (Parabolan Quarry) in (Quarry Home)|track it back to its Cloud]] and [[Ambush the (Parabolan Quarry) at close range|Ambush it at Close Range]] until you can 100% the check to [[Capture the Storm-bird|capture it]]. This gives you the least amount of {{IL|Nightmares}}, which is something that you may care about. Alternatively, follow a similar strategy as previous and heal up the nightmares however you see fit.
* The loot from the Storm-Bird's nest is fairly underwhelming: usually some {{IL|Bessemer Steel Ingot}}s, and occasionally a {{IL|Whirring Contraption}} or {{IL|A Miniature Model Ship}} (good for collectors but not worth much otherwise). All of these can be obtained elsewhere, more efficiently [[Bessemer Steel Ingot (Guide)|for the first]] and [[Searching out a Missing Woman (Guide)|second]], and more flavorfully (but possibly with more difficulty) [[Devices and Desires|for the third]].
*You will eventually want 3 {{IL|Storm-bird}}s for {{IL|Monstrous Studies}} and 1 {{IL|Storm-bird}} for a {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}. It also has marginal value as a companion, and can be [[Offer the Storm-bird to Fingerkings|presented to the Fingerkings]] for 4-5 {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s per action (reasonable early as a way to finish projects quickly, but outclassed later by other options).
*You do not necessarily need to hunt all 4 {{IL|Storm-bird}}s right now. You can come back later.
===Your Lab===
*Play the storylet [[Leave your Parabolan Base-Camp]] and find the route to your {{IL|Reflection of your Laboratory|Appearance=university laboratory's reflection}} (and the {{IL|Viric Jungle}} if you haven't done that yet).
*If you want {{IL|Ambiguous Eolith}}s for the lab and you don't have access to {{IL|The Bone Market}} yet, you can go to {{IL|The Waswood}} and repeatedly [[Reach towards the shore (Airs 0-49)]].
** There are two identical storylets about reaching towards the shore that depend on Airs. If you aren't getting the one you want, cycle Airs by repeatedly leaving to your Base-Camp and returning to the Waswood.
*If you need to, go to the {{IL|Reflection of your Laboratory}} and [[Perform Research|do some]] {{IL|Parabolan Research}}.
** You can increase the amount of research this produces by increasing {{IL|Glass Studies}}.
* Check to make sure you have 3 {{IL|Hillmover}}s, which you will use as part of [[Improve Your Equipment|improving your Laboratory Equipment]] from level 4 to level 5.

==The Checklist: Parabolan Booty==
(See also [[#Making Use of Parabola]] below.)

In total, you should end up with:

*Beasts of Parabola
**4-5 {{IL|Storm-bird}}s (3 for {{IL|Monstrous Studies}}, 1 for the {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}, 1 as a companion that reduces {{IL|Nightmares}} build up)
**4-5 {{IL|Focused Albatross}} (3 for {{IL|Monstrous Studies}}, 1 for the {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}, and 1 as a companion that increases {{IL|Nightmares}} build up)
**4-5 {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}}s (3 for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}, 1 for the {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}, and 1 as a companion that gives +8 {{IL|Persuasive}})
**At least 12 {{IL|Hillmover}}s (3 for {{IL|Equipment for Scientific Experimentation|Appearance=Lab Equipment}} level 5, 3 for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}, and at minimum 6 more<ref>possibly up to 24, if you're a Liberationist</ref> for [[The Next Stretch of Track/Lay track|Railway tracks]])
*Stats of Parabola
**5 {{IL|Mithridacy}}
**7 {{IL|Glasswork}}
**7 {{IL|A Player of Chess}}
**5 {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}}
**0-1 {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}, depending on whether you want your first point from Parabola in order to gain more from the Polite Poisoner
* Items of Parabola
**Optional: 1 {{IL|Viric Frock}}/{{IL|Viric Suit}} (+1 {{IL|Glasswork}} Clothing)
**3 {{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}}s, 1 {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}} (For use in {{IL|Mithridant Studies}})
** 10 {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}s (for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}})

===Monstrous Anatomy Studies===
*{{IL|Monstrous Studies}} are conducted through research projects at the laboratory. You will need {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} 5 to start them, and you will need {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} 6 to get the maximum lifted to 7.
