Cant

The "Voice" of the Planescape Setting is Planar Cant, aka Planescape slang, Sigil cant, or just The Cant. It “came from the extremely colorful slang of thieves, swindlers, and beggars in the 16th, 17th, and 18th century” (*Sigil and Beyond,* p.95*)*. Tabletop historian Shannon Appelcline describes it on drivethrurpg.com as "...a slang language used in Sigil that players either loved or hated. The cant was based on Elizabethan slang with some Dickensian slang mixed in."

* **Addle-cove**. A not-particularly friendly way to call someone an idiot, as in, “Did you hear what that addle-coved wizard wanted us to do?”
* **Bar That**. An almost-polite way to say “shut up” or “don’t talk about that.” It’s quick and to the point, and it can be used as a warning: “Bar that, Jannos, there’s Dustmen over there.”
* **Barmies**. The insane folks, especially those in Sigil, who’ve been “touched” by the impossible bigness of the planes.
* **Basher**. neutral reference to a person, usually a thug or fighter.
* **Berk**. fool, especially one who got himself into the mess when he should have known better.
* **Birdcage**. cell or anything that compares to it.
* **Bleaker**. A faction, one of those despondent members of the Bleak Cabal.
* **Blinds**. The dead-ends of the Mazes, it also means anything impossible or hopeless, as in, “He’ll hit the blinds if he tries lying to the factol.”
* **Blood**. Anyone who’s an expert, sage, or a professional at his work. A champion gladiator can be a blood, just like a practiced sorcerer. Calling someone a blood is a mark of high respect.
* **Bob**. The business of cheating someone, whether it’s of their cash, honor, or trust. A good guide to Sigil will warn a cutter when someone’s bobbing him. Thieves boast that they “bobbed some leatherhead on the street.”
* **Bone-box**. The mouth, named because of its teeth, fangs, or whatever. “Stop rattling your bonebox,” is telling a berk to lay off the threats or bragging.
* **Bub**. Booze, wine, or ale that’s usually cheap and barely drinkable.
* **Bubber**. drunk, especially if he, she, or it has fallen on hard times. Bubbers don’t get any sympathy from most folks in Sigil.
* **Burg**. Any town smaller than Sigil, either in size or spirit - at least that’s how folks from Sigil see it. Other bodies don’t always agree.
* **Cage**. This is a common nickname for Sigil, used by locals. It comes from BIRDCAGE (see above), so it’s a pretty harsh judgment on the place.
* **Case**. The house or place where a cutter lives.
* **Chaosmen**. A nickname for the Xaositects. It does a pretty good job of describing their point of view.
* **Cipher**. A faction nickname of the Transcendent Order, because most folks don’t know what they’re talking about.
* **Clueless**. The folks who just don’t get it, usually primes. Use this on a planar and it’s likely there’ll be a fight.
* **Chant**. An expression that means news, local gossip, the facts, the moods, or anything else about what’s happening. “What’s the chant?” is a way of asking what’s latest information a basher’s heard.
* **Cross-Trade**. The business of thieving, or anything else illegal or shady. “A cross-trading scum” is a thief who’s probably angered the Mercykillers.
* **Cutter**. A term that refers to anybody, male or female, that a person wants. It does suggest a certain amount of resourcefulness or daring, and so it’s a lot better than calling somebody a berk.
* **Dark**. Anything that’s secret is said to be a dark. “Here’s the dark of it,” is a way of saying “I’ve got a secret and I’ll share it with you.”