Vampire Material:Updated Vampire Terminology

[Sam Akabara]

Amaranth, the: archaic; named for a plant with tiny bright red flowers reminiscent of spots of blood, the Amaranth is an ancient term for diablerie. See diablerie.

Anarch, an: a member of the Anarch Movement.

Anarchs, the: the common name for the Anarch Movement, which began in the Dark Ages and in modern nights is a sect very loosely attached to the Camarilla. The Anarchs often work against the interests of the Camarilla, yet the Camarilla extends the protection of the Masquerade over the Anarchs regardless.

Ancillae: a vampire between roughly 50-300 years of age; the "teenage" version of a vampire; one who has accumulated some personal power but has not achieved the status of an elder.

Antediluvian: one of thirteen (or more) "founder" vampires; believed responsible for the creation of one of each of the ancient Clans. Many of the Antediluvians are believed to have been destroyed, diablerized, or have mysteriously disappeared.

Antitribu: vampires who hold an allegiance contrary to the common political alignment of their Clan. Ex: The Clan Ventrue are supporters of the Camarilla - therefore, a Ventrue antitribu would be a member of the Sabbat.

Archbishop, a: the leader of a Sabbat-controlled city. One Archbishop manages several bishops, who in turn manage one or more packs. Roughly analogous to the Camarilla prince.

Beast: 1) the collection of (self-)destructive urges that are awakened by the consumption of vampiric vitae. Present in elder ghouls as well as all vampires. These urges are triggered during times of emotional or physical stress (mortal combat, being extremely embarassed or humiliated, the temptation of blood, etc), and often result in a vampire frenzying. A vampire cannot get rid of their Beast without also losing what it means to be a vampire; hence only Golconda is believed to "cure" the Beast. Cainites believe that the Beast is a curse leveled by God in order to prevent vampires from becoming too powerful. 2) a sobriquet of the Gangrel Clan or City Gangrel bloodline.

Becoming, the: archaic; see Embrace, the.

Blood Bond: created by sharing blood with another vampire. The first sharing creates feelings of sympathy and congeniality with the donor; the second creates feelings of brotherhood and strong friendship; the third creates feelings of intense and jealous love for the donor. Vampiric lovers often exchange Blood Bonds; it is also used as a controlling measure by many vampires for use on ghouls and servants.

Blood hunt: a punishment reserved for only the most heinous crimes among vampires; a blood hunt is formally declared by a figure of authority within a city or a sect, and involves all vampires in the region hunting down and if possible destroying the vampire who committed the crime. Blood hunts are rarely, if ever, called off, and innocence is only proven posthumously.

Blood Oath: archaic; see "Blood Bond".

Bloodline: one of many dozens of "unofficial" lineages of vampires, who do not display Disciplines or qualities characteristic to one of the thirteen official Clans. See also "Clan".

Bloodsicle: a dead body, so named since the blood within has gone cold.

Book of Nod, the: a fragmented account of the vampiric origin story, supposedly composed by Caine, the First Vampire. The Book of Nod is incomplete, but contains prophecies that herald the end of the world at some undisclosed point in the future. Many vampiric scholars own - or would like to own - fragmets of the Book of Nod for the insights it reveals about Caine, vampiric history, and Gehenna.

Cainite, a: archaic; a vampire, usually of Western European descent, who believes that vampires are descended from the Biblical Cain(e). Also called "childer of Caine" or "get of Caine" (from "beget"). In mordern times, the term is used more in the Sabbat than the Camarilla, or among elder vampires.

Camarilla, a: a member of the Camarilla sect. Also "Cammy".

Camarilla, the: a sect of vampires who support the vampiric status quo of the past five-hundred years. Each Camarilla city is ruled by a prince and supported by a council of primogen. The sect as a whole is governed by the Inner Council, theoretically composed of one vampire from each of the seven member clans.

Cape: Anarch parlance for an elder vampire, derived from the Hollywood portrayal of Dracula in a long cape.

