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Table of Contents
Thick as Thieves RP - Gameplay : Dialogue and diplomacy
Along with stealth and exploration, discussing things with others is the meat and potatoes of the game. Can it get you into trouble ? Yes. Can it get you out of trouble ? Yes. Can it help you learn certain things and details that would otherwise evade you ? Of course ! Is asking something from a stranger usually for free ? Yes, mostly yes. Mostly… Talking to others is not only important, it's a crucial part of life in Aporue.
Being a professional thief is not all about what you can achieve with physical prowess alone. Even if you are a burglar-freelancer, you'll have to learn at least basic communication craftiness if you're ever going to make it anywhere in your unusual livelihood. The same thing applies to you if you're a member of a fellowship or guild.
Conversations in general
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Gathering intel
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Getting out of a sticky situation
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Using argot/cant
Virtually every city and town that has a substantial grouping of professional thieves, also has its own secret “dialects”, used by said thieves. Argot (or popularly, “cant”) can technically use any existing local dialect or colloquial speech as its basis, but the key to its success lies in its vocabulary. Common words or words that could easily reveal criminal/illegal intent are (usually cleverly) replaced by completely different terms - though ones that have been derived with at least some intuitive, logical, metonymical or just punny connection to the original word/expression.
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't supposed to understand it, old expressions are jettisoned and replaced with new ones. Argots have a very vibrant and dynamic existence when it comes to their vocabulary, to the point that it sometimes borders on the ephemeral.
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)
| Argotisms | Meaning |
|---|---|
| burr, gap, board | house, dwelling, flat |
| fiss, bug, cranny, loo | safehouse, hideout |
| bread, piss, pissgrub | inn, alehouse, pub |
| cratch, chute, gull | street |
| sore, shiner | alley, back alley |
| 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, eggbasket, tooth | loot cache |
| boiled egg, cracked egg, toothache | damaged loot, damaged goods |
| thistle, nettle, rag, hag | dagger or stabbing weapon |
| strand, lord, lard | sword (usually straight) |
| scythe, shank, shin | sabre or curved sword |
| branch, knot, silk | bow (weapon) |
| snapper, nutmeg, hurdy-gurdy | crossbow |
| skewer, splinter, splint | arrow |
| jolt, peg, pin | (crossbow) bolt |
| finch, inch, pale | fence, middleman, receiver |
| tit, sparrow, fly | squealer, informant |
| threepee | from “purse-and-pocket-pilferer” - pickpocket, cutpurse |
| dross, floss, toss | a thieves's guild boss |
| baldric, boot | ally from a guild, usually armed (e.g. Guard, Brigand) |
| toe, sob, swift, ratcatcher | (common) policeman or patrolman of The Watch |
| flask, flasker, swigger | guard or watchman of The Watch or the Melzan army |
| mutt, pot, clank | Flying Squad or Unrest Quellers member of the Watch |
| forage, porridge | beer or other alcohol |
| cabbage, cabbage soup | coffee or chicory |
| rot, fester, blight | food or meals |
Using gestures
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