* Your first level of {{IL|Monstrous Studies}} is through the research project [[Work toward a fuller understanding of monstrosities 1|Work Toward A Fuller Understanding of Monstrosities]]. It costs 3 {{IL|Focused Albatross}}es and 500 {{IL|Cheerful Goldfish}} to begin, and requires 300 {{IL|Laboratory Research}} and 50 {{IL|Parabolan Research}}.
**The 500 {{IL|Cheerful Goldfish}} are purchased from the Bazaar for 0.4 E each, at a total cost of 200 Echoes.
* Your second level of {{IL|Monstrous Studies}} is through a research project that is also titled [[Work toward a fuller understanding of monstrosities 2|Work Toward A Fuller Understanding of Monstrosities]]. This one costs 3 {{IL|Storm-bird}}. Finishing the project takes 500 {{IL|Laboratory Research}} and 50 {{IL|Parabolan Research}}. (Note that you don't necessarily need to go back to Parabola for Parabolan Research, but it is faster and more optimal to gain research in Parabola).
*You don't have to go back to Parabola right now to grind {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}} up to 7.
**Completing the {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}} will grant you some CP in {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}}, as will completing several other research projects.
**You will also have to go back to Parabola after reaching Ealing Gardens on the Railway to hunt the {{IL|Honey-Mazed Bear}} and the {{IL|Kill the Pinewood Shark|appearance=Pinewood Shark}} for {{IL|Dangerous Gains}}, which is an opportunity to spam [[Ambush the (Parabolan Quarry) at close range|Ambush at Close Range]] and grind up {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}}.
===Mithridant Studies ===
*{{IL|Mithridant Studies}} requires having progressed the [[Involved in a Railway Venture|Railway storyline]] to the first station at {{IL|Ealing Gardens}}.
*At Doubt Street, you can now [[Publish an edition in Defence of the Railway]] with 30 {{IL|Rumour of the Upper River|Appearance=Rumours of the Upper River}}, 60 {{IL|Meritorious Copy|Appearance=Meritorious Copy}}, 5 {{IL|Mithridacy}}, and 1 {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}}. This will grant you your first level of {{IL|Mithridant Studies}}, boosting your maximum {{IL|Mithridacy}} to 6.
*The next level of {{IL|Mithridant Studies}} requires 6 {{IL|Mithridacy}}, meaning that you will have to do some grinding. Since you have {{IL|Ealing Gardens}} open already, this is easily accomplished by drawing cards there and [[Liberate Ealing Gardens|Liberating Ealing Gardens]] by [[Give a calculated speech on Freedom and Darkness|Giving a calculated speech on Freedom and Darkness]], though doing so requires playing for black at {{IL|The Chessboard}}.
**If you are opposed to {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night}} and have a station open at {{IL|The Magistracy of the Evenlode}}, as well as the {{IL|Unassuming Judge}} and/or its upgraded forms from past [[Hallowmas (Guide)|Hallowmas]] festivals ({{IL|An Assuming Judge}}, {{IL|A Very Lenient Judge}}), you may instead wait to draw the card [[Respectable Passengers]] and [[Snoop on a legal argument]].
**If you have not developed the railway that far or were not here for several previous [[Hallowmas (Guide)|Hallowmases]], but still do not like {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night}}, you can grind by writing several more Historical Narratives in {{IL|The Waswood}} instead.
*** If you are a cheapskate, failing (through means such as equipping a {{IL|Weasel of Woe|appearance=Woesel}}) will not consume the items but will still give you Mithridacy CP anyway.
*After achieving {{IL|Mithridacy}} 6, go back to {{IL|Doubt Street}} and [[Elaborate upon your Defence of the Railway|Elaborate Upon Your Defence of the Railway]] with 30 more {{IL|Rumour of the Upper River|Appearance=Rumours of the Upper River}}, 60 {{IL|Salacious Copy|Appearance=Salacious Copy}}, and 3 {{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}}s. This will grant you your second level of {{IL|Mithridant Studies}}, boosting your maximum to 7.