Chantry: 1) a meeting house for followers of any of the Houses of the Order of Hermes. 2) Specifically, a meeting house for the members of the vampiric Clan House Tremere. A chantry is headed by a regent, and holds up to a score of individual members.

Childe (pronounced as "child"): plural childer; a vampire who was Embraced by their "sire" (the vampire who turned them into a vampire); mostly used only in relation to their sire (ex: "Theo Bell is the childe of Don Cerro"), but sometimes used as a derogatory term indicating youth and inexperience.

Chronicle, a: a campaign run by a Storyteller using Vampire: The Masquerade rules, setting, and characters. A chronicle is composed of individual stories and chapters in which players roleplay out their characters' actions and decisions in circumstances created by the Storyteller. See also "Storyteller".

Clan, a: one of thirteen "official" vampiric bloodlines recognized by all vampires. These are the largest and most influential groups of vampires in the world; they are often considered as a vampire's extended "family" or other relations. Members of the same Clan share a group of three Disciplines; many Clans have a "trademark" Discipline which only their clanmembers possess. Some clans have closer ties to one sect over another, or choose to be completely independent of any larger organization. See also "antitribu" and "bloodline".

Consistory, the: the collective body of prisci who serve as advisors to the Regent of the Sabbat. See "Priscus".

Crusade: 1) one of several invasions by Christian soldiers into the Middle Eastern region of the world during the Dark Ages; these will be referred to as "the First Crusade", "the Second Crusade", etc. 2) A war launched by the Sabbat sect against a specific city or organization. Ex: "The Sabbat has declared a Crusade against Washington, D. C."

Diablerie: the act of consuming a vampire's soul, in addition to all their blood; a horrific crime among the Camarilla and a tool of power among the Sabbat. Believed to grant the power of the consumed vampire; hence, diablerie is most often committed on elder vampires. Some vampires have been known to become addicted to the act.

Diablerize: to commit the act of diablerie.

Domain: the geographic or political zone of control managed by a single vampire (or in the case of the Sabbat, a single pack). A vampire's domain is typically awarded to them by the city leader, either a Prince or Archbishop. A vampire's domain can range from anything like a square city block to the politicians of city hall to a college campus. Basically, if a vampire tries to exert control over a place, people, or subject area, that can be considered the vampire's "domain".

Domitor: the vampire responsible for supplying blood to a ghoul. Thanks to the addictive properties of the blood, most ghouls are submissive and eager to please their vampire sponsor.

Ductus, a: the vampire with the most seniority in a Sabbat pack; effectively, the leader.

Elder: a vampire of roughly 300 years of age or older; usually possessed of great influence and personal power.

Embrace, the: the act of turning a mortal into a vampire. First, the mortal must be drained of all their blood, and immediately before death, must ingest at least 1 Blood Point's worth of vitae from the siring vampire. See also "childe" and "sire".

Fiend, a: a member of the Tzimisce Clan, usually used to describe an elder such member, who has modified their body in horrifying ways with Vicissitude.

Final Nights, the: the modern times, so called because many vampires secretly or not-so-secretly believe the end of the world is nigh. Vampires who do not believe in such things refer to this time as the "Modern Nights".

Fledgeling, a: a very young vampire, no more than a few years old and still subject to the authority of their sire. See also "neonate".

Frenzy: a state of temporary, incredibly destructive insanity caused by hunger, embarassment, or any of a hundred other factors. When frenzied, a vampire is an unliving engine of terror and chaos, existing only to kill and feed. Vampires who have totally degenerated exist in a permanent state of half-frenzy, a base animal whose only goals are to eat, rest, and kill. Also occassionally used to describe a werewolf who is under the throes of their Rage. See also "Beast".

Gehenna: the vampiric version of the Apocalypse. Common lore holds that when Gehenna arrives, the thirteen Antediluvians will awaken from torpor and diablerize all other vampires. See also "Final Nights".

Ghoul: a mortal human or animal who drinks the blood of a vampire. The mystic properties of vampire blood make these mortals stronger, faster, and tougher than normal, and are often employed as servants or bodyguards for their vampire domitors. See also "Blood Bond" and "szlachta".

