Editing The Stacks (Guide)

{{GuideFor|Location=The Stacks|Pages=The Stacks#An Interloper in the Library#Apocrypha Sought#Dead Letter:#The Hour in the Library:#Perusing the Stacks#In Search of Lost Time#Finding the Centre#Noises in the Library#Fragmentary Ontology#Disposition of the Cardinal#Unwound Thread#Anathema Unchained#Glimpse of Anathema#Library Key#A Card Catalogue#The Bone Gate}}
{{Audience|EarlyFirmament|Evergreen=true}}
[[File:Paperstack.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=The Stacks
|Length=Variable
|Starting Actions=1
|Progress Actions=6
|Locked=Yes
|Ending Actions=5
|Progress Details=Play cards to raise {{IL|Perusing the Stacks}}, and then {{IL|Finding the Centre}}, to 40.
|Boost Items={{IL|Deep-zee Catch}}<br/>{{IL|Rat on a String}}
|Output Items=
Either<br>
{{IL|Caustic Apocryphon|9 x}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|35 x}}<br>
or<br>
{{IL|Glim-Encrusted Carapace|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|495 x}}<br>{{IL|Shard of Glim|400 x}}<br>
or<br>
{{IL|Roof-Chart}}<br>
or very rarely<br>
{{IL|Glimpse of Anathema|1 x}}
|Raw EPA = (Variable)
|Raw SPA = 
}}


== How to unlock ==
This activity is unlocked while playing the {{IL|Firmament}} storyline. You'll first enter the Stacks (the place where this activity takes place) at {{IL|Firmament}} 120. Once you progress the story to {{IL|Firmament}} 200, a permanent storylet, [[The Bone Gate]], appears in {{IL|The Midnight Moon}}. From there, you can reenter the Stacks and begin the activity.

Later, with {{Il|Firmament}} 365, the storylet [[The Basalt Gate]] is available in {{Il|Zenith}}. This is functionally the same as [[The Bone Gate]], but returns the player to {{IL|Zenith}} upon completion.

=== The Clamorous Cartographer ===

Once you hit {{IL|An Interloper in the Library}} 4, you can purchase a special acquaintance, {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=the Clamorous Cartographer}} for 10 {{FontFate}}. This one-time purchase unlocks some additional options on the cards, and, after raising your acquaintanceship high enough, it also unlocks another book for you to find. In this guide, these options are marked with {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=}}{{FontFate}}. 

== Progress ==
The Stacks carousel is all about finding a book, bringing it to the reading room and reading it. 

To do so, you must first choose which book you want to pursue. There are initially two options: the ''[[Look for a copy of the Index of Banned Works, 1899 Edition|Index of Banned Works, 1899 Edition]]'', and the ''[[Look for a copy of the Annal of Lost Stars|Annal of Lost Stars]]''. Each book provides different payouts, as documented in [[#Reward Overview|Reward Overview]].

Once you've decided on your goal, the activity starts for real. It has two phases, both of which are progressed by playing cards in the Opportunity Deck: 

When {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} is 1, cards raise {{IL|Perusing the Stacks}}. When {{IL|Perusing the Stacks}} reaches 40, the next card drawn will be [[(Apocrypha Found)]], a [[High Urgency]] card. Playing it sets {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} to 2, and now cards increase {{IL|Finding the Centre}} instead.

Once you have {{IL|Finding the Centre|40}}, another [[High Urgency]] card is added to your deck, [[The Reading Room]]. This card lets you read the particular book determined by {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} and claim the corresponding reward.

Afterwards, you are redirected to [[Winding back the Thread]]. Passing the challenge (or failing three times) will let you return to where you entered. Carrying {{IL|Library Key|Appearance=Library Keys}} increases the likelyhood of being redirected to [[Overdue]] and taking some {{IL|Wounds}}.

== Items and Qualities ==
The Stacks introduced many new items and qualities. Here's a brief overview:

The activity is separated in two stages, indicated by {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}}. During the first stage, you set out to find the book you want to read. During the second stage, you search for a reading room, where you can safely read the book.

{{IL|Perusing the Stacks}} and {{IL|Finding the Centre}} are the progress qualities. {{IL|Perusing the Stacks}} is active during the first stage, while {{IL|Finding the Centre}} is active during the second stage. You can only raise them during their respective stages. Once you hit 40 on either quality, you'll start drawing the card that will bring the stage to a close.

{{IL|Noises in the Library}} is a menace specific to this location. It's reset when you exit the Stacks. For more information, see [[#Menaces|the respective section below]].

