Your Cabinet Noir: The Back Room
| A player-created Guide is available for this content: Cover Identities (Guide) |
| Spoiler warning! This page contains details about Fallen London Actions. |
Description summary:
Descriptions change depending on progress in developing the cover. (For editors: Click here to access tables.)
 Elaboration | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | You have not yet begun to develop your cover identity. |
| 1 | You've chosen a name for your cover. |
| 2 | You have a cover with a name and an age. |
| 3 | You've developed the basic vital details of your cover persona. |
| 4 | You've fleshed out where your cover identity was born, and a few facts about their family. |
| 5 | You've given some thought to the particulars of your cover's childhood and education. |
| 6 | You've considered your cover identity and developed their history from birth through adulthood. |
| 7 | You have richly embroidered your cover identity and committed all the essentials to memory. |
| 8 | You've trained yourself in the accent, the diction, and the idioms that would most naturally suit a cover identity such as yours. |
| 9 | You have studied the possible motions and physicality of a cover identity with experiences like yours. |
| 10 | You know everything about your cover identity, from their sense of fashion to their preference in food to the size and shape and denomination of the coins that would be in their pocket. |
 Ties | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 - Surface | Your cover identity comes from the Surface. |
| 2 - Bazaar | Your cover identity is highly placed, with connections to Society and to the Bazaar. |
| 3 - Dispossessed | Your cover identity is associated with a less than wealthy background. |
 Nuance | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | You've endowed your cover with an accent and a few verbal habits. |
| 2 | Your cover identity has a favourite cheese and a preferred cut of boot. |
| 3 | Your cover identity resorts to polyglot puns when trying to make people laugh. |
| 4 | Your cover identity carries a medal depicting the patron saint you have chosen for them. |
| 5 | Your cover identity has unsound views on theology, but you know exactly how they arrived at these errors. |
| 6 | If your cover identity were to sleep, you know what they would see in their nightmares. |
 Witnesses | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 – 1 | You've made sure that your persona has been seen around town a few times. |
| 2 | You've made friends for your persona, and acquainted them with their neighbours. |
| 3 | You've created connections for your persona, ones cultivated over weeks or months. |
| 4 – 6 | Your persona is known to an entire network of devoted believers, all of them absolutely certain that that person is not you. |
 Credentials | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | You have created a few false records to establish your cover's name. |
| 2 | You've forged rudimentary documents of your cover identity's life and history. |
| 3 | Your cover's past accounts and rental agreements have been detailed exhaustively. |
| 4 | Extensive paperwork supports the details of your cover identity. |
| 5 | You've supplied your cover identity with encyclopaedic quantities of documentation. |
| 6 | Slowcake's Exceptionals describes your cover identity in a detailed starred entry. |
 Backstory | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 | You've connected your cover story extensively to real events. |
| 10 – 20 | Significant historical incidents have occurred that might be blamed largely on your cover. |
| 25 – 105 | Your cover identity will be avidly studied by historians. |
| 125+ | No history of the Neath would be complete without accounting for the (imagined) influence of your cover identity. |
[Find the rest of the story at https://www.fallenlondon.com]
Unlocked with a redirect from Step through the hidden door in Work in your Cabinet Noir
Storylet appears in 
Options:
Creating your cover identity
Begin to construct a cover identity (No Ties)
- Spoiler Unlocked with
2
Locked with
10, 
Challenge information
Broad,
150 || 103 - very chancy (41%) || 128 - chancy (51%) || 153 - modest (61%) || 178 - very modest (71%) || 203 - low-risk (81%) || 228 - straightforward (91%) || 250 - straightforward (100%)Narrow,
3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)The shadowy challenge increases by 10 per point of
.Success
Deeper cover
Shadowy is increasing…
You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Elaboration
Failure
A misstep
^
Begin a cover identity with a background on the Surface
- Spoiler Unlocked with
4, 
Locked with
Success
Easy to lie about, hard to back up
You've given your Cover Identity a background on the Surface. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 1 - Surface)
You've lost 1 x Favours: The Great Game- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
Begin a cover identity tied to Society and the Bazaar
- Spoiler Unlocked with
4, 
Locked with
Success
Wealth and connections
- You've given your Cover Identity connections to the Bazaar. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 2 - Bazaar)
You've lost 1 x Favours: Society- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
Begin a cover identity tied to the less powerful classes
- Spoiler Unlocked with
4, 
Locked with
Success
Assistance
- You've given your Cover Identity connections to the lower classes and the dispossessed. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 3 - Dispossessed)
You've lost 1 x Favours: Urchins- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
Use your Surface address to establish a background for a new cover identity
- Spoiler Unlocked with
4, 
Locked with
Success
A language, an estate, a cast of the light
- You've given your Cover Identity a background on the Surface. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 1)
- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1)
You have thought of a quirk for your cover identity to display. (Sets Cover Identity: Nuance to 1)
Make the Society of the Three-Fingered Hand support your lies
- Spoiler Unlocked with
4, 
Locked with
Success
Instructions enciphered
- You've given your Cover Identity a background on the Surface. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 1 - Surface)
- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
You've made sure that your persona has been seen around town a few times. (Sets Cover Identity: Witnesses to 1 - You've made sure that your persona has been seen around town a few times.)
