Thieves' Cant

Thieves' Cant (more often merely The Cant) is often thought of as a language, but it is in fact a complex system of codes, ciphers, and behaviors which combine to afford those practicing in trades outside the confines of the law the ability to secretly communicate on topics relevant to their business. The Cant consists of four primary modes of communication, detailed below.

The Five Hundred Names

The Five Hundred Names are a standard set of adornments and monikers used by rogues to identify one another. the details are complex and sparsely known, but the end result is that those who "wear" one of the five hundred names can easily feign familiarity with one another and establish communication without raising suspicion.

Wearing a Name

Each of the five hundred names has a set of markings or adornments worn or carried or otherwise presented to identify their trade and the name they should be called. There are names suitable for every combination of ancestry, gender, and trade such that fitting names can easily be displayed anywhere in the world without standing out. Among these monikers are a myriad of "dead names" included as traps for anyone trying to gain unwelcome entry into the criminal underground.

Example Names

Ancestry	Belgritian			Araxian			Wood Elf / Light Elf
Gender	Male	Female	Neutral	Male	Female	Neutral	Spring / Dawn	Summer / Daylight	Autumn / Dusk	Winter / Moonlight
Fence	Frank	Fran	Finn	Rosso	Rosalina	Rossi	Sirine	Sarena	Soreno	Sirin
Information Broker	Ian	Irene	Izzy	Inigo	Isabela	Imine	Nerine	Narena	Noreno	Nirin
Smuggler	Samuel	Samantha	Sam	Caldo	Caterina	Carre	Celine	Calena	Coleno	Cilin
Assassin	Adam	Alexandra	Arden	Armo	Amelia	Ame	Lerine	Larena	Loreno	Lirin
Jailbreaker	Jack	Josephina	Jo	Pietro	Pirria	Perne	Ferine	Farena	Foreno	Firin

Coves

By far the most common form of the Cant occurs as a special variant of the gambling card game Coves, which is played throughout the world. In this mode, someone looking to buy information, leads, etc. would sit down to a table of

Pawley

Pawley (from the Araxian word parlere meaning to speak) is the spoken form of the Cant. It is