There are several other items that help you navigate the library:

*{{IL|Route Traced through the Library}} unlocks some options that give good progress. 
*{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology}} is mainly used to increase {{IL|Chthonosophy}}. It can also be used on some cards to gain Routes and progress.
*{{IL|Library Key|Appearance=Library Keys}} can be used for progress on [[A Locked Gate]] or [[A Librarian's Office]], and are also required to collect the [[A Chained Volume|Chained Volume]].
*{{IL|Disposition of the Cardinal}} is gained by befriending and feeding the local library cat and acts like a get-out-of-jail-free-card on the menace-related card [[A Gaoler-Librarian]]. 

Note that these items are persistent between your visits to the Stacks! For example, a library key gained during one run can be used in the next if it hasn't been expended.

{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|Appearance=Tantalising Possibilities}} are an economy item that can regularly be found in the Stacks. It sells for {{s}}2 (or {{e}}0.10 at the Bazaar). Some options yield 50 {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|Appearance=Tantalising Possibilities}}, resulting in a resell value of {{S}}100 or {{e}}5.

When exiting the Stacks, you'll have to contend with {{IL|Unwound Thread}}, which you'll have to decrease to 0 to exit it. Furthermore, there is the quality {{IL|Anathema Unchained}}. This one increases upon collecting the book from [[A Chained Volume]], and decreases by 1 upon every completion of the carousel. When it hits 0, you'll be able to find your book again. 

{{IL|The Hour in the Library:}} affects cards in the opportunity deck and some text descriptions.

* It is set to one of five "hours" with {{IL|A Card Catalogue|Appearance=your chosen route}}.
* It advances as you increase {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}}.
** {{IL|Claim the book}} or {{IL|Unchain it}} will increase it by 1, up to 5. If was already at 5, it will roll back to 1.
** {{IL|Leave the reading room}} will advance it again. With the deck now inaccessible, this affects text only.
* It is cleared when you leave The Stacks.
* It has the following mechanical affects:
** At 1 or 2, {{IL|A Flowering Gallery}} can be drawn. Otherwise, {{IL|A Black Gallery}} can be drawn.
** At 3 or 4, {{IL|Follow a borehole through the back of a bookcase}} can be played from {{IL|A Stone Gallery}}.
** At all values other than 4, {{IL|Stop and look through}} and {{IL|Try to recall—}} can be played from {{IL|A Glimpse through a Window}}.

<div class="table-container">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" |{{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} &</br>{{IL|In Search of Lost Time}}
! rowspan="2" | {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=Hour in the Library}}
! colspan="2" | Card added
! colspan="2" | Branch unlocked
|-
! {{IL|Look for a copy of the Index of Banned Works, 1899 Edition|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|Look for a copy of the Annal of Lost Stars|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|Look for a copy of Le Précipice de la Tombée|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|Look for a copy of A Codex of Unreal Places|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|Look for a copy of The Book of Proper Speech|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|A Flowering Gallery|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|A Black Gallery|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|A Stone Gallery|Appearance=}}
! {{IL|A Glimpse through a Window|Appearance=}}
|-
| 1
| 
| 
| 
| 2
| {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=1: Weak Pale Sunlight}}
| ✓
| 
| 
| {{IL|Stop and look through|Appearance=}}{{IL|Try to recall—|Appearance=}}
|-
| 2
| 1
| 
| 
| 
| {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=2: Sickly Pale Sunlight}}
| ✓
| 
| 
| {{IL|Stop and look through|Appearance=}}{{IL|Try to recall—|Appearance=}}
|-
| 
| 2
| 1
| 
|
| {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=3: Dim Pale Moonlight}}
| 
| ✓
| {{IL|Follow a borehole through the back of a bookcase|Appearance=}}
| {{IL|Stop and look through|Appearance=}}{{IL|Try to recall—|Appearance=}}
|-
| 
| 
| 2
| 1
|
| {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=4: Darkness}}
| 
| ✓
| {{IL|Follow a borehole through the back of a bookcase|Appearance=}}
|-
| 
| 
| 
| 2
| 1
| {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=5: Cold Pale Moonlight}}
| 
| ✓
| 
| {{IL|Stop and look through|Appearance=}}{{IL|Try to recall—|Appearance=}}
|}

Finally, {{IL|An Interloper in the Library}} records how often you've been to the Stacks. {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:|Appearance=Apocrypha Sought}} governs which book you're looking for, while {{IL|Wandering the Stacks with:|Appearance=Wandering the Stacks with}} tracks which NPC you're exploring the Stacks with. {{IL|Dead Letter:|Appearance=Dead Letter}} tracks from where you entered the Stacks.

