Thieves' Cant

Shamelessly poached from the MonarchsFactory.

Less of a separate language and more of a unique way of phrasing (usually in Common) so as to get a completely different meaning. One of the most popular real-life examples of this is "I'm looking for a fence" - although nowadays it is popular enough to be understood as someone you can sell stolen goods to, this is still a classic example. Another classic example could be calling police "the pigs", and a classic written example could be 'hobo signs'.

Identifying someone who speaks Thieves' Cant

Talking to strangers in this unusual method is a good way to get a reputation, or worse - followed. So, to indicate that someone is open to being talked to a speaker will wear parallel bands of similar colour - such as two silver rings on the same segment of a finger, two leather belts/bandoliers next to each other, two golden earrings on the same ear, two wristbands, etc... However, these may not always be displayed. If a known speaker of Thieves' Cant is not wearing their double-bands, it is a way of saying "don't speak to me".

However, it would be daft to assume that everyone wearing parallel similar-coloured bands is someone willing to partake in less-than-legal work. After seeing the double bands, a confirmation may be acquired by greeting them as one would with a familiar friend ("It's nice to see a friendly face in town!"). If the approached person also speaks Thieves' Cant, they would pretend to also know the person.

Approaching

Firstly, identify a fellow speaker of Thieves' Cant by spotting the 'double bands'. Your phrasing of a greeting can mean several different things, examples are on the side bar:

• Implying that you are very, very glad to see them: I need help, hide me!
• Implying that they are difficult to meet with: You should not be easy to find right now (people are on high alert).
• Implying (in a jovial way) that they are troublesome: I'm looking for work.

It is customary that, when approached, to include with your answer whether you are still "out on their own" (no associations) "surrounded by friends" (many unofficial allies) or "beginning to raise a family" (part of a crime family or syndicate). This is to inform the person greeting you if you have political (within the underworld) connections that they may not want to become caught up in.

People offering information

People with information on offer will often be playing a public game (usually a card game of some sort) in a public place, such as an inn or tavern. Use the greeting to assume an invite into the game and provide a small amount of currency into the current betting pool - information is not free. The game continues as the two have their 'pretend' conversation. Currency is added into the betting pool as the game goes on, paying for the information on offer.

Cards (if a card game) will continue to be handed to you as the game continues, and because you are 'new in town' they will "of course be willing to help out a friend" and describe some of the local areas to you, such as "how to get to their house" and some good places to "get food" or "work". These cards are relevant to the subject of discussion, with the suits making the following associations:

• Hearts: This location/person is safe for a less-than-legal person, and will likely hide you from the law.
• Diamonds: This location/person is a good target for robbery.
• Clubs: This location/person is dangerous/heavily guarded.
• Spades: This location/person can likely provide more less-than-legal work.

Keep in mind that although it may look like you are part of the game, you are not actually part of the game - do not take the winnings as they belong to the dealer as payment for his information.

Finding less-than-legal work

Difficulty

To establish the difficulty of the job, the approacher asks how the health status of some nonexistant relative is - a 'healthy' answer ("oh, he's doing really well!") indicates an easy job, a 'dead' answer ("oh, Todrick passed away last month") indicates a deadly challenge, and an 'uncertain' answer ("He's a bit touch-and-go, I'm afraid" or "Yeah, we'll just have to wait and see") indicates an unknown difficulty.

Payment

If this is not established (such as if the topic is not brought up, or the reward is larger than anticipated) then the employer establishes the amount. To open the topic, the conversation should be moved towards anything that would inconspicuously include the use of numbers, such as how many descendants or siblings the other person has now. In this case, children indicate per 100cr and grandchildren indicate 1000cr. The age of the child/grandchild indicates a multiplier ("oh, Tuska? My son is turning seven next month, can you believe it!" meaning that your cut is 700cr). Haggling is, of course an option ("Tuska? Isn't he only six years old? Wow, time flies by so quickly..." is haggling someone down to 600cr).

