Thieves' Cant

Slang for sneaky charlatans

Thieves' Cant

If you cook with heavy bones, you're sooner or later gonna dance with six dirty fingers. — Common saying among Gamblers

Thieves' Cant is the secret language of rogues, burglars and ne'er-do-wells. It's a mish-mash of slang, sign languages and symbols placed in strategic locations to alert other thieves of news without being caught.

---

Exclusivity

---

The Crow proclaimed that nobody is allowed to teach the Cant to foreigners. They actively enforce this rule and those that don't abide by it are punished severely. Spilling the Cant is one of the most severe crimes, against The Crow and the whole criminal underworld at large, a rogue can commit. Common punishments for spilling the Cant include:

• Cutting off the tongue
• Hanging
• Death by a thousand cuts
• Flaying

---

Symbols

---

Thieves' Cant doesn't only exist as a spoken language but also consists of a series of runic symbols that are carved into walls or drawn onto point of interest to mark them and quickly deliver short messages to other members of the trade.

---

Common Expressions

---

Below are some common phrases frequently used by rogues and thieves.

Code in Cant	Meaning
Cant	Secret language of thieves
Family	The Guild
In Laws	Allied Guild
Step Family	Rival Guild
Party	Mission / Job
Cold	Dead
Pig	Guard
Sing	To spill intel
Going legit	To die

Spoken by

• Thieves Guild

Common Phrases

cold pig

dead guard

cobbled/dirt road

dangerous/safe path

brother

guildmate