==Training Chthonosophy==
In addition to reading books, you can train {{IL|Chthonosophy}} while in the Stacks. This is a rather involved process that can be boiled down to:

*Collect {{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|Appearance=Fragmentary Ontologies}} from various cards. Current sources include:
**[[A Flowering Gallery]] ([[Eat the fruit of knowledge]], a Kataleptic Toxicology 12 narrow check which gives 2 Ontologies on success)
**[[An Index]] ([[Try to understand the organisation of the library]], a Chthonosophy 7 narrow check which gives 1-3 Ontologies on success and 1 Ontology on failure)
**[[A Librarian's Office]] ([[Pick through the drawers]], a 90% Luck check which can reward various items, including an Ontology)
**[[A Tea Room?]] ([[Try to make sense of what you've seen]], a check based upon your number of Ontologies, which rewards one Ontology on failure.)
*Spend Ontologies on specific cards for Chthonosophy CP.
**[[A Tea Room?]] ([[Try to make sense of what you've seen]], a check based upon your number of Ontologies. Rewards +1 CP on success in exchange for one Ontology.)
**[[A God's Eye View]] ([[Try to hold it all in your mind at once]], a 40% Luck check. Rewards +2 CP on success in exchange for six Ontologies.)

==A Chained Octavo==
To get A Chained Octavo ({{IL|Apocrypha Sought:|1001}}), it requires:
* {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} 201-1000
* {{IL|An Interloper in the Library}} 4
* {{IL|In Search of Lost Time|}} exactly 1
* {{IL|A True Denizen of the Neath}} (aka Ambition completion)
* {{IL|Anathema Unchained}} exactly 0

If you haven't read A Chained Octavo before, and meet the above requirements, the card [[A Chained Volume (First time)]] will appear in your deck. If you have done this before, a [[A Chained Volume (Repeated)|version]] with [[Rare Frequency]] can be drawn instead.

Playing [[Unchain it]] on this card (consuming a {{IL|Library Key}}) will set {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} to 1001, set {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} to 2, and give {{IL|Anathema Unchained|10}}. This quality decreases by 1 each time you complete this activity. This cooldown which prevents players from getting A Chained Octavo too often.

Note that because you obtain the octavo to read instead of the book you originally set out for, the actions spent on this round in the Stacks can be significantly lessened as you skip out on any remaining {{IL|Perusing the Stacks}} progress.