Start a cover identity with a reputation among gamblers
- Spoiler Unlocked with
4, 
Locked with
Success
A seat at the table
- You've given your Cover Identity connections to the lower classes and the dispossessed. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 3 - Dispossessed)
- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
- You've made sure that your persona has been seen around town a few times. (Sets Cover Identity: Witnesses to 1 - You've made sure that your persona has been seen around town a few times.)
Incorporate your Surveilling Spindlewolf's surveillance into a cover identity
- Spoiler Unlocked with
, 
, 4
Locked with
Success
Other's secrets - your persona
You've lost 250 x Cryptic Clue- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
- You've given your Cover Identity connections to the Bazaar. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 2 - Bazaar)
You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Backstory
Employ your Canny Cuttlefish to forge a life on the Surface
- Spoiler Unlocked with
, 
, 4
Locked with
Success
In the details
- You've given your Cover Identity a background on the Surface. (Sets Cover Identity: Ties to 1 - Surface)
- You have an alternate name. (Sets Cover Identity: Elaboration to 1 - You have an alternate name)
- You've lost 250 x Cryptic Clue
- You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Backstory
Working on your cover identity
Develop your cover identity more deeply
- Spoiler Unlocked with 2,
Locked with 10
Challenge information
Broad,
150 || 103 - very chancy (41%) || 128 - chancy (51%) || 153 - modest (61%) || 178 - very modest (71%) || 203 - low-risk (81%) || 228 - straightforward (91%) || 250 - straightforward (100%)Narrow,
3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)The shadowy challenge increases by 10 per point of
.Success
Deeper cover
- Shadowy is increasing…
- You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Elaboration
Failure
A misstep
^
Endow your cover identity with eccentricities
- Spoiler Unlocked with
Locked with
6
Challenge information
Narrow,
3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)Narrow,
5 (50% base) || 1 and below - almost impossible (10%) || 2 - high-risk (20%) || 3 - high-risk (30%) || 4 - tough (40%) || 5 - very chancy (50%) || 6 - chancy (60%) || 7 - modest (70%) || 8 - very modest (80%) || 9 - low-risk (90%) || 10 and above - straightforward (100%)
The difficulty of both challenges increases by 1 per point of.Success
A question of selection
- You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Nuance
Failure
Too far!
Suspicion is increasing… (+3 CP)
Make sure your cover identity has been observed in the right quarters
- Spoiler Unlocked with
Locked with
6
Challenge information
Narrow,
3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)Narrow,
5 (50% base) || 1 and below - almost impossible (10%) || 2 - high-risk (20%) || 3 - high-risk (30%) || 4 - tough (40%) || 5 - very chancy (50%) || 6 - chancy (60%) || 7 - modest (70%) || 8 - very modest (80%) || 9 - low-risk (90%) || 10 and above - straightforward (100%)
The difficulty ratings of both rolls increase by 1 per point of.Success
Often seen
- You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Witnesses
Failure
Too much!
