shared_worlds:thick_as_thieves_verbal
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shared_worlds:thick_as_thieves_verbal [2015/05/26 20:34] – [Using argot/cant] Petike | shared_worlds:thick_as_thieves_verbal [2019/03/29 15:13] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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- | ==== Using argot/ | + | ==== Getting out of a sticky situation |
Space reserved for notes. | Space reserved for notes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Using argot/cant ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Virtually every city and town that has a substantial grouping of professional thieves, also has its own secret " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Naturally, a thieving argot (or any argot) develops over time, having a general tendency to reshape, renew and reinvent itself due to the hazards dogging its users: Once an argotic expression becomes too well known to the commoners who weren' | ||
+ | |||
+ | At this particular point in Aporuean history, Melza has several prevailing argot conventions among professional thieves. There are some relatively universal expressions and idioms in place throughout the whole City, but many guilds and fellowships also develop their own argot, for the sake of greater safety and discretion, and also greater ease of use. The table that follows includes some of the more universal expressions from the Melzan thieving twang. | ||
**__Examples of Melzan thief argot (cant)__** | **__Examples of Melzan thief argot (cant)__** | ||
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^ **Argotisms** ^ **Meaning** ^ | ^ **Argotisms** ^ **Meaning** ^ | ||
| //burr//, //gap//, //board// | house, dwelling, flat | | | //burr//, //gap//, //board// | house, dwelling, flat | | ||
- | | //fiss//, //bug//, //loo// | safehouse, hideout | | + | | //fiss//, //bug//, //cranny//, //loo// | safehouse, hideout | |
| //bread//, //piss//, // | | //bread//, //piss//, // | ||
| //cratch//, //chute//, //gull// | street | | | //cratch//, //chute//, //gull// | street | | ||
- | | //sore//, //shiner// | alley, | + | | //sore//, //shiner// | alley, |
- | | //skid//, //slide//, //sole//, //slink// | to go, to to walk (somewhere) | | + | | //plate//, //tray// | yard, courtyard |
+ | | //skid//, //slide//, //sole//, //slink// | to go, to walk (somewhere) | | ||
+ | | //trash//, //tidy//, //tuck// | to fence loot, sell off loot | | ||
| //egg in a basket//, // | | //egg in a basket//, // | ||
| //boiled egg//, //cracked egg//, // | | //boiled egg//, //cracked egg//, // | ||
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| //branch//, //knot//, //silk// | bow (weapon) | | | //branch//, //knot//, //silk// | bow (weapon) | | ||
| // | | // | ||
+ | | //skewer//, // | ||
+ | | //jolt//, //peg//, //pin// | (crossbow) bolt | | ||
| //finch//, //inch//, //pale// | fence, middleman, receiver | | | //finch//, //inch//, //pale// | fence, middleman, receiver | | ||
+ | | //tit//, // | ||
+ | | // | ||
+ | | //dross//, //floss//, //toss// | a thieves' | ||
| // | | // | ||
| //toe//, //sob//, //swift//, // | | //toe//, //sob//, //swift//, // | ||
| //flask//, // | | //flask//, // | ||
- | | //mutt//, //pot//, //clank// | Flying Squad or Unrest Quellers member of the Watch | | + | | //mutt//, //pot//, //clank// | Flying Squad or Unrest Quellers member of the Watch | |
| //forage//, // | | //forage//, // | ||
+ | | // | ||
| //rot//, //fester//, //blight// | food or meals | | | //rot//, //fester//, //blight// | food or meals | | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Using gestures ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Even with the advance of technology, neither the cultures of Aporue, or any other cultures anywhere in the world for that matter, have invented devices capable of transfering people' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Use simple substitutes that have been around for ages, of course. Visual signals, involving flashing signals with tiny mirrors or polished pieces of metal, can prove practical at greater distances and in certain situations. Sadly, unless the conditions are right, these are generally too risky an option to be used stealthily. Audible signals, often involving the use of birdcalls (or very good natural sounds imitation) are also an option, and somewhat of a stealthier one than visual signals. But only if they are done right. An inappropriate use of sounds can still give one away... | ||
+ | |||
+ | Well, if even these simple substitutes are not all that secure, what to use then ? Perhaps some of the oldest communication in the book, of course: Gestures and facial expressions. Silent, not flashy, cost nothing. And unless you run to a distance where no one can make heads or tails of what you're gesturing, they are a very clear and unambiguous communcation methods. Well... Unambiguous only as long as people agree upon a secret code to go with each gesture. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Here's an overview of fairly standardised gesture and facial expressions code in thieving underworld of Melza (some of them come in more than one variation): | ||
+ | |||
+ | ^ **Gesture** ^ **Face** ^ **Meaning** ^ | ||
+ | | putting a finger to one's lips | N/A | " | ||
+ | | putting a finger to one's lips, raising a finger priggishly | N/A | "As quietly as possible..." | ||
+ | | putting a finger to one's lips | slight nod | " | ||
+ | | tapping the nose with an index finger | N/A | " | ||
+ | | waving closely towards oneself, pointing at one's foot | frowning, shaking of head | " | ||
+ | | raising a finger, pointing at the floor | frowning | " | ||
+ | | shaking one's foot in place, pointing at the floor | grinning sourly | " | ||
+ | | clenching one's fist horizontally, | ||
+ | | holding one's hand horizontally, | ||
+ | | nod to an object, " | ||
+ | | nod to an object, " | ||
+ | | mimicing a spyglass around the eye | N/A | "Have a look." / "Look around." | ||
+ | | mimicing a spyglass around the eye, pointing | N/A | "Take a look in that direction." | ||
+ | | mimicing a spyglass around the eye, pointing at a door | N/A | "Go and have a peek through the keyhole." | ||
+ | | palm placed behind ear, pointing at a door | N/A | " | ||
+ | | " | ||
+ | | brief swing of clenched fist, pointing at a guard | N/A | "Knock him out." | | ||
+ | | brief swing of clenched fist, pointing at a guard | clear wink | "Knock him out, but make sure it's possible." | ||
+ | | wave-like gesture with a hand, optional pointing | N/A | " | ||
+ | | waving hand as if against smoke, brief " | ||
+ | | brief " | ||
+ | | backhanded wipe in front of eyes, brief " | ||
+ | | covering mouth with palm, brief " | ||
+ | | quickly flipping wrist upward, brief " | ||
+ | | waving hand as if against smoke, brief palm downward gesture | N/A | "Place a smokemine." | ||
+ | | brief palm downward gesture | frantic, exaggerated blinking | "Place a flashmine." | ||
+ | | backhanded wipe in front of eyes, brief palm downward gesture | N/A | "Place a flashmine." | ||
+ | | covering mouth with palm, brief palm downward gesture | N/A | "Place a gasmine." | ||
+ | | quickly flipping wrist upward, brief palm downward gesture | N/A | "Place a mine." | | ||
+ | | brief palm downward gesture, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | (//< | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | ==== Getting out of a sticky situation | + | ==== To keep silent or not to keep silent ? ==== |
- | Space reserved | + | So, let's imagine you and maybe one or two of your fellow burglars are already taking part in some heist or proverbial catacomb-crawl. Let's imagine a situation occurs where you can't rely on gestures and facial expressions. You need to get verbal. Is it too risky or not ? Well, that depends. The answer is context-sensitive. |
+ | |||
+ | If you feel or think someone (or, heaven forbid, // | ||
+ | |||
+ | Obviously, if you start running around and hollering in an already hostile or potentially dangerous environment, | ||
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shared_worlds/thick_as_thieves_verbal.txt · Last modified: 2019/03/29 15:13 by 127.0.0.1