==Cards==
=== Standard Cards ===
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
!colspan=2|Card
!Option
!Cost
!Challenge
!Success
!Failure
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|An Atrium|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[An Atrium]]
|[[Continue on the same heading]]
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Inerrant|Appearance=}}{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|{{IL|Noises in the Library|+6 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Course correct]]<br>({{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} 1)
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Dead End?|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Dead End?]]
|[[Tie a rope to the railing and descend]]<br>(Clears Hand)
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Wounds|+2 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1-6 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Take advantage of the vantage point]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Chthonosophy|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|2x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[See through the Cartographer's eyes]] {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=}}{{FontFate}}
|
|
|{{IL|Tempestuous Tale|10x|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|{{IL|A Discarded Ladder|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|[[A Discarded Ladder]]
|[[Climb (A Discarded Ladder)|Climb]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1-2x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Wounds|+1 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+6 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|A Grand Staircase|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[A Grand Staircase]]
|[[Make an informed decision]]<br>(Clears Hand)
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|5 Progress
|
|-
|[[Go up]]/[[Go down]]<br>(Clears Hand)
|
|{{IL|Luck|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|{{IL|A Locked Gate|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|[[A Locked Gate]]
|[[Use a key]]
|{{IL|Library Key|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|15 Progress
|
|-
|rowspan=4|{{IL|A Map Room|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=4|[[A Map Room]]
|[[Look for maps of the library]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1-2x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Nightmares|+1 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Look for maps of the Neath]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Partial Map|2x|Appearance=}} (rarely {{IL|Puzzling Map|1x|Appearance=}})
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Nightmares|+1 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Get a lead from the Cartographer]] {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=}}{{FontFate}}
|
|
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|[[Paint new routes upon maps of the library]]
|{{IL|Palette of Revealing Pigments}}
|
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1-2x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|A Poison-Gallery|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[A Poison-Gallery]]
|[[Use furniture as stepping stones]]
|
|{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}{{IL|Neathproofed|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|{{IL|Wounds|+3 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+3 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Prepare an antidote]]
|{{IL|Flask of Abominable Salts|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Wounds|+2 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Stone Gallery|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Stone Gallery]]
|[[Make your way through the silent gallery]]
|
|{{IL|Luck|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Nightmares|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Stop and examine the ancient volumes]]
|
|{{IL|Chthonosophy|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|x1|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1-2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Follow a borehole through the back of a bookcase]]
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|2x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Dangerous|Appearance=}}
|10 Progress
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+6 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
!colspan=7|Depending on {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|An Index|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[An Index]]<br>({{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} 1)
|[[Search for a reference card]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Inerrant|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1-3x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Try to understand the organisation of the library]]
|
|{{IL|Chthonosophy|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1-3x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1-2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Situate yourself within the greater whole]]<br>(requires {{IL|Chthonosophy}} 3)
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|5 Progress
|
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Librarian's Office|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Librarian's Office]]<br>({{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} 2)
|[[Pick through the drawers]]
|
|{{IL|Luck|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|40x|Appearance=}}<br>One of:<br>{{IL|Library Key|1x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}
|One of:<br>{{IL|Fin Bones, Collected|2-10x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Deep-zee Catch|2-10x|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Take the opposite door]]
|
|
|5 Progress
|
|-
|[[Unlock the cart]]
|{{IL|Library Key|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|15 Progress
|
|-
!colspan=7|Depending on {{IL|The Hour in the Library:}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|A Flowering Gallery|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[A Flowering Gallery]]<br>(not during {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=An Hour of Darkness}})
|[[Keep going]]<br>(requires {{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}})
|
|{{IL|Neathproofed|Appearance=}}{{IL|Inerrant|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|{{IL|Nightmares|+? CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+6 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Eat the fruit of knowledge]]
|
|{{IL|Kataleptic Toxicology|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|2x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Wounds|+2 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|A Black Gallery|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[A Black Gallery]]<br>(not during {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=An Hour of Weak Pale Sunlight}})
|[[Light a lantern]]
|
|{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}{{IL|Insubstantial|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Navigate by alternate senses]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Monstrous Anatomy|Appearance=}}{{IL|Inerrant|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
!colspan=7|Depending on {{IL|Noises in the Library}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Gaoler-Librarian|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Gaoler-Librarian]]<br>({{IL|Noises in the Library}} 1)
|[[Hide and hope it passes you by]]
|
|{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}
|
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Wounds|+4 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Try to lift one of its keys]]
|
|{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}{{IL|Insubstantial|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Library Key|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Noises in the Library|+6 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[An intervention from the Grey Cardinal]]
|{{IL|Disposition of the Cardinal|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|5 Progress
|
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Terrible Shushing|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Terrible Shushing]]<br>({{IL|Noises in the Library}} 4)
|[[Find a hiding place]]
|
|{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Noises in the Library|-3 CP|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Noises in the Library|-1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Hurry along]]
|
|{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+4 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Quiet the Cartographer]] {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=}}{{FontFate}}
|
|
|{{IL|Noises in the Library|- 3-10 CP|Appearance=}}
|
|-
!colspan=7|Unlocked with {{IL|An Interloper in the Library}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|A God's Eye View|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[A God's Eye View]]<br>(requires {{IL|An Interloper in the Library|3|Appearance=}} and {{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|5x|Appearance=}})
|[[Try to hold it all in your mind at once]]
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|up to 6x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Luck|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Chthonosophy|+2 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|60x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Nightmares|+2 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[Focus on the path ahead]]<br>(requires {{IL|Chthonosophy|5|Appearance=}})
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|5x|Appearance=}}
|
|15 Progress
|
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|The Shape of the Labyrinth|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|[[The Shape of the Labyrinth]]<br>(requires {{IL|An Interloper in the Library|2|Appearance=}}, {{IL|Route Traced through the Library|6x|Appearance=}} and {{IL|In Search of Lost Time|2|Appearance=}})
|[[Rethink your movements]]<br>(Clears Hand)
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|3-5x|Appearance=}}
|
|10 Progress
|
|-
|[[Reject the significance of shape]]<br>(requires {{IL|Chthonosophy|5|Appearance=}})
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Chthonosophy|Appearance=}}
|5 Progress
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+1 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|}