* Grind up to 7 {{IL|Mithridacy}} with the option you previously employed.
===Kataleptic Toxicology===
*There are three main ways to increase Kataleptic Toxicology outside of Parabola, a fourth in Parabola, and a couple where you just suck it up and grow and eat {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple|Appearance=Parabolan Orange-apples}}. They vary widely in their Echo, Action, special companion and/or game advancement requirements, so, well... pick your poison.
*Method 1: Attar
**With 7 {{IL|Attar}} and 77 {{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub}}s, you can [[Light your candles (Far Arbor)|Light Your Candles]] in Far Arbor for {{IL|A Vial of Queenly Attar}} provided you do not have one on hand already.
**In the laboratory, you can [[Study the properties of Attar]], a research project which takes 450 {{IL|Laboratory Research}} and 15 {{IL|Parabolan Research}} to complete and does NOT consume the {{IL|A Vial of Queenly Attar|Appearance=Vial of Queenly Attar}}. It gives 1 {{IL|Night-Whisper}} in addition to 1 CP of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}, making it a reasonable way to grind echoes in addition to Toxicology for solo players.
** At an average research gain of 10 per action, that's 45 actions per CP of KT. At 15 per action, that's 30 actions per CP.
** At 15 CP needed for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 5, that's (roughly) 400-700 actions. But you get 15x {{IL|Night-Whisper}}, for a total of {{e}}937.5 in profit. That works out to an EPA of (very roughly) 1.3 to 2.3.
*Method 2: Peppercaps
**With access to the Railway, one may purchase the book {{IL|Fungal Dangers and Poisons: A Guide for New Growers}} for 80 {{IL|Hinterland Scrip}}. This item allows you to trade in 10 {{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps}} for 1 CP of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}.
**{{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps|Appearance=Peppercaps}} are accessible through various means depending on how far along you are in the railway. At all stages, you have access to the opportunity card [[A Disillusioned Fungiculturalist]], which lets you trade 10 {{IL|Nightsoil of the Bazaar|Appearance=Nightsoil}} for 15 {{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps|Appearance=Peppercaps}}, or to pick up 3-10 {{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps|Appearance=Peppercaps}} if you have high enough {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} and can bring your {{IL|Respectable}} to 0.
**With {{IL|Train Luxuries}} 4, you can [[Forget the biscuits, take the Solacefruit]] (or, with sufficient {{IL|Bizarre}}, [[Never mind the Solacefruit, take the mushroom vol-au-vents]]) at {{IL|Helicon House}} when you only have 1 {{IL|Time Remaining at Helicon House|Appearance=Time Remaining}} there. This gives as many {{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps}} as you have {{IL|Fitting in at Helicon House}} (+an extra 15, if you nab the vol-au-vents) and is accessible right from {{IL|Ealing Gardens}}.
**If you've made it to {{IL|The Magistracy of the Evenlode|Appearance=Evenlode}} and are a member of {{IL|The Young Stags' Club}}, the club opportunity card [[More Larks with the Young Stags]] allows you to trade 5 {{IL|Rumour of the Upper River|Appearance=Rumours of the Upper River}} for (27 + {{IL|Train Baggage Accommodations}}) {{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps}}.
**If you've made it to {{IL|Station VIII}}, you can [[Score a sign on this crate]] at the cost of 1 {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}, which has a 50% chance of granting a {{IL|Halcyonic Tonic}}. This can then be [[Supply the Academic with a Halcyonic Tonic|sold to the Nonspecific Academic at the University]] (if you have a {{IL|Cabinet Noir}}) for 10 {{IL|Hand-picked Peppercaps}}, among other goodies.
*Method 3: The Polite Poisoner
** You can [[:Category:Slighted! Gain|slight]] fellow Londoners,<ref>which is profitable to do when you are using the Newspaper</ref> and in response they may send assassins after you. One of these is the Polite Poisoner, [[Entreat an assassin: The Polite Poisoner|hired in the Forgotten Quarter]] for 250 {{IL|Piece of Rostygold}} and 2 {{IL|Muscaria Brandy}}.
