updated: Thursday, 8 April, 2004
This is a non-comprehensive listing of the terminology and lingo used by those in the vampiric community. You may notice that some of the words included below are the same as what is used in White Wolf's Vampire: The Masquerade roleplaying game. Some of the terms were in use before White Wolf adopted them to use in the game; and some of the game's terminology has crept into common usage. Know, though, that this is not a listing of "V:tM" terminology, nor is it related in any way to Vampire: The Masquerade or White Wolf, nor roleplaying at all.
These terms all have anchors, in case you may be interested in linking to a particular term / definition. I don't own these terms, but I do own the document as a whole, so if you copy the entire document, please give me credit and a link to Sanguinarius.org for Real Vampires & Blood Drinkers at http://www.sanguinarius.org/ -- Thank you! -- Sanguinarius.
Thanks also go to Father Sebastian (www.sanguinarium.net), Michelle Belanger (www.kheperu.org), and Damien DaVille (www.vampire-church.com) for their input and additions.
This document was created in its original form in 1997 by Sanguinarius. Since then, it has continually been updated to reflect the accuracy of terms and to add new terms. Many have adopted and adapted various versions of this document, subsequently making their own independent revisions, additions and deletions, but the terminology document and copyright belongs to Sanguinarius and Sanguinarius.org for Real Vampires/Sanguinarius: The Vampire Support Page. It is permitted to copy and/or adapt this Terminology document so long as you do not do so for commercial purposes. Sanguinarius alone reserves THAT right, should she choose to do so. Just because you did some work on it, or added/excluded some terms, or changed some of the text in the document, does not make it suddenly your work. The same goes for extracting the text of the definition(s); give Sanguinarius credit (and a link).
- Autovampirism:
- The drinking of one's own blood.
- Awakening:
- The physical and mental changes that occur when someone awakens to their latent vampire nature. The awakening typically occurs during or shortly after the onset of puberty, but in some individuals may take years to manifest. Those undergoing the awakening, undergo various mental and physical changes. These changes often include an increased sensitivity to light and particularly to sunlight, a growing affinity for night and darkness, switching from a diurnal to a nocturnal to a diurnal sleeping schedule, and experiencing the first symptoms of the thirst. Many experience acute feelings of isolation and alienation during this process, as their changing nature distances them increasingly from their "normal" family and friends. Many seek out organizations or groups to help understand their desires and newfound feelings. (See also "turning")
- Beacon:
- A particular feeling or energy signature generated by vampires in general, but latent or potential vampires in particular. The beacon seems to exist to attract other vampires to the potential vampire so that they may instigate the awakening process.
- the Beast:
- The primal, instinctive, animalistic, bestial nature of a frustrated or desperate vampire, where he or she gets really evil-minded and aggressive and wants to just go berzerk, rip people and things apart for the pure "fun" of it, and feed violently. It's destructive and cold, and if you don't control it, then you will be under its control. This is different from just "vamping out" but that is when it's most likely to manifest.
- The Black Veil: updated
- Also known as the "Thirteen Rules of Community". Composed by Michelle Belanger, Father Todd Sebastian and COVICA, this is a set of 13 common-sense guidelines for the Sanguinarium as well as the vampire community. It deals with such things as responsibility, etiquette, feeding practices, the lifestyle, discretion, etc. The Black Veil has undergone several major revisions since its first incarnation in 1997 in attempts to be made more applicable and palatable to the real vampire community and not just the Sanguinarium; in 2003, it was revised once again and cut down to just seven tenets.
- Blood-Bars:
- Rumored underground vampire havens, which have a members-only and very secretive policy. They are only open to properly initiated (usually through a coven) members of the community, if then. It is said they serve stored blood and/or have willing donors who provide blood over a bar. Certainly if they exist they are only a part a of a local population's Cabal.
- Blood Bond:
- 1.) A strong, sometimes undesired, bond or attraction which can develop in a donor towards the vampire he or she is feeding; this bond can be a mutual thing between both the vampire and his or her donor, but often is felt only by the donor.
2.) A rite, ritual or ceremony marking a commitment to a coven or an individual. It is also a term to reflect a vampiric marriage.
- Blood Doll:
- Someone who gives blood in hopes of looking cool and/or who may have erotic desires fufilled by being fed on.
- Blood-Drinker:
- Anyone who drinks blood, regardless of motivation.
- Blood-Fetishist: updated
- Someone who is erotically attracted to the sight, taste or smell of blood; he or she generally has no physical need to consume it, and will usually be happy with small amounts. Blood-fetishism is often accompanied by other sexual fetishes, including sadism and masochism, and the blood is usually taken during sexual or fetish play, as in a bondage or domination situation.
