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Glossary of Terms and Proper Nouns
Black Dagger Brotherhood
(pr. n.) Highly trained vampire warriors who
protect their species against the Lessening Society. As a result of selective
breeding within the race, brothers possess immense physical and mental
strength as well as rapid healing capabilities. They are not siblings for the most
part, and are inducted into the brotherhood upon nomination by the brothers.
Aggressive, self-reliant, and secretive by nature, they exist apart from civilians,
having little contact with members of the other classes except when they need to
feed. They are the subjects of legend and the objects of reverence within the
vampire world. They may be killed only by the most serious of wounds, e.g., a
gunshot or stab to the heart, etc.
blood slave
(n.) Male or female vampire who has been subjugated to serve the
blood needs of another. The practice of keeping blood slaves has largely been
discontinued, though it has not been outlawed.
the Chosen
(n.) Female vampires who have been bred to serve the Scribe
Virgin. They are considered members of the aristocracy, though they are
spiritually rather than temporally focused. They have little or no interaction with
males, but can be mated to brothers at the Scribe Virgin's direction to propagate
their class. They have the ability to prognosticate. In the past, they were used to
meet the blood needs of unmated members of the brotherhood, but that practice
has been abandoned by the brothers.
doggen
(n.) Member of the servant class within the vampire world.
Doggen
have old, conservative traditions about service to their superiors, following a
formal code of dress and behavior. They are able to go out during the day, but
they age relatively quickly. Life expectancy is approximately five hundred
years.
the Fade
(pr. n.) Nontemporal realm where the dead reunite with their loved
ones and pass eternity.
First Family
(pr. n.) The king and queen of the vampires, and any children they
may have.
hellren
(n.) Male vampire who has been mated to a female. Males may take
more than one female as mate.
leelan
(adj.) A term of endearment loosely translated as "dearest one."
Lessening Society
(pr. n.) Order of slayers convened by the Omega for the
purpose of eradicating the vampire species.
lesser
(n.) De-souled human who as a member of the Lessening Society targets
vampires for extermination.
Lessers
must be stabbed through the chest in order
to be killed; otherwise they are ageless. They do not eat or drink and are
impotent. Over time, their hair, skin, and irises lose pigmentation until they are
blond, blushless, and pale-eyed. They smell like baby powder. Inducted into the
society by the Omega, they retain a ceramic jar thereafter into which their heart
was placed after it was removed.
needing period
(n.) Female vampire's time of fertility, gen-erally lasting for two
days and accompanied by intense sexual cravings. Occurs approximately five
years after a female's transition and then once a decade thereafter. All males
respond to some degree if they are around a female in her need. It can be a
dangerous time, with conflicts and fights breaking out between competing
males, particularly if the female is not mated.
the Omega
(pr. n.) Malevolent, mystical figure who has targeted the vampires
for extinction out of resentment directed toward the Scribe Virgin. Exists in a
nontemporal realm and has extensive powers, though not the power of creation.
princeps
(n.) Highest level of the vampire aristocracy, second only to members
of the First Family or the Scribe Virgin's Chosen. Must be bom to the title; it
may not be conferred.
pyrocant
(n.) Refers to a critical weakness in an individual. The weakness can
be internal, such as an addiction, or external, such as a lover.
rythe
(n.) Ritual manner of assuaging honor granted by one who has offended
another. If accepted, the offended chooses a weapon and strikes the offender,
who presents him- or herself without defenses.
the Scribe Virgin
(pr. n.) Mystical force who is counselor to the king as well as
the keeper of vampire archives and the dispenser of privileges. Exists in a
nontemporal realm and has extensive powers. Capable of a single act of
creation, which she expended to bring the vampires into existence.
shellan
(n.) Female vampire who has been mated to a male. Females generally
do not take more than one mate due to the highly territorial nature of bonded
males.
the Tomb
(pr. n.) Sacred vault of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Used as a
ceremonial site as well as a storage facility for the jars of
lessers
. Ceremonies
performed there include inductions, funerals, and disciplinary actions against
brothers. No one may enter except for members of the brotherhood, the Scribe
Virgin, or candidates for induction.
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