*** A minimum of 4 actions will net 3x {{IL|Muscaria Brandy}} from [[Hunting Bees in Old Newgate (Guide)|Hunting Bees in Old Newgate]] when you [[Send a small amount of Bees to Hell]], 1.33 actions per Brandy.
***{{IL|Muscaria Brandy}} may also be heisted from [[The Circumspect Envoy's Townhouse|the Circumspect Envoy]], so long as any of the first three options are chosen and you [[Deliver the documents to the Brass Embassy|Deliver the Documents to the Brass Embassy]].
**Once hired, the Polite Poisoner will add an opportunity card to your deck, [[A Curious Taste]]. With one level of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}, an option will show up on this card which allows you to [[Drink up. Metabolize the poison.]]. This will give you 1 CP of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}, success or fail, and will either give you a {{IL|Blackmail Material}} (12.5 Echoes) on success or refund 5 Echoes on failure.
**Without an {{IL|Acicular Squirrel}} (see next), this method is by far the cheapest and quickest way to level up {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}. However, it does require having willing slight participants.
***Slights are delivered most easily through {{IL|Doubt Street}}, where you can write [[A column revealing certain facts about an acquaintance]] at {{IL|Hour before the Deadline}} 4. ''And'' you can do this as [[Publishing a Newspaper (Guide)|part of a good EPA grind]] while you're at it!
*Method 4: Acicular Squirrel
**This method requires 200 {{IL|Shadowy}} and an {{IL|Acicular Squirrel}} from [[Whitsun]].
** If you don't have 200 base of Shadowy, grind {{IL|Oneiromantic Revelation|Appearance=Oneiromantic Revelations}} at [[The_Sunken_Embassy_(Guide)|The Sunken Embassy]], then convert them into 5x {{IL|Vitreous Almanac}}. You can spend 4 Almanacs at the [[The Dome of Scales]] using [[Keep below the leaves]] for 275 CP of Shadowy. Repeat until you're at Shadowy 200, and remember that 4 Revelations gets you 5 shots at Keeping Below.
**In Parabola, begin any of the {{IL|Shadowy}} hunts under [[Search Parabola for a Place in the Neath]].
**While [[Lost in Strange Lands]] choose [[Allow your Acicular Squirrel to lead you]].  You can do this an unlimited number of times and each gives you 1 CP of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} whether you succeed or fail, with no menaces.
* Method 5: LB Industries -- if you have no Echoes but 110 actions to spare
**This method doesn't require 200 {{IL|Shadowy}}, but it'll save actions if you get it anyway before starting. See the previous method for pretty much the best Shadowy grind.
** [[L. B. Industries (Guide)|LB Industries]] pays out secondary rewards in bone fragments. You need 1100 per {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}. At around {{IL|Shadowy}} 250 (modified with clothing), [[Assist with assembly]] pays out ~270 or so bone fragments per action. {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 5 takes 15 CP, which is 15 * 1100 = 16,500 bone frags, which is ~61 actions. Call it 65 after the carousel fees and buying the cheapest primary reward ([[Receive your pay in biscuits]]). At (modified) 200 Shadowy, the number are 210 per action and ~83 total actions.
** Each CP of KT needs 3 additional actions ([[Fertilise the tree with bone]], [[Pick a fruit from the tree]], [[Eat only the safe part of the Orange-apple]]), so 45 additional actions on top of LB Industries, for a grand total of ~110 to get {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 5.
** For {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 7 (requires {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}} -- see below), essentially do it again. It takes another 13 CP, so only slightly less than getting to KT 5.
* Method 6: The Bone Market -- if you have only 60 actions to spare, but can spend {{e}}275
** [[Assembling a Skeleton (Guide)/Tutorial|A step-by-step tutorial]] is available for the Bone Market.
** Build a [[Assembling_a_Skeleton_(Guide)/Recipes#Brass_Lollipop|Brass Lollipop]]. This will cost {{e}}62.50 for a {{IL|Bright Brass Skull}} from the Bazaar, 1000 {{IL|Jade Fragment}} for a {{IL|Headless Skeleton}} from [[The Small Stalls]] in the Bone Market, and 200 {{IL|Nevercold Brass Sliver}}, for a total of {{e}}74.50 in materials.
