Thieves' cant, or simply cant,[2] was the secret language spoken and signed by rogues, the priests of duplicitous deities,[3][4][5][6] and criminals of the Realms.[7][8][9]
Description[]
While some scholars believed thieves' cant was not a true language,[11] it utilized a unique set of grammar,[12] combined with local dialects, idioms, coded language,[7][11] and hand gestures.[13][14]
While it allowed for secret communication between rogues and thieves of the Realms,[7] thieves' cant did not exist independent of other languages. It was impossible for two thieves to communicate in cant, if they did not have at least one shared language.[11]
Thieves' cant was said to be somewhat similar in form to the language of the Vistani people.[15]
Syntax & Grammar[]
Some iterations of thieves' cant had unique sets of rules that governed its word usage, syntax, modifiers and tenses.
• A strict word order: words were placed in specific, except when the meaning of a sentence should be changed. The word order was: time — verb — subject — place — indirect object — direct object.[12]
• No use of adjectives: modifying words were used to alter the state of a noun or verb, in context to their place in a sentence, and the adjacent to them. Thieves' cant used pronouns as suffixes to modify a verb's subject, or to shift focus from the subject to the verb.[12]
• A unique form of pluralization and adjective magnitude: these were changed by repeating modifier words in rapid succession, in effect creating new words.[12]
• Specific rules regarding verb tense: tenses were changed by placing specific time modifiers at the front of a sentence or question.[12]
Spoken[]
Spoken thieves' cant utilized a narrower set of vowel sounds and elongated syllables. The first syllable of each word received primary stress, while odd syllables in longer words were given secondary stress.[12] Some variants of thieves' cant employed a series of animal noises.[16]
Written[]
There was no unique alphabet for thieves cant, as it was rarely if-ever transcribed onto parchment or scroll.[12]
Uses[]
The main use of thieves' cant was to communicate illicit activities, such as banditry, burglary, finding marks, and the discussion of ill-gotten loot.[11][7]
History[]
Thieves' cant had been spoken in Faerûn for centuries leading up to the Era of Upheaval, dating as far back as the -8th century DR.[17]
Although it had evolved over the years, it was still spoken by the people of Faerûn as of the mid-to-late 14th century.[2]
Notable Users[]
Individuals[]
- Albruin, the sentient broadsword long held by a noble house of Cormyr.[18][19]
- Astele Keene, head of the Guild in Baldur's Gate during the late 15th century DR.[20]
- Bag of Nails, the tabaxi warrior who journeyed through the jungles of Chult.[21]
- Sir Riordan Parnell, the half-elven bard who had enjoyed extravagant wealth just as often as he did financial impoverishment.[22][23]
- Viari, the roguish adventurer of Acquisitions Incorporated.[24]
- Forge Fitzwilliam, conman and later Lord of Neverwinter.[25]
Groups[]
Some priests and specialty priests of certain deities understood and utilized thieves' cant, notably demarches and demarchesses of Mask,[3] the aetharnor of Abbathor,[4] the hurndor of Vergadain,[27] mischiefmakers of Erevan Ilesere,[5] fastpaws of Baervan Wildwanderer,[28] and misadventurers of Brandobaris.[6]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Treasure Hunt • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
- Referenced only
- The Mines of Bloodstone • The Bloodstone Wars • The Throne of Bloodstone • Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle • Sleeping Dragon's Wake • Storm Lord's Wrath • Tomb of Annihilation • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus • Infernal Machine Rebuild • Dragons of Stormwreck Isle • Keys from the Golden Vault: Prisoner 13
- Novels
- Mortal Consequences • Azure Bonds Song of the Saurials • Realms of Infamy: Gallows Day • The Shattered Mask • Star of Cursrah • Twilight Falling • Venom's Taste
- Referenced only
- Spellfire
- Comics
- Legends of Baldur's Gate 2
- Video Games
- Dungeon Hack • Baldur's Gate
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- Plague of Ancients (The Great Knucklehead Rally); Shadows Rising
- Referenced only
- Mulmaster Undone • Durlag's Tower • Durlag's Tomb • Pools of Cerulean • Terror in Ten Towns • The Skull Square Murders • Poisoned Words • Last Orders at the Yawning Portal • The Breath of Life • The Vast Emptiness of Grace • In the Hand • Hellfire Requiem • Breaking Umberlee's Resolve • Blood in the Water • Saving Silverbeard • Foreign Affairs • Uncertain Scrutiny • Thimblerigging • Moment of Peace The Harrowing of Hell • Unsafe Harborage • Shadows in the Stacks • To Walk the Cold Dark • Wings of Death
Further Reading[]
- Aurelio Locsin (October 1982). “Thieves' Cant: A primer for the language of larceny”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #66 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 35–44.
References[]
- ↑ Richard Baker, Tavis Allison, Eytan Bernstein, Robert J. Schwalb (February 2010). Martial Power 2. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7869-5389-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Richard Lee Byers (July 2007). The Shattered Mask (paperback ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 17, pp. 223–224. ISBN 978-0-7869-4266-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 111. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 168. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 34. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford (September 2019). “Rulebook”. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1988). Spellfire. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 4, p. 69. ISBN 0-88038-587-1.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 40. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Aurelio Locsin (October 1982). “Thieves' Cant: A primer for the language of larceny”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #66 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 35–36.
- ↑ Jim Zub (November 2014). “Legends of Baldur's Gate 2”. Legends of Baldur's Gate #2 (IDW Publishing) (2)., p. 7.
- ↑ Jim Zub, Stacy King, Andrew Wheeler (July 2019). Warriors & Weapons. (Ten Speed Press), p. 83. ISBN 978-1-9848-5642-5.
- ↑ Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
- ↑ John Nephew, Carl Sargent and Douglas Niles (1989). The Complete Thief's Handbook. Edited by Scott Haring. (TSR), pp. 16–17. ISBN 0-88038-780-7.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Clayton Emery (January 1998). Mortal Consequences. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0683-9.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Steve Perrin (May 1988). The Magister. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 55. ISBN 0-88038-564-2.
- ↑ Kevin Melka, John Terra (March 1995). “Adventure Book”. In David Wise ed. Ruins of Zhentil Keep (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-0109-8.
- ↑ Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 170. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
- ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1986). The Mines of Bloodstone. (TSR, Inc), p. 45. ISBN 0-8803-8312-7.
- ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1987). The Bloodstone Wars. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 0-8803-8398-4.
- ↑ Jerry Holkins, Elyssa Grant, Scott Fitzgerald Gray (June 18, 2019). Acquisitions Incorporated. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 198. ISBN 978-0786966905.
- ↑ Thieves' Gallery. D&D Beyond. Wizards of the Coast. (2023-03-07). Retrieved on 2023-03-08.
- ↑ BioWare (December 1998). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 91. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 140. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.