=== Beneficial Cards ===
Most of these cards appear with a violet border.
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
!colspan=2|Card
!Option
!Cost
!Challenge
!Success
!Failure
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|The Grey Cardinal|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[The Grey Cardinal]]
|[[Offer the cardinal a furry lunch]]
|{{IL|Rat on a String|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Disposition of the Cardinal|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|[[Offer the cardinal a tin of something fishy]]
|{{IL|Deep-zee Catch|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|5 Progress<br>{{IL|Disposition of the Cardinal|1-2x|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|[[Engage the Cardinal in conversation]]
|
|{{IL|Persuasive|Appearance=}}{{IL|Bizarre|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Disposition of the Cardinal|1x|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|40x|Appearance=}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Glimpse through a Window|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Glimpse through a Window]]
|[[Stop and look through]]<br>(not during {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=An Hour of Darkness}})
|
|
|{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|[[Move on quickly]]
|
|
|5 Progress
|
|-
|[[Try to recall—]]<br>(not during {{IL|The Hour in the Library:|Appearance=An Hour of Darkness}})
|{{IL|An Absence|equipped|Appearance=}}
|
|{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|rowspan=3|{{IL|A Tea Room?|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=3|[[A Tea Room?]]
|[[Take a moment to regroup]]
|
|
|{{IL|Nightmares|-1 CP|Appearance=}} (down to 4)<br>{{IL|Wounds|-1 CP|Appearance=}} (down to 4)<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|-? CP|Appearance=}}
|
|-
|[[Consult your maps of the library]]
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|Appearance=}}
|10 Progress
|5 Progress
|-
|[[Try to make sense of what you've seen]]
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Chthonosophy|+1 CP|Appearance=}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50x|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|1x|Appearance=}}
|}

=== Advancing through the stages ===
These cards begin to appear once the progress quality of your stage hits 40. Playing them will move {{IL|In Search of Lost Time}} forward. They appear with a golden or violet border.
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
!colspan=2|Card
!{{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}}
!Description
|-
|rowspan=6|{{IL|(Apocrypha Found)|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|[[Symmetries of the Deep Zee and Sky]]
|101
|Only during the {{IL|Firmament}} storyline
|-
|[[Index of Banned Works, 1899 Edition]]
|201
|
|-
|[[Annal of Lost Stars]]
|202
|
|-
|[[(Apocrypha_Found)|Le Précipice de la Tombée]]
|203
|
|-
|[[(Apocrypha_Found)|A Codex of Unreal Places]]
|204
|{{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=}}{{FontFate}}
|-
|[[(Apocrypha Found)|The Book of Proper Speech]]
|205
|
|-
|{{IL|A Chained Volume (Repeated)|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|[[A Chained Volume]]
|200-1001
|See [[#A Chained Octavo|A Chained Octavo]] for details.
|-
|{{IL|The Reading Room|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|[[The Reading Room]]
|
|The card that closes the second stage. Open your book and see where it leads you.
|}

=== The Clamorous Cartographer's Cards {{FontFate}} ===
These Cards only appear with the {{FontFate}}-locked {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|Appearance=Clamorous Cartographer}}.
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed article-table"
!colspan=2|Card
!Option
!Cost
!Challenge
!Success
!Failure
|-
|rowspan=2|[[File:snuffbox.png|60px]]
Needs {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|4+|Appearance=Acquaintance}}
|rowspan=2|
|[[File:computernofigure.png|30px]]
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1x|Appearance=}}
|
|5 Progress<br>
{{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|1x|Appearance=Acquaintance}} (up to 6)
|
|-
|[[File:implication.png|30px]]
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|3x|Appearance=}}
|
|{{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|5x|Appearance=}}<br>
{{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|1x|Appearance=Acquaintance}} (up to 6)
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[File:compass.png|60px]]
Needs {{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|1+|Appearance=Acquaintance}}
|rowspan=2|
|[[File:camera2.png|30px]]
|
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}{{IL|Inerrant|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|1-3x|Appearance=}}
|1 Progress<br>{{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP|Appearance=}}
|-
|[[File:chart2.png|30px]]
|{{IL|Route Traced through the Library|3x|Appearance=}}
|
|5-15 Progress<br>
{{IL|Acquaintance: The Clamorous Cartographer|1x|Appearance=Acquaintance}} (up to 3)
|
|-
|}

==Menaces==
You cannot accumulate more than 7 Wounds or Nightmares from playing cards in the Stacks. However, there is a different menace unique to the area: {{IL|Noises in the Library}}. If this hits 8, a [[WE WILL HAVE SILENCE|storylet will autofire]], setting your Wounds to 8 and sending you to the Boatman.