Harpy, a: a member of the Camarilla who serves as a social critic or gossipmonger. Most often found in the Toreador Clan.

Inconnu, the: an incredibly secretive order of elder vampires, whose goals and interests are unknown to those not of the sect. The Incounnu is composed of ancient vampires who "monitor" various cities and institutions around the world. They supposedly collectively pursue Golconda, but their precise role is left up to individual Storytellers.

Juicebag: slang for a human or other source of blood, used almost exclusively by the Sabbat, though occassionally by the Anarchs.

Jyhad/Jihad: the cold war waged between vampires. Each sect has a different version of what the Jyhad entails: the Camarilla uses the term mostly to describe it as the war against the Sabbat; the Sabbat uses it to describe their holy war against the Antediluvians.

Kindred: 1) the species of vampires entire, 2) a single vampire. Usage: "We are the Kindred. We are vampires." A term adopted by the Camarilla at its founding to describe vampires. Used only derogatorily by the Sabbat.

Kine: archaic; a human mortal; an ancient term for "cattle".

Lextalionis, the: archaic; see "blood hunt".

Lickstick, a: slang for a human mortal; so called because vampires often feed at the neck (the "stick"), and heal the wound by licking it closed.

Lineage: a vampire's "family tree"; the progression of sire and childe down the generations. The vampire's lineage is typically recited during their first introduction to Camarilla society.

Lupine: archaic; a werewolf. Also "moon-beast" or "wolf-man". Occassionally called "lycans" by vampires who watch too many Hollywood movies.

Masquerade, the: an extensive network of propaganda, manipulation, and control over mortal society promoted by the Camarilla. The goal of this network is to keep mortals ignorant of the existence of real vampires, though many princes and other vampires use the Masquerade as an excuse to dominate mortal society for their own purposes.
The creators of the game also imply that the "Masquerade" refers to a vampire's attempt to rationalize their existence as a blood-sucking undead monster as something not as monstrous; as in, the effort to appear human is a "mask" that vampires wear, both for their own peace of mind and to avoid revealing their existence to mortals.

Neonate, a: a "new" vampire, no more than a few years old. They have almost no power and no influence, and are typically still watched over by their sires. Sabbat neonates have not yet earned the rights of a True Sabbat. See "fledgeling".

Pack: a group of 3-10 vampires belonging to the Sabbat sect. Occassionally used to describe small groups of Anarch vampires. All members of a Sabbat pack undertake the Vaulderie ceremony, which establishes a Vinculum bond. Packs generally serve a specific purpose within their city of residence; all packs may be called upon to support a Sabbat Crusade.

Paths [of Enlightenment], a: one of over a dozen different ethical systems practiced by vampires. Many Clans follow their own specific Paths, such as the Assamites and the Path of Blood. See also "Road".

Poseur, a: a member of the Toreador Clan who does not practice any of the arts (i.e., they pretend or "pose" instead of working). They often serve as critics and harpies in Camarilla cities, or as sadists within the Sabbat.

Priest, a: a vampire who serves as the moral and spiritual guide to a Sabbat pack. They have power second only to the pack's ductus, and are responsible for conducting the auctoritas and ignoblis ritae of the pack.

Primogen: a vampiric "senator"; the vampire who represents the political interests of their Clan in a city controlled by the Camarilla. The exact function of the primogen differs from city to city - in some, they rule the city in all but name; in others, they serve only at the whim of the prince.

Prince: the ruler (at least in name) of a city controlled by the Camarilla sect. The term is neuter, used to describe both male and female rulers (though one exception to this is the self-styled "Queen" Anne Bowesley, prince of the city of London).

Priscus: plural prisci. An advisor to the Regent of the Sabbat. One of the members of the Consistory, or Council of Prisci. Prisci may occassionally take an additional office within the Sabbat, such as Sascha Vykos, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., or Cardinal Ambrosio Luis Moncada.