- Suspicion is increasing… (+3 CP)
Credential your cover identity
- Spoiler Unlocked with
Locked with 6
Challenge information
Narrow,
3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)Narrow,
5 (50% base) || 1 and below - almost impossible (10%) || 2 - high-risk (20%) || 3 - high-risk (30%) || 4 - tough (40%) || 5 - very chancy (50%) || 6 - chancy (60%) || 7 - modest (70%) || 8 - very modest (80%) || 9 - low-risk (90%) || 10 and above - straightforward (100%)
The difficulty ratings for both rolls increase by 1 per point of.Success
Credible
You've gained 1 x Cover Identity: Credentials
Failure
A bit thick
- Suspicion is increasing… (+3 CP)
Adding backstory to your cover identity
Associate your cover identity with a lost dynasty
- Spoiler Unlocked with
, 3, 
50 x Final Breaths
Success
You speak with assurance
- You've gained 11 x Cover Identity: Backstory
You've lost 50 x Final Breath
Associate your cover identity with the leaders of a nascent democracy
- Spoiler Unlocked with
, 3, 
Success
Speak with confidence
- You've gained 11 x Cover Identity: Backstory
You've lost 50 x Moves in the Great Game
Embed your cover identity in the story of a terrible humiliation
- Spoiler Unlocked with, 3,
Success
Not to be casually used
- You've gained 26 x Cover Identity: Backstory
You've lost 1 x Mortification of a Great Power
Make your Pawns follow your cover identity
- Spoiler Unlocked with
, 3, 
25 x Well-Placed Pawns
Success
Lost Cells
- You've gained 2 x Cover Identity: Backstory
You've lost 25 x Well-Placed Pawn
Make a very large number of Pawns follow your cover identity
- Spoiler Action Cost: 2
Unlocked with, 3, 250 x Well-Placed Pawns
Success
Lost Cells
- You've gained 12 x Cover Identity: Backstory
- You've lost 250 x Well-Placed Pawn
Present your cover identity as a key player in the Game
- Spoiler Unlocked with
, 3, 5 x Vienna Openings
Success
Speak with confidence
- You've gained 6 x Cover Identity: Backstory
- You've lost 5 x Vienna Opening
Give yourself a backstory of highly specific lost love
- Spoiler Unlocked with
3, , 
Success
A tapestry
You've lost 100 x Unusual Love Story- You've gained 22 x Cover Identity: Backstory
Using your identity
Consider creating a Cover Identity for use in the Khanate
- Spoiler Action Cost: 0
Unlocked with
Locked with
,
Success
Preparations
Success Instructions: You will need a Cover Identity with Ties – the Bazaar, the Surface, and the Dispossessed will all give you different options in the Khanate.
^
Once that is done, you will need to give it 5 points of Nuance, Witnesses, or Credentials. Investing in more than one of those qualities will give you more options, but is not required.
Your cover identity will become... something else, in the Khanate. The more Elaboration and Backstory it has, the longer-lasting it will be; you can invest heavily now, or make a flimsier identity to learn what awaits you in the Khanate, then come back later with a costlier one.
More than 10 Backstory will not give you an advantage.
Consider the utility of this Cover Identity
- Spoiler Action Cost: 0
Unlocked with, : any
Locked with
Success
Preparations
Success Instructions:
^
In the Khanate, expect a Cover Identity to require Ties, which yours does, at the moment.
Fence this identity
- Spoiler Unlocked with
5
Challenge information
Broad,
275 || 188 - very chancy (41%) || 234 - chancy (51%) || 280 - modest (61%) || 326 - very modest (71%) || 372 - low-risk (81%) || 418 - straightforward (91%) || 459 - straightforward (100%)Each point of
reduces the base difficulty by 25 points.
Success
A successful exchange
- Shadowy is increasing…
[Airs of Balmoral change…] (random)
You've gained ( / 5) x Magnificent Diamond
With no
You've gained ( Elaboration + Credentials + Nuance + Witnesses) x Bottle of Broken Giant 1844
With
1 - Surface
You've gained ( Elaboration + Credentials + Nuance + Witnesses) x Thirsty Bombazine Scrap
With
2 - Bazaar
You've gained ( Elaboration + Credentials + Nuance + Witnesses) x Touching Love Story
With
3 - Dispossessed
You've gained ( Elaboration + Credentials + Nuance + Witnesses) x Sworn Statement
Redirects to: Tidy away a Cover Identity
Failure
An unsuccessful exchange
^
Realise your Cover Identity reveals the person you were
- Spoiler Unlocked with
Success
Unraveling
You've gained ( (1.2 * Elaboration rounded down) + (1.04 * Backstory rounded up) + Credentials + Nuance + Witnesses) x Memory of a Much Lesser Self
Redirects to: Tidy away a Cover Identity
^
Leave
Return to the front room
- Spoiler
Go back out to the station
- Spoiler