Most Noises gains come from failing checks. However, those looking to collect a {{IL|Glimpse of Anathema}} should be particularly cautious, as the option to [[unchain it|unchain the book]] is locked out at 7 Noises, and the action raises Noises by 6 CP.

Leaving the Stacks will reset Noises to 0. It can also be reduced with [[Take a moment to regroup (Tea Room)|an option on A Tea Room?]], as well as with [[Find a hiding place|a Shadowy 220 broad check on A Terrible Shushing]].

(Note: it can be advantageous to have at least one point of Noises, as it will unlock [[A Gaoler-Librarian]], a card that has [[An intervention from the Grey Cardinal|a checkless, menace-free progress option]] as long as you have [[Disposition of the Cardinal]] to spare.)

==Reward Overview==
This activity has several different outcomes. Different values of {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} let you choose from either one or two different rewards.

Not all options pay the same. The Index and the Annal's first option net approximately {{e}}116. However, the Annal's second option ([[Return with the lighthouse-keeper's ledgers and charts]]) only gives {{e}}100. Le Précipice gives a lower reward in both options, {{e}}91 for helping others and {{e}}83.5 for looting, due to the unknown value of one of the items. A Chained Volume ({{IL|Apocrypha Sought:|1001}}) is much more profitable, rewarding an item worth {{e}}312.5, but can only be obtained at most every 10th run.

Depending on your choices in the library, you might also have acquired a respectable amount of {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|Appearance=Tantalising Possibilities}}.

{| class="article-table"
!colspan=2|{{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}}
!Option
!Items
!Total value
!Value in Stuiver, if sellable
|-
|{{IL|Look for a copy of the Index of Banned Works, 1899 Edition|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|201
|[[Walk in]]
|{{IL|Caustic Apocryphon|9 x}}*<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|35 x}}*
|{{e}}116
|{{s}}2320
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|Look for a copy of the Annal of Lost Stars|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|202
|[[Return with one of the carcasses]]
|{{IL|Glim-Encrusted Carapace|1 x}}*<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|495 x}}*<br>{{IL|Shard of Glim|400 x}}
|{{e}}116
|{{s}}2240<br>(+ {{e}}4 from non-convertable Glim)
|-
|[[Return with the lighthouse-keeper's ledgers and charts]]
|{{IL|Roof-Chart|40 x}}*
|{{e}}100<ref>{{e}}101.2 if sold at [[The Midnight Market]]</ref>
|{{s}}2000
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IL|Look for a copy of Le Précipice de la Tombée|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|rowspan=2|203
|[[Help those you can]]
|{{IL|Anticandle|10 x}}<br>{{IL|Fragment of the Tragedy Procedures|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Relic of the Fifth City|10 x}}*<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|35 x}}*
|{{e}}91<br>(+ {{e}}25 value for {{IL|Anticandle|Appearance=Anticandles}})
|{{s}}570<br>(+ {{e}}87.5 from non-convertible items)
|-
|[[Grab whatever you can carry (The Precipice)|Grab whatever you can carry]]
|{{IL|Anticandle|10 x}}<br>{{IL|Tempestuous Tale|10 x}}*<br>{{IL|Magnificent Diamond|5 x}}<br>{{IL|Relic of the Fifth City|6 x}}*<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|10 x}}*
|{{e}}83.5<br>(+ {{e}}25 value for {{IL|Anticandle|Appearance=Anticandles}})
|{{s}}420<br>(+ {{e}}87.5 from non-convertible items)
|-
|{{IL|Look for a copy of A Codex of Unreal Places|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|204
|{{FontFate}}
|{{IL|Oneiromantic Revelation|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Storm-Threnody|2 x}}<br>{{IL|Puzzling Map|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Volume of Collated Research|6 x}}<br>{{IL|Tantalising Possibility|10 x}}*
|{{e}}116
|{{s}}20<br>(+ {{e}}115 from non-convertible items)
|-
|{{IL|Look for a copy of The Book of Proper Speech|Appearance=|Size=90px}}
|205
|[[Explore while you can]]
|{{IL|Crackling Device|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Ratwork Mechanism|4 x}}<br>{{IL|Devilbone Die| 4 x}}
|{{e}}66.1<br>(+ unknown value for {{IL|Ratwork Mechanism|Appearance=Ratwork Mechanisms}})
|{{s}}0
|-
|{{IL|A Chained Volume|Appearance=|Image=bookblack.png|Size=90px}}
|1001
|any option
|{{IL|Glimpse of Anathema|1 x}}*
|{{e}}312.50
|{{s}}6250

|} 
( * Items can be sold for Stuiver)