*** Of course, if you have spare brass skulls and headless skeletons kicking around in your Possessions gathering dust, you can just use those.
** Sell the skeleton to [[A Palaeontologist with Hoarding Propensities|the Bone Hoarder]] for ~6700 bone fragments. At 1100 per {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}, that's enough for 6 CP of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}.
** 3 skeletons is enough for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 5 ({{e}}275, with some left over)
** Each skeleton takes 5 actions (buy the headless skeleton, assemble a skeleton, attach the skull, declare it a complete humanoid, sell it). Each CP of KT takes 3 actions (see above, but essentially: fertilize, pick, eat), so 3 skeletons and 15 CP works out to 60 actions.
** Another 2 skeletons ({{e}}149), plus the left overs, is enough for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 7 (requires {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}} -- see below).


*{{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}
**It should take some time to level up {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}, but once you do you can spend 60 {{IL|Lucky Weasel}}s and 10 {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}s to [[Make a deeper study of toxins|Make a Deeper Study of Toxins]].
***The {{IL|Lucky Weasel}}s can be purchased from the Bazaar for 24 Echoes total. The 10 {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}s will require stockpiling resources (see Methods 5-6 above for grinding bone fragments to fertilize the tree) and gathering them in a visit to Parabola.
** This project is finished using 20 {{IL|Venom-Ruby|Appearance=Venom-Rubies}}, 300 {{IL|Laboratory Research}}, and 50 {{IL|Parabolan Research}}, and it grants you your first level of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}, boosting your maximum to 6.
***{{IL|Venom-Ruby|Appearance=Venom-Rubies}} are acquirable from a variety of sources, and having very little usage means that you will likely have a stockpile of them. However, the most consistent source is still [[Pick out a venom-ruby|Picking Out a Venom-Ruby]] at [[See if Empire Adornments is Open|Empire Adornments]] in the {{IL|Bazaar Side-Streets}}.
**You will require {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} 6 to gain the second level of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}}.
**Your second level of {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}} is gained through the research project [[Better understand the metabolism of poisons]], which takes 210 {{IL|Phosphorescent Scarab}}s, 4 {{IL|Legal Document}}s, 3 {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}}s, and 3 {{IL|Hillmover}}s. It is concluded with 500 {{IL|Laboratory Research}} and 50 {{IL|Parabolan Research}}.
***The {{IL|Phosphorescent Scarab}}s are acquired from {{IL|The Rat Market (Guide)|Appearance=The Rat Market|Image=Flit.png}}
***The {{IL|Legal Document}}s can be gained from grinding  {{IL|Cave-Aged Code of Honour|Appearance=Cave-Aged Codes of Honour}} at either {{IL|Hunting Bees in Old Newgate (Guide)|Appearance=Hunting Bees in Old Newgate|Image=Gallblighter.png}} or {{IL|Underclay (Guide)|Appearance=Underclay|Image=Clayman3.png}} and selling them at the Bazaar, or from [[Doing Business in Wilmot's End (Guide)|Doing Business in Wilmot's End]].
***This research project raises your {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology Studies}} to 2, boosting your maximum {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} to 7.
**You can then grind up your {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}} to max using the method which best suits you.

===Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise===
*This is useful if you have [[Accept a Palaeontological Task from the Dean|unlocked the Bone Market]], which you definitely will be able to after doing two {{IL|Monstrous Studies}} and completing this project.
*Begin this project by [[Study the Focused Albatross|Studying the Focused Albatross]] in your {{IL|University Laboratory (Place)|University Laboratory}}, which consumes one {{IL|Focused Albatross}}.
*Once you reach 125 {{IL|Laboratory Research}}, [[Extend your studies (Albatross)|Extend Your Studies]] rather than [[Keep it in total darkness|Keep It In Total Darkness]]. This will cost one {{IL|Dazed Raven Advisor}}, one {{IL|Taciturn Mynah}}, one {{IL|Seven-Throated Warbler}}, and one {{IL|Storm-bird}}.
