Thieves' Cant

From Delgar

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

Chicken Scratch

Pawley

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