==Analysis==

===Disclaimer===

Although theoretical maximum EPA from The Stacks is extremely high, take such calculations with a grain of salt. It is important to remember that there are multiple confounding factors that mean these figures are more theoretical than practical:

*The Stacks is a difficult and RNG-heavy activity. It is highly unlikely you will draw the ideal card for a scenario, or succeed every check, or get optimal outcomes on success.
*Much of the payout is in Stuivers. As of Chapter 3 of Firmament, there is no way to convert Stuivers into Echoes without taking a significant loss. Even as future chapters add more conversion options, optimal strategies may still produce a mix of unconverted currencies. The exception to this are the rewards from the Fate-locked {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} 204, which can all be sold for echoes at the Bazaar.
*Carapaces must be sold for Stuivers or cashed out through the Bone Market. Due to their limb count, they are only suitable for making spiders, insects, or fish.
*The most profitable reward, {{IL|Glimpse of Anathema|Appearance=Glimpses of Anathema}}, is from a rare card that is only available ''at most'' once every ten runs.

===Average Run===
Selecting a book on [[A Card Catalogue]] will always cost 1 action, [[Claim the book|claiming it]] costs 1 action, and reading it will cost 2 actions, regardless of book. After the book is read, getting back takes 2 actions minimum, or up to 4 actions if you fail the combined {{IL|Shadowy}} and {{IL|Inerrant}} challenge twice.

If you manage to consistently play cards that grant 5 progress, each stage will take 8 actions and you will complete the carousel in 22 actions. With {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} 201, this is 5.27 EPA (116 E / 22 A). On runs with {{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} 1001, with the higher payout and by skipping raising {{IL|Perusing the Stacks}}, this is 22.32 EPA (312.5 E / 14 A).

Certain card combinations can exceed 5 progress per action. [[A Tea Room?]] is very powerful, {{IL|Route Traced through the Library|Appearance=Routes Traced through the Library}}, exchanging one Route for 10 progress. 5+ Routes guarantees a success, while failure exchanges one Route for 5 progress.

There are many sources of Routes, with higher difficulty options having better rewards. [[A Dead End?]] has the best source, giving 2 Routes and {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50 x}}. [[A Map Room]] also gives {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50 x}}, but averages 1.5 Routes in exchange for an easier check (with {{IL|Palette of Revealing Pigments}}, the check can be [[Paint new routes upon maps of the library|bypassed]]). [[An Index]] averages 2 Routes with an easier {{IL|Watchful}} and {{IL|Inerrant}} check. [[A Discarded Ladder]] has the easiest check and gives 1.5 Routes on average.

Holding 6+ Routes unlocks the [[The Shape of the Labyrinth]] card during the second phase. This card has an expensive source of 10 progress, and a way to exchange {{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|Appearance=Fragmentary Ontologies}} for progress.

As {{IL|Fragmentary Ontology|Appearance=Fragmentary Ontologies}} accumulate from A Librarian's Office, they can be spent via [[Situate yourself within the greater whole]], [[Reject the significance of shape]], [[Course correct]], or on [[A God's Eye View]]. The latter has a option with a guaranteed 15 progress (the only other requirement is {{IL|Chthonosophy|5}}), which makes it ideal for players who struggle at the challenges in the Stacks.

The Tea Room + Dead End combo produces 20 progress and 5 echoes of items for three actions. If you managed to play only these cards, a full run would average 18 actions and produce an additional 20 echoes of value beyond the reward for reading the book.

Library Keys can be spent for 15 progress via [[A Locked Gate]] and [[Unlock the cart]], but are difficult to obtain consistently. Not only does [[Try to lift one of its keys|stealing keys from the Librarians]] have a difficult check, it has a {{IL|Noises in the Library|Appearance=Noises}} requirement. There are only two ways to gain Noises without wasting an action not making progress: intentionally failing to [[Tie a rope to the railing and descend|descend]] from [[A Dead End?]], or drawing [[A Map Room]] and [[Get a lead from the Cartographer|consulting the Cartographer]] ({{FontFate}}-locked). If your stats are high enough to risk stealing keys, it's worth using one of these to gain Noises early in each run. 