**The {{IL|Dazed Raven Advisor}} is purchased from the Bazaar for 12.8 Echoes.
**The {{IL|Taciturn Mynah}} is the Docks-specific pet. Get rid of your current Faction pet (you can do so on its opportunity card) and get the {{IL|Taciturn Mynah}} from the [[A Clandestine Rendezvous at Watchmaker's Hill|Clandestine Rendezvous on Watchmaker's Hill]]. Using one {{IL|Favours: The Docks|Appearance=Docks favour}}, [[A Docker sent you|obtain the Taciturn Mynah]]. Losing the {{IL|Taciturn Mynah}} in this project will allow you to choose a new faction pet.
* The project requires 1500 {{IL|Laboratory Research}} and 50 {{IL|Parabolan Research}}, and gives three {{IL|The Prestige of your Laboratory|Appearance=Prestige}}, 2 CP of {{IL|Monstrous Anatomy}}, and one {{IL|Comprehensive Study of Avian Anatomies, Oneiric and Otherwise}}. This book allows you to declare skeletons birds, which is helpful in {{IL|The Bone Market}}.
==Making Use of Parabola ==
===Re-entering Parabola===
*There are multiple places from which to re-enter Parabola. {{IL|Silverer}}s will generally have an easier time of it. The three main places in London which you can enter from are {{IL|Your Lodgings}}, the {{IL|University Laboratory (Place)|Appearance=University Laboratory}}, and [[The Honey-Dens of Veilgarden|the Honey-Dens]] in {{IL|Veilgarden}}. Entrance costs 50 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|Appearance=Honey}} for {{IL|Silverer}}s and 100 for everyone else. Entrance always takes an action.
*{{IL|Silverer}}s have the option to head to any location in Parabola directly from London. This saves clicks but not actions.
===The Reflection of Your Laboratory ===
*Entering the {{IL|Reflection of your Laboratory}} from the {{IL|University Laboratory (Place)|Appearance=University Laboratory}} costs 100 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|Appearance=honey}} for non-{{IL|Silverer}}s and 50 {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|Appearance=honey}} for {{IL|Silverer}}s. {{IL|Silverer}}s can also enter the {{IL|Reflection of your Laboratory}} for free from their lodgings.
*The {{IL|Reflection of your Laboratory}} is where you can efficiently gain {{IL|Parabolan Research}}. Here, you can employ reflections of the people you hire in your normal lab. In Parabola, they take on forms that more closely mirror what they aspire to be. Rather than draw cards, you can instead simply play the available storylets. A weaker version of this is available in your lab on [[The Reflection of Research]].
*It is usually more efficient to reenter Parabola than it is to use slower options on {{IL|The Reflection of Research}}. The Numismatrix specifically will produce as much Parabolan Research in the  {{IL|The Reflection of Research}} card as she does in Parabola. However better options exist and this is usually one of the most frequent needs driving players to Parabola.
*Once you've {{IL|Discovered: a Non-Existent Block|Appearance=discovered the Non-Existent Block}} in the Railway, you can come here to start special {{IL|Artisan of the Red Science|Appearance=Red Science}}-related laboratory projects.
===Parabolan Defences & Parabolan War===
{{Audience|LateParabola}} {{Main|Parabolan Hunting (Guide)}} {{HasGuide|GuidePage=Parabolan War (Guide)}}

Upgrading your {{IL|Parabolan Defences}} is needed for some ambitions, the [[Parabolan War (Guide)|Parabolan War]], and unlocks a fairly efficient {{IL|Nightmares}} heal. It will also be required for {{IL|Dangerous Gains}} later.

Once your {{IL|Parabolan Defences}} are complete, engaging in Parabolan War is done over multiple visits as [[Time, the Healer]] will reduce your [[Ravages of Parabolan Warfare]] once a week helping you begin new campaigns. See [[Parabolan War (Guide)]] for details.
