Gutter-speech

The word on the street...
Gutter-speech is not considered a real language, it is more of a dialect; a mixture of Common Tongue and slang. This is the primary language of the shady side of city life. Gangs, and affiliates, use this as a common way of communicating. A gang might have a number of special phrases only known to the gang, but all in all the language is uniform across the different gangs of the area.
Gutter-speech also includes some uniform hand signals ( Can be developed under Signalling).

Geographical Distribution

Mostly used in cities or large towns.

Root Languages

• Common Tongue

Common Phrases

Licking the Gauntlet: Talking with the guards --

Biting the Gauntlet: Getting caught by the guards resulting in a beating or worse … --

Heavy Lifting: Burglary --

Lifting: Stealing --

The Dance: The dance of Death (Hanging) --

Doing Miss Bell: Apprenticeship as a thief, have to pass the doll of bells test --

Send someone floating: Disposing of corpse by paying the Sewerboys to do whatever they do to corpses. --

Leaving someone behind / Left someone: Left a dead person during a job. The gravest sin. --

Paying the board: Weekly payment to the Chief of the floor --

Licking: Telling (on someone). --

Climb the ladder: Advancement --

Nose: Information gatherer --

Ear: Someone selling overheard information --

Arm: Soldier/Bruiser of a gang --

Hair: Management of a gang

Mouth: Fast talker / Deal Maker --

Eye: A lookout

A full Face: Getting information from every source (nose, ear, mouth, eye).

Catching a tan: Working during the day --

Midnight run: Working during the night. --

Doll: Prostitute --

Gauntlet: Guard --

Mark: Target for a robbery/theft --

Hen house: Prison --

Taking a swim: Going (in)to the sewers.

Slap on the wrist: Breaking every finger and joint on the hands to stop thivery.