Further details

Now that the job and payment have been discussed, the final stage is to set a location to discuss the job without secretive codes. One of the two should excuse themselves but invite the other to meet up again sometime. "I've gotta run, but how about we meet up for a drink sometime? Bear and Beehive Tavern, sometime around eight?". At this point, the employee should accept or decline the job by accepting or declining the meetup offer. An answer which lacks commitment ("Eh, not sure if I can make it") indicates that they lack commitment to the job - usually indicating that they'll look for other work, but if no better offers are available then they'll be there. However, if the employer is offering this job to other employees they might have to compete or bid (with their payment) for the position - and if you've just haggled for a better price, giving an uncertain answer is just plain rude!

Geographical Distribution

For Halflings, this is a natural part of conversation between one another - the knowing give-and-take of hidden meanings is usually used for pranks and surprise parties for them. Most of the time though, Thieves' Cant is used by criminal elements in initial discussions where they risk being overheard.

"Well now! Does my eyes good to see an old friend again!"
"If it ain't my old mate-- c'mere you scallywag! Is that a new necklace?"
"Yeah, took it from my family when I left home - they weren't gonna be generous enough to hand over my inheritance, so I took it and scampered! Speakin' of family, how's yours doin'?"
"Me? Got a few drinkin' buddies, but nobody of my own blood. Me ol' mate Tyzen, though - he's got more siblings than I can count!"
"Heh, can't be that many, then - maybe we should all get together for a drink sometime? You can introduce me to one of his sisters, it's been a while since I got cozy with a nice-lookin' girl."
"Aye, I think we're havin' a card game tonight - back at Mama Fats' place. D'you remember the way?"

— An assassin secures a contract, working for a major crime family.

Location of Double Bands

The location of the double bands can offer some hint as to the speciality of the individual. The following is an incomplete list:

Specialisation	Bands Location
Con Artist	Right ear
Counterfeiting	Left ear
Assassination	Necklace
Smuggling	Right upper arm or right shoulder.
Intimidation	Left wrist
Fence	Right wrist
Interrogation	Left pinky finger and thumb
Trap-finding	Left forefinger
Lockpicking	Left middle finger
Kidnapping	Left pinky finger
Theft	Right pointer finger
Forgery	Right middle finger
Reconnaissance	Right ring finger
Burglary	Right pointer and ring finger
Stalking	Right ankle
Espionage	Eyes or sunglasses

Root Languages

• Common

Common Phrases

"It's nice to see a friendly face in town"

"Hello, I'm new here"

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" or "Boy, am I glad to see you!"

"Hide me! Hide me! Hide me!"

"Well, look what the cat dragged in!" or "Uh-oh! Here comes trouble!"

"I'm looking for some less-than-legal work"

"Hey, long time no see!" or "Feels like I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Go and hide, bad people are looking for you" or "People are on high alert, go and hide"

"Still out here on my own"

"I don't have many/any allies nearby"

"I'm surrounded by friends here!" or "I've got a few close mates"

"I have many allies, but they are unofficial ties"

"Started raising a family of my own"

"I've joined a crime family/syndicate"

"Here's how you get to my place"

"This is how to get to a safehouse"

--"Doing the out-and-out"::"Killing someone"

"Jaunt"

"Criminal job"

"Nympher"

A female pickpocket who distracts intended victims with her appearance

"Scamp"

"Fellow criminal"

(in a card game) "Got a pair of sixes on you?"

"Who has two revolvers?"

(in a card game) "Anyone have that ace of spades?"

"Who has a sniper rifle?"

(in a card game) "You fellas ever just...lay out your cards, hope for the best?"

"Anyone experienced with a SMG?"

(in a card game) "Keep your cards close, toss out a few, hope some of them stick"

"Shotgun"

(in a card game) "I've seen this trick, some kid could flick his cards so fast they could cut ya"

"I have a Rail Pistol"

(in a card game) "I've seen this trick, some fella could flick his cards so fast they could cut ya"

"I have a Railgun"

(in a card game) "I've seen this trick, some old bloke could flick his cards so fast they could cut ya"

"I have a Rail Cannon"

(in a card game) "I've seen this trick, some fella could flick his cards so fast they could cut ya. Scary stuff."

"I have a Shard Rifle"