===The Viric Jungle===
{{HasGuide|Oneiropomp (Guide)}}

The {{IL|Viric Jungle}} storylet [[Dreams: A Choice of Reverie]] allows you to  {{IL|Oneiropomp}}, or dream guide. This gives various rewards but is most notable for being the hands down best place to gain {{IL|Comprehensive Bribe}}. Check out the guide for more details!
===The Chessboard ===
{{HasGuide|The Chessboard (Guide)}}

{{IL|The Chessboard}} is the source for several chess related items you won't find other places. These items often aren't yet useful to players new to Parabolan but you will eventually come here to play chess. See the guide for the details!
=== The Waswood===
{{HasGuide|GuidePage=The Sacroboscan Calendar (Guide)}}
*Play through whatever event [[The Sacroboscan Calendar]] offers this week. This will take you through a shortened story of a past festival and can give past festival items not obtainable elsewhere. Some of these items are BIS or shared BIS items and they don't have any requirements except the {{IL|Singed and Stained Work Gloves}} from the {{IL|When you Find Yourself in a Hole, Keep Digging}} event which requires spending a T7 item on [[Building a Parabolan Device]].
*{{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}}/{{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}}
**A {{IL|Mithridacy}} check can grant you either one, spending either 4 {{IL|An Identity Uncovered!|Appearance=Identities Uncovered}} for the {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}} or 4 {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}s and 1 {{IL|Incisive Observation}} for the {{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}}.
**Even though creating a {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}} does not expend an {{IL|Incisive Observation}}, it still requires you to have one to make.
*[[Stay a little while|Reach Towards the Shore]] for various items.
*{{IL|Wretched Mog}}
**If you support the cats in the Parabolan War, you can find a {{IL|Wretched Mog}} here for you. It can help you raise {{IL|A Cub's Education}} at the Cat-controlled [[The Dome of Scales, Becoming|Dome of Scales]].
===The Dome of Scales===
*{{IL|Incisive Observation}}s
**Climbing at [[The Top of the Dome]] is a difficult {{IL|Glasswork}} check that yields 5 {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s upon success, as well as a nominal amount of {{IL|Jade Fragment|Appearance=Jade}} that scales with {{IL|Glasswork}}.
* With Fingerkings in the Dome of Scales (Default)
**{{IL|Incisive Observation}}
***[[Offer the Storm-bird to Fingerkings|Offering the Storm-Bird to the Fingerkings]] requires a {{IL|Storm-bird}}, but does not consume the bird and grants you 4-5 {{IL|Incisive Observation}}s.
**{{IL|Connected: Fingerkings}}
***Having 7 {{IL|Favours: Fingerkings}} allows you to trade them in along with one {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}} for 1 {{IL|Connected: Fingerkings}}, up to 8.
***{{IL|Connected: Fingerkings}} has multiple uses with the War in Parabola.
**Grinding {{IL|Shadowy}}
***You can trade 4 {{IL|Vitreous Almanac}}s for several hundred CP of {{IL|Shadowy}}, raising the attribute by multiple levels.
****100 {{IL|Sighting of a Parabolan Landmark|Appearance=Sightings of a Parabolan Landmark}} (grinded from the {{IL|Viric Jungle}}) can be turned into one {{IL|Vitreous Almanac}}
****{{IL|Vitreous Almanac}}s can also be grinded in [[The Sunken Embassy (Guide)|The Sunken Embassy]]
*With Cats in the Dome of Scales (siding with cats in the Parabolan War)
**{{IL|Glass Gazette}}s/{{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}s
***In [[the Dome of Scales, Becoming]], you can raise {{IL|A Cub's Education}} by introducing it to various feline items found throughout the game.
***Before raising {{IL|A Cub's Education}} to 6, you can [[Treat with the kitten|Treat With The Kitten]] (checkless) to gain 1 {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}. After you raise {{IL|A Cub's Education}} to 6, the storylet changes and you instead gain 1 {{IL|Glass Gazette}}.
