The Vernus-Praetus Cant

Authored in the main by Havelock Vernus and Severus Praetus for use by Inquisitorial Cell Omega 13

Felid – Juliet
Lupus – Haxtes
Corvus – Severus
Drake – Jarr
Canis – Ravion
Vespus – Vern
Ursus – Cromwell
Equis – Arla
Serpens – Havelock
Rattus – Sagan

Ally – Chained
Enemy – Unchained
Undetermined – Chainless

Human – The Withal
Heretic – The Within
Mutant – The Withless
Xenos – The Without

Major Chaos threat – Obsidian
Dark Eldar – Ruby
Craftworld Eldar – Jade
Ork – Emerald
Tyranid – Pearl
Tau – Sapphire

Alpha – Man
Omega – Woman

Guns – Thunder
Blades – Lightning

Melee Weapons – Poor Men
Close Range Weapons – Beggar Men
Long Range Weapons – Thieves
Artillery – Rich Men

Fight – Crossed
Flee – Uncrossed
Moving – Humble
Holding – Aloof

One – Solitary
Two – Company
Three – Family
Four – Grand Family
Five (or more) – Household

Wheeled Transport – Turning
Winged Transport – Wheeling

Minor Wounds – Aggrieved
Major Wounds – Mortified
Killed – Graced

Ascendent – Affirmative Yes/Sure/Correct
Descendent – Negative No/Unsure/Incorrect

Inquisitorial Agent – Epithet (e.g. Epithet of Iron = Inquisitorial Agent drawn from the Mechanicus)

Adeptus Mechanicus (Techpriests, servitors, hereteks) – Iron
Scum (poorly equipped enemies, mutants etc.) – Lead
Arbites (law enforcement) – Copper
Psykers (psykers, witches, astropaths) – Silver
Ecclesiarchy (clerics, redemptionists, Sisters of Battle) – Gold
Astartes – Platinum
Imperial Guard – Brass

Chaos/otherwise corrupted – Rusty (e.g. Rusty Copper = Corrupted Arbites)
Elites, well equipped forces – Polished (Polished Copper = Elite Arbites)
Mixed Forces – Alloy (First word determines biggest threat/largest numbers, e.g. Alloy Brass Iron = Guard with detachment of Mechanicus, Alloy Iron Brass = Skitarri with some guard)

Mastermind – Pawn
Inner Circle of Conspiracy – Knight
Outer Circle of Conspiracy – Bishop
Boss – Rook
Footsoldier – Queen
Unwitting dupe/accomplice – King