Progenitor: archaic; 1) one of the legendary Antediluvians, or founders of the 13 vampire Clans; see also "Antediluvian". 2) a vampire's sire, grandsire, or eldest known member of their lineage.

Regent, a: a leader of a Tremere chantry. Supposed to be the oldest and most powerful of the Tremere in the chantry. Subject to the authority of a Tremere "Lord".

Regent, the: the titular head of the Sabbat sect. The Regent is so called because they are "keeping the seat warm" for Caine, who, it is supposed, will some day return and claim his place as ruler of the Sabbat.

Regnant: archaic; a vampire responsible for supplying blood to a ghoul. See domitor.

Road, a: one of five major or six minor systems of morality practiced by vampires up through the Renaissance. Most Roads have a distinctly more religious flavoring than any of the modern Paths. See also "Paths [of Enlightenment]". Many Roads also had "forks", which specialized in one or another aspects of the Road's morality. (Ex: the Road of the Beast was broken into the "Path of the Hunter", the "Path of the Nomad", and the "Path of the Savage".)

Sabbat, a: a member of the Sabbat sect.

Sabbat, the: a sect of vampires opposed to the Camarilla; the Sabbat seeks to bring down the Antediluvians and overthrow the rule of elder vampires. The Sabbat rejects their humanity and seeks to subjugate the human species.

Scion, a: archaic; 1) a vampire who follows the Road of Kings. 2) a lineage of vampires who are "sponsored" by an elder or separate lineage. 3) a member of a revenant bloodline whose ancestry deparated from the main family at some point in history. They still possess some revenant-like qualities (longer life, better health, etc), but do not possess any Disciplines.

Sect, a: a very large group (in the hundreds, if not thousands) of vampire who share a similar philosophy. The four major sects are the Camarilla, the Sabbat, the Anarchs, and the Inconnu. Depending on the sect, they may be very organized (the Camarilla) or very chaotic (the Anarchs), though they are united by a common ideaology and loose set of rules that all members abide by, to a greater or lesser degree.

Sire: a vampire who has created one or more "childer"; mostly used only in relation to their childer (ex: "Moncada is the sire of Lucita"), though occassionally used as a term of respect for any older vampire of the speaker's lineage. See also "childe".

Szlachta: archaic; a personal servant or bodyguard of a Tzimisce vampire. The word itself has Slavic roots and means "gentry" or "landholder". The term has since been corrupted to refer to any fleshcrafted retainer of the Tzimisce.

"True" Sabbat: a member of the Sabbat who has survived the trials of combat and is acknowledged as a full member of the sect, with all the dangers and benefits that entails. True Sabbat are confirmed as a pack and put under the authority of a local bishop. They may take part in the auctoritas ritae and have a voice in war councils.

"V": Sabbat parlance for a vampire; specifically, a member of the sect. Usage: "Yeah, I know that guy. He's a full-blown V."

Vaulderie: a ceremony practiced by Sabbat vampires in which each member of a pack spills their blood into a common container; this container is then passed around the pack and each member drinks of the mingled blood. The result of the Vaulderie is to create a Vinculum bond among all pack members. See also "Vinculum" and "pack".

Vinculum/Vinculum Bond, the: a group-wide blood bond shared between members of the same Sabbat pack. The Vinculum bond is created by a blood-sharing ceremony known as the Vaulderie. See also "Vaulderie" and "pack".

Vitae: archaic; Latin for "of life"; human and often vampire blood.

Voivode: a powerful leader in the Tzimisce Clan. The exact status of a voivode depends on the individual in question, but they typically wield great political power in the Clan, as well as practice Koldunic Sorcery and have mastered Vicissitude. Voivodes often adopt specific influence in political, military, or economic spheres.

Witch-hunter, a: a mortal human who hunts down and destroys vampires and other supernatural creatures. Most commonly applied to members of the Society of Leopold, though it can be used to describe any such human. The title comes from the days of Salem and the religious persecution brought against "witches" and other people suspected of deviance.