**{{IL|Favours: Fingerkings}}
***With 5 {{IL|Connected: Fingerkings}}, you can enter the Palatinate in the company of a Fingerking, gaining you one {{IL|Favours: Fingerkings|Appearance=favour}}. If the [[The Lost Palatinate|Palatinate is Lost]], there is [[Enter in the company of a Fingerking (Lost)|no cost for doing this]]. If the [[The Restored Palatinate|Palatinate is Restored]], [[Enter in the company of a Fingerking (Restored)|doing so will set]] your {{IL|Nightmares}} to 8.
**{{IL|Nicatorean Relic}}/{{IL|Unprovenanced Artefact}}
***[[Enter the Palatinate alone (Lost, no Lyon)|Entering the Palatinate Alone]] grants you one of these two items, the former if the Palatinate is [[Enter the Palatinate alone (Lost, no Lyon)|Lost]] and the latter if it is [[Enter the Palatinate alone (Restored, no Lyon)|Restored]].
**{{IL|Favour: Her Roseate Splendour}}
***[[Plant a rose-garden in the Palatinate|Planting a Rose Garden in the Restored Palatinate]] allows you to trade your {{IL|A Vial of Queenly Attar|Appearance=Vial of Queenly Attar}} for one of these favours. They currently have no use, and this loses your {{IL|A Vial of Queenly Attar|Appearance=Vial of Queenly Attar}}, which you may have wanted to [[Study the properties of Attar|study]] for {{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology}}.
**{{IL|Aeolian Scream}}s
***If you have a {{IL|Storm-bird|Appearance=Storm-Bird}}, you can [[Enter in the company of a Storm-bird|enter the Restored Palatinate with one in tow]]. This grants you one {{IL|Aeolian Scream}}, checkless, and can serve as an easy way to get the {{IL|Aeolian Scream}}s necessary for {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple|Appearance=Parabolan Orange-Apple}}s.
**Accessing this storylet requires specific actions during the Parabolan War, and as such it has its own methods for grinding {{IL|Shadowy}}, raising {{IL|Shadowy Gains}}, and gaining {{IL|Glass Studies}}.
***Grinding {{IL|Shadowy}}
****You can trade 450 {{IL|Sighting of a Parabolan Landmark|Appearance=Sightings of a Parabolan Landmark}} for several hundred CP of {{IL|Shadowy}}, raising the attribute by multiple levels.
***{{IL|Glass Studies}}
****You can trade 5 {{IL|Baptised Rattus Faber Corpse}}s to gain 1 level of {{IL|Glass Studies}}, raising your maximum {{IL|Glasswork}} to 6. Unlike the default Fingerking option, this method does require 5 base {{IL|Glasswork}}.
****With base {{IL|Glasswork}} of 6, you can trade another 5 {{IL|Baptised Rattus Faber Corpse}}s and 1 {{IL|Favour in High Places}} to gain another level of {{IL|Glass Studies}}, raising your maximum {{IL|Glasswork}} to 7.
*With the Red-Handed Queen in the Dome of Scales (siding with her in the War)
**{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn}}s
***With {{IL|A Member of the Order of Those Who Will Not Be Caught Red-Handed}} from a previous [[Hallowmas (historical)|Hallowmas]], you can grind {{IL|Well-Placed Pawn}}s here.
**Accessing this storylet requires specific actions during the Parabolan War, and as such it has its own methods for grinding {{IL|Shadowy}}, raising {{IL|Shadowy Gains}}, and raising {{IL|Glass Studies}} (but you can't get your first level of {{IL|Glass Studies}} from here!).
***Grinding {{IL|Shadowy}}
****You can trade 20 {{IL|Glass Gazette}}s for several hundred CP of Shadowy, raising the attribute by multiple levels.
*****{{IL|Glass Gazette}}s can be acquired from a variety of sources, but as a baseline, 25 {{IL|Sighting of a Parabolan Landmark|Appearance=Sightings of a Parabolan Landmark}} can be turned into two {{IL|Glass Gazette}}s
***{{IL|Glass Studies}}
****With {{IL|Glass Studies}} 1, you can trade 1 {{IL|Queen Mate}} for {{IL|Glass Studies}} 2, raising your maximum {{IL|Glasswork}} to 7.
[[Category:Guides]]