Hi there ,

Just had an idea that i was playing around with ...dug up this Lexicon of thieves cant ...might be usefull to pcs maybe with rouge characters . Ers the link http://www.msu.edu/~keithada/Cant.htm

A few characters have used this, or something similar before! It's neat, although a lot of players who would use it with their Lower thugs and such and would KNOW this "language" but don't want to take the time to learn it all. The best way I've seen this done is using just a few more common terms and introducing them into your character's speech. Start saying... "Nasty, scabby' Bandog! I'll get you Benny-boy when I'm outta this here Sheriff's hotel! Now where's m'Betty when I need her, eh?"

... eventually someone will ask what the bloody heck you mean! Using a little OOC coordination helps, letting people know a little bit would probably be fine. Or you could do something really cool and do a few lessons in the Cant down in Lower sometime to teach people the more useful words. Give fifty gold private lessons in learning Thieves' Cant. >.>

Bandog: - a bailiff or sheriff. Ben: - a fool. Bess or Betty: - a crow bar. Prison - sheriff's hotel

While scouring Lower discreetly looking for unlockable and hidden doors, as my roguish character will tend to do,.. he managed to find this little notice: [ooc: on the Flyers section in the forums about 15 days ago - I take it that this flyer is simply an advertisement for like-minded folk, not a plot spoiler]

*hidden in three particular alleys around the lower part of Sanctuary can be found notices pinned up with two darts*

*written in cant with red ink* Oi Birds of Feathers Sly Boots Dab is Peery looking for a Flash Ken maybe a chat with a Dimber damber looking to turn up Trumps maybe Hush and land on Blunt or a Whack ifin Trumps turn up Sly boots by Crone begger maker

*simply signed*

X

I still have no idea what it means. (Dont translate for me - I'll do it when I'm good and ready to go all-out Cant-Bandog). Just a note on how I try to play out my rogue character and the Cant: he grew up for a time in a city of merchant pirates, rogues and thieves, but I play him as marginalised even in this culture.. So in a sense, he's still learning the Cant.

Basically I think Garem's post is a very useful way to use Cant in-game... Part everyday English - part nutso Cant-speak. ;) There is a certain pamphlett in a certain library that utilises this Cant-and-English combination brilliantly IMO.