- Blood Junkie:
- A derogatory term for someone who experiences the physical need to consume blood, a sanguinarian (see also "the Thirst", "sanguinarian"). Particularly refers to one who has no control over his/her thirst and goes around feeding indiscriminately.
- Blood Vamp: new
- A short form of "blood vampire", or sanguinarian.
- Bloodletting:
- The physical act of cutting or piercing the flesh in order to extract blood. This is commonly used for feeding as well as in bloodplay and fetishism. (See also "bloodplay".)
- Bloodplay:
- Similar to bloodletting, bloodplay is the act of using blood in sexual or fetish situations. Bloodplay can also refer to the integration of blood and bloodletting in ritual. (See also "bloodletting".)
- Bloodsharing partner:
- A more appealing term for a donor. Some donors dislike being called "donors", as they feel it somehow belittles them or their role in their vampires' lives.
- Cabal:
- The far-underground "shadow" community of sanguinarians in a particular geographic location. Few even believe they exist and Cabals include the Bloodbars and other unknown things. Cabals are very selective as to who even knows who is a member.
- Chi:
- The Chinese term for life-energy. It is also often referred to as pranic energy or life force. Chi is the bio-electrical energy which runs our bodies on a subtle level. Energy vampires and many psi-vamps believe that they can manipulate chi and feed upon it to sate their hungers. It is believed by some that, to a certain extent, blood vampires also feed upon chi, for a great deal of this subtle energy is believed to be concentrated into the blood. See "psychic energy".
- Clinical vampirism:
- A psychological condition, such as Renfield's Syndrome, in which the afflicted person experiences a psychological urge to drink blood. This urge is often satisfied with their own blood, and sufferers of clinical vampirism typically bear slashes from razors and knives up and down their arms from where they have drawn blood from themselves. Particularly sociopathic forms of clinical vampirism drive sufferers to attack and sometimes (although rarely) even kill other people in order to drink their blood.
A related condition is known as SMS, or Self-Mutilation Syndrome. This newly named pathology is becoming alarmingly common in American youths. Sufferers of SMS, often known as "cutters", feel the need to cut into their flesh and watch themselves bleed. Some sufferers of SMS also drink the blood drawn out this way, although this is not standard for the disease. Most sufferers of SMS are redirecting feelings of anger, frustration, inadequacy, or emotional pain onto their bodies. (See "Self-Mutilation Syndrome", and "Renfieldâs Syndrome".)
- Court:
- A monthly social event which is much like a "town meeting" for members of the vampiric community in a specific geographic area. Court is usually held once a month at a local tea or coffee house, lounge or haven, and only vampires and those within the community are welcome. This is an opportunity to socialize with others in the community. News and announcements are made, poetry is read, new members, elders, etc., are introduced. Here vampires are generally free to escape mundane society. The host of the court is usually a locally respected Elder who secures a date, time, venue, and promotes the event.
- Coming Out (of the Coffin):
- He-he...couldn't resist. This means the same thing that it means for Gays (except they come out of the closet...). Involves being open or frank with people about being a vampire, drinking blood, feeding upon energy, etc. Those who have come out in this way do not hide their lifestyle at all, not even in their daily lives. Many people in the vampiric community choose to be "in the coffin" and are not public about their lifestyle outside of the community or scene.
- Coven:
- Groups of individual vampires or vampyre lifestylers, usually but not always located within a certain geographic area, who have banded together under a specific theme, set of ideals, traditions, common Sigil, havens, membership requirements, hierarchy and/or rites. Covens range in size from as few as three members to as many as hundreds. The organization and purpose of each Coven varies from fraternal (House Sahjaza); religious (Church of the Vampire - not to be confused with the Vampire Church); or familial (Clan of Lilith). Some titles given to leaders of Covens include Elder, High Priest, Patriarch, Matriarch or Coven Master. There are no requirements for forming a Coven other than a group of people getting together, choosing a sigil, name and theme.
- COVICA: updated
- The now apparently defunct Council of Elders drawn from many different traditions whose purpose is to help network the community, standardize language and terminology, and encourage cooperation, if not outright unification between the diverse aspects of the Sanguinarium and vampire communities. COVICA stands for Council Of Vampyric International Community Affairs.
- Cutters:
- See Self-Mutilation Syndrome.
- Donor:
- Someone who gives or shares their blood or life-energy, without obligation. Many donors prefer to offer themselves to just one vampire, but some donors will offer of themselves to entire covens, provided their offerings are appreciated and not abused. (See also "source", "supplier")
- Elder:
- A prominent member of the vampiric community who is honored and respected for his or her experience, knowledge, willingness to help others, accomplishments and devotion. Elders are often those individuals who have helped establish a community, organize groups, or help network the community.
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