Monte Carlo simulations made by Discord user '''zahmahkibo''' estimate that, over thousands of runs, expeditions to ''Le Précipice de la Tombée'' have an EPA of about 6.3, counting anticandles as 2.5 Echoes. However, this assumes that anticandles will eventually be sellable. Using the Clamorous Cartographer's book adds a couple of  mediocre cards to the deck, lowering the EPA to 6.1, but only gives resources that are sellable for echoes. This simulation can be downloaded here for those sufficiently skilled with Python: [https://github.com/cngraf/fl_popemobile/blob/main/simulations/stacks2.py Monte Carlo Simulations for The Stacks]

===The Clamorous Cartographer===
The Clamorous Cartographer expansion adds two standard frequency cards, three options on existing cards, and one book. For one action, these can be toggled on or off from [[Index, Indweller, Indicatrix]].

There are two standout options on the cards. One converts 3 {{IL|Route Traced through the Library}} into 5 {{IL|Fragmentary Ontology}}. This is a strong source of Ontologies. On the other card, 3 Routes are exchanged for 5, 10, or 15 progress. While this does average only 3.33 progress per Route, it does remain a viable option if one has plenty of Routes.

The Cartographer adds an option to [[A Dead End?]] that gives 10 {{IL|Tempestuous Tale|Appearance=Tempestuous Tales}}. Unless you have low stats, this isn't the best option on the card - you miss out on the hand clearing of [[Tie a rope to the railing and descend]] and the profit of [[Take advantage of the vantage point]].
A useful option is added to [[A Map Room]] that always gives 5 progress and {{IL|Noises in the Library|+2 CP}}. This is the best way to add [[A Gaoler-Librarian]] to your deck while still gaining significant progress. It is also the only option on the card that gives progress.
[[Quiet the Cartographer]] is a very useful option on [[A Terrible Shushing]]. It always gives the greatest decrease of {{IL|Noises in the Library}}.

{{IL|Apocrypha Sought:}} 204, from [[Look for a copy of A Codex of Unreal Places]], stands out amongst the options because all of its rewards can be sold at the Bazaar, no conversions needed. The first time you get the book, there will be different text and an option that gives 50 {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|Appearance=Tantalising Possibilities}}.

===Theoretical maximum profit===
Because exploring The Stacks is a complex and RNG-heavy activity, profitability varies substantially between individual runs. Simulations let us approximate an average run's profit, but even this is inaccurate, as the expected value depends on each player's stats. We can get a more complete picture by examining the theoretical best-case scenario.

An optimal cycle of The Stacks is ten runs long, one seeking the Chained Octavo for a {{IL|Glimpse of Anathema}} and the rest seeking any 116 {{e}} Apocrypha. We assume the player has high enough stats for 100% success on any stat-based challenge. The player ends the cycle with net zero change in Stacks resources.

* Every run spends six actions at fixed points: one to choose a goal, one to find or unchain the book, two to read it, and two to leave.
* Each progress phase takes six actions each. Normal runs have two progress phases, while Anathema runs skip the first progress phase (we assume that [[A Chained Volume]] is drawn and played immediately).
** Draw [[A Dead End?]] and play [[Take advantage of the vantage point]] twice for {{IL|Route Traced through the Library|4 x}} and {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|100 x}}.
** Draw [[A Tea Room?]] and play [[Consult your maps of the library]] four times for 40 progress.
* Anathema runs require a {{IL|Library Key}}, so one progress phase must be spent acquiring a key.
** Gain Noises alongside 5 progress, either by drawing [[A Dead End?]] and using a {{IL|Woesel}} to fail the descent, or drawing [[A Map Room]] to [[Get a lead from the Cartographer]] ({{FontFate}}-locked).
** Draw [[A Gaoler-Librarian]] and steal a key twice.
** Draw [[A Locked Gate]] or [[A Librarian's Office]] and spend one key for 15 progress.
** Draw [[A Dead End?]] and play [[Take advantage of the vantage point]] for {{IL|Route Traced through the Library|2 x}} and {{IL|Tantalising Possibility|50 x}}.
** Draw [[A Tea Room?]] and play [[Consult your maps of the library]] twice for 20 progress.

This ten-run cycle produces 1541.5 {{e}} in 175 actions, for 8.81 EPA.

Note this does not consider any potential uses of rewards for additional profit, such as using {{IL|Glim-Encrusted Carapace|Appearance=Glim-Encrusted Carapaces}} in the Bone Market. It also doesn't account for gaining multiple keys at once for multiple Anathema runs, minimizing the less-efficient key-gathering progress phases. This would approach a ceiling of 8.84 EPA, but is impossible to reach as hoarding keys guarantees a [[Overdue|Librarian ambush]] on escape for an extra action cost.

[[Category:Guides]]