Lexicon & Languages

Netherspeak (Touched Jargon)

The cryptic dialect used by those who perceive the supernatural truths hidden beneath the Mist.

Terms

1. Ghost Code – Mythic phenomena manifesting as corrupted or otherworldly data in cyberspace.
   Example: "The Ghost Code infected the corp server—it’s rewriting the grid."
2. Ley Line – Invisible pathways of mythic energy running through the city.
   Example: "Follow the ley lines to the heart of the shrine."
3. Mist – A metaphysical veil that obscures the supernatural from the unawakened.
   Example: "The Mist hides the ley lines from Regulars."
4. Relic – Objects imbued with supernatural or mythic power.
   Example: "She found a relic in the flooded tunnels beneath Neo-Gotham."
5. Scar – A place or person permanently marked by a mythic event.
   Example: "That alley’s a Scar—don’t let the lights fool you."
6. Shadowmarked – A person altered or scarred by exposure to the Nether.
   Example: "He’s Shadowmarked—see how the air ripples around him?"
7. Sleepers – Regular humans who are unaware of the supernatural truths hidden by the Mist.
   Example: "Sleepers never notice when the Mist shifts around them."
8. Source – Mythic conduits like relics, Thin Places, or esoteric knowledge that grant power to the Touched.
   Example: "That blade is a Source—it hums with divine energy."
9. Thin Place – Locations where the veil between reality and the Nether is fragile.
   Example: "They say the old factory’s a Thin Place—don’t go alone."
10. Touched – Individuals who perceive the truths hidden within the Mist and interact with the Mythos.
    Example: "She’s Touched—one of the few who sees the truth."

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Phrases

1. "Blaze and vault" – Take action and secure what’s important.
   Example: "Blaze and vault—we don’t have time for questions."
2. "Feed the shadow" – To empower or expand mythic influence.
   Example: "The relic’s feeding the shadow—it’s gaining strength."
3. "Pierce the Mist" – To perceive the mythic truth obscured by the veil.
   Example: "Only the Touched can pierce the Mist and see the threads."
4. "Ride the ley lines" – To move along pathways of mythic energy.
   Example: "They rode the ley lines straight into the Thin Place."
5. "Seal the scar" – To close a rift or stabilize a Thin Place.
   Example: "We need to seal the scar before it spreads further."

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Sprawlspeak (Street Jargon)

The utilitarian slang of Neo-Gotham, shaped by corporate dominance and AR-based survival.

Common Words

1. AV – Aerodyne, a flying vehicle common in Neo-Gotham.
   Example: "Catch me on an AV—fastest way to the Sprawl."
2. Blip – To vanish, either physically or digitally.
   Example: "He blipped as soon as the drones got too close."
3. Brightline – A clear rule or boundary, often imposed by corporations.
   Example: "Cross the brightline, and you’re fair game for CorSec."
4. Burnout – When cyberware or a person fails from overuse.
   Example: "She’s headed for burnout—pull her out now."
5. Buzz – A warning or command to leave quickly.
   Example: "You’d better buzz before CorSec gets here."
6. CorSec – Corporate security forces acting as private police for megacorporations.
   Example: "CorSec is everywhere—cross their brightline, and you’re done."
7. Crypt/Creds – Cryptocurrency used universally, untraceable and volatile.
   Example: "This deal’s worth half a million Crypt. Don’t blow it."
8. Jack – To connect to cyberspace or AR.
   Example: "I’m jacking in—cover me."
9. Linx – Connections, whether social, cybernetic, or networked.
   Example: "Check your Linx before you trust anyone."
10. NuTek – Experimental, cutting-edge tech often blending cybernetics and MagiTech.
    Example: "She’s using NuTek mods—great when they work, deadly when they don’t."
11. Patch – To fix or repair, often referring to tech or AR systems.
    Example: "We’ll patch the drone and send it back in."
12. Vault – A secure or hidden place for storing physical or digital assets.
    Example: "We stashed the relic in the vault under the nightclub."

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Expressions

1. "Cut the feed" – Disconnect from AR or cyberspace.
2. "Dead creds" – Money that’s worthless or untraceable.
3. "Flatlined" – Dead, whether physically or in cyberspace.
4. "Jack in" – To connect to cyberspace.
5. "Run the wires" – Engage in illegal or high-stakes activity.
6. "Slot and run" – A demand to hurry up and get to the point.
7. "Brightline deal" – A contract with clear terms but hidden consequences.

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Insults

1. Data Slug – Someone who is slow, unproductive, or overly reliant on tech.
   Example: "That data slug couldn’t hack a toaster."
2. Deadplug – Someone useless, disconnected, or out of the loop.
   Example: "Don’t trust that deadplug—he’ll get you killed."
3. Ghosted – Someone who’s burned their bridges or been abandoned.
   Example: "He’s ghosted—no one will work with him anymore."
4. Sprockethead – A derogatory term for someone overly obsessed with gadgets.
   Example: "That sprockethead cares more about drones than people."
5. Mistblinded – A term for someone oblivious to the supernatural or the world around them.
   Example: "The Mistblinded won’t even notice what’s right in front of them."
6. Shell Rat – A person who lives in the gutter, scavenging for cybernetics.
   Example: "Get out of here, shell rat, before I call CorSec."