Underworld Slang
Jun 26, 2014 13:58:58 GMT
Post by ArnoldY on Jun 26, 2014 13:58:58 GMT
Underworld Slang
The denizens of the Criminal Underworld come from all walks of life, but it has always been the impoverished majority who've introduced the most dynamic elements into their secretive culture.
In modern times, the Tel Vinraen underground sports a colourful language of lower-class Milerian slang, bastardized Velithri, and a pidgin of the Elven tongue appropriated mostly from the Western dialect. Loan words from other tongues, such as Dwarven, are not unheard of. Though its oftentimes criminals that speak the slang, anyone with a tongue for the vernacular is not prohibited from using them. There can be social ramifications, however. A noble would attract scorn or japes if they admit to wanting "bags o' mystery from a bowsing ken". Fancier shops may refuse service, fearing their reputation is threatened by the vulgarities of the patronage. And, wanted or suspected PCs be warned, it is an invitation for trouble when spoken loudly near a keen-eared Watchman, for example...
Special Note: These terms are easily mixed and matched into the speech of anyone with complete knowledge of Thieves' Cant. (See Languages for details on Thieves' Cant)
Addamy: A prison; derived from Athamault (lit. Elven for "The Iron Pit")
Autem: Church/Temple
Bags O'Mystery: Sausages consumed in Deadman's Knot
Bilath: A Wet Ear's (Thieves' Guild initiate) first mission; derived from blalath (lit. Elven for "Mushroom")
Bowsing Ken: A drinking house, usually a tavern.
Broadsword: A watchman.
Chalk: Low-quality Starspice, a highly addictive illict substance; usually hazardous because of impurities.
Donning God-Armour: A phrase meaning promotion (through the Guild); refers to the reduced risk of death that higher positions bring.
Durkin: A secret passage or route, often avoiding Imperial embargos or patrols; derived from Dunburakin (lit. Dwarven for "underground passageway")
Eggwhisker: A cheater; one who isn't above hitting below the belt, metaphorically or literally.
Fingersmith: a pickpocketer.
Flesh Merchant: A slaver.
Gas Pipes: A term for tight pants.
Glymmer: Fire/Torch
Jerkyden: An underground lounge equipped with amenities for the comfortable purchase and consumption of illicit substances.
Laranlas: a formal address for higher-ranking women of the Thieves' Guild.
Luterquessy: A skilled sailor or captain, sometimes used to describe skilled persons in general; derived from Alu'Tel'Quessir, Elven for 'people of the water'
Maiden voyage: Another phrase for a Wet Ear's (a Thieves' Guild initiate) first mission.
Meat Parade: A slave auction.
Meater: A coward
Murlinger: A guild member violently opposed to Imperial rule; derived from murmelings, (lit. Dwarven for 'words of dissension)
No-man: A person with strong pro-rebel sentiments.
Philantrophist: A smuggler
Pissing Darcasti: To wind up with more profit than expected; refers to Darcasti Champagne, an expensive alcoholic beverage.
Playing for marbles: Gambling.
Playing for skulls: Gambling with one's life or limbs--some high-stakes games risk serious injury.
Quess: A formal address for higher-ranking men of the Thieves' Guild.
Rum Cliffs: The docks.
Sauce Box: A term for the mouth
Seeing Zaens: To suspect being investigated by the authorities; derived from Zaen'Shaen, Elven for 'the all-seeing gaze'.
Splitting the corks: To celebrate a successful task.
Thrasher: Euphemism for a first mission that resulted in death; derived from Dharasha (lit. Elven for "destiny")
Wet Ear: A Thieves' Guild initiate.
Wilder: A safe house; derived from Wealdath (lit. Elven for "unspoiled woods")
The denizens of the Criminal Underworld come from all walks of life, but it has always been the impoverished majority who've introduced the most dynamic elements into their secretive culture.
In modern times, the Tel Vinraen underground sports a colourful language of lower-class Milerian slang, bastardized Velithri, and a pidgin of the Elven tongue appropriated mostly from the Western dialect. Loan words from other tongues, such as Dwarven, are not unheard of. Though its oftentimes criminals that speak the slang, anyone with a tongue for the vernacular is not prohibited from using them. There can be social ramifications, however. A noble would attract scorn or japes if they admit to wanting "bags o' mystery from a bowsing ken". Fancier shops may refuse service, fearing their reputation is threatened by the vulgarities of the patronage. And, wanted or suspected PCs be warned, it is an invitation for trouble when spoken loudly near a keen-eared Watchman, for example...
Special Note: These terms are easily mixed and matched into the speech of anyone with complete knowledge of Thieves' Cant. (See Languages for details on Thieves' Cant)
Addamy: A prison; derived from Athamault (lit. Elven for "The Iron Pit")
Autem: Church/Temple
Bags O'Mystery: Sausages consumed in Deadman's Knot
Bilath: A Wet Ear's (Thieves' Guild initiate) first mission; derived from blalath (lit. Elven for "Mushroom")
Bowsing Ken: A drinking house, usually a tavern.
Broadsword: A watchman.
Chalk: Low-quality Starspice, a highly addictive illict substance; usually hazardous because of impurities.
Donning God-Armour: A phrase meaning promotion (through the Guild); refers to the reduced risk of death that higher positions bring.
Durkin: A secret passage or route, often avoiding Imperial embargos or patrols; derived from Dunburakin (lit. Dwarven for "underground passageway")
Eggwhisker: A cheater; one who isn't above hitting below the belt, metaphorically or literally.
Fingersmith: a pickpocketer.
Flesh Merchant: A slaver.
Gas Pipes: A term for tight pants.
Glymmer: Fire/Torch
Jerkyden: An underground lounge equipped with amenities for the comfortable purchase and consumption of illicit substances.
Laranlas: a formal address for higher-ranking women of the Thieves' Guild.
Luterquessy: A skilled sailor or captain, sometimes used to describe skilled persons in general; derived from Alu'Tel'Quessir, Elven for 'people of the water'
Maiden voyage: Another phrase for a Wet Ear's (a Thieves' Guild initiate) first mission.
Meat Parade: A slave auction.
Meater: A coward
Murlinger: A guild member violently opposed to Imperial rule; derived from murmelings, (lit. Dwarven for 'words of dissension)
No-man: A person with strong pro-rebel sentiments.
Philantrophist: A smuggler
Pissing Darcasti: To wind up with more profit than expected; refers to Darcasti Champagne, an expensive alcoholic beverage.
Playing for marbles: Gambling.
Playing for skulls: Gambling with one's life or limbs--some high-stakes games risk serious injury.
Quess: A formal address for higher-ranking men of the Thieves' Guild.
Rum Cliffs: The docks.
Sauce Box: A term for the mouth
Seeing Zaens: To suspect being investigated by the authorities; derived from Zaen'Shaen, Elven for 'the all-seeing gaze'.
Splitting the corks: To celebrate a successful task.
Thrasher: Euphemism for a first mission that resulted in death; derived from Dharasha (lit. Elven for "destiny")
Wet Ear: A Thieves' Guild initiate.
Wilder: A safe house; derived from Wealdath (lit. Elven for "unspoiled woods")