grandmaster The master of a master vampire. Grandmasters are among the earth’s most powerful creatures. Grandmasters can recognize whether the human he or she turned is a master upon creation. Grandmasters usually kill any master vampires they create to consume their power. Some choose to let the masters live until they become a threat, or until they’ve gained greater strength and therefore more consumable power.
Hag Hags, like witches, are born with their magic. They have a tendency for mischief and are as infamous for their instability as they are their power.
keep Beings a master vampire controls and is responsible for, such as those he or she has turned vampire, or a human he or she regularly feeds from. One master can acquire another’s keep by destroying the master the keep belongs to.
Leader A pureblood werebeast in charge of delegating and planning attacks against the evils that threaten the earth.
Lesser witch Title given to a witch of weak power and who has not yet mastered control of her magic. Unlike their Superior counterparts, they aren’t given talismans or staffs to amplify their magic because their control over their power is limited.
Lone A werebeast who doesn’t belong to a clan, and therefore is not obligated to protect the earth from supernatural evil. Considered of lower class by those with clans.
master vampire A vampire with the ability to turn a human vampire. Upon their creation, masters are usually killed by their grandmaster for power. Masters are immune to fire and to sunlight born of magic, and typically carry tremendous power. Only a master or another lethal preternatural can kill a master vampire. If one master kills another, the surviving vampire acquires his or her power, wealth, and keep.
mate The being a werebeast will love and share a soul with for eternity.
Misericordia A plea for mercy in a duel.
moon sickness The werebeast equivalent of bloodlust. Brought on by a curse from a powerful enchantress. Causes excruciating pain. Attacks a werebeast’s central nervous system, making the werebeast stronger and violent, and driving the werebeast to kill. No known cure exists.
mortem provocatio A fight to the death.
North American Were Council The governing body of weres in North America, led by a president and several council members.
potestatem bonum “The power of good.” That which encloses the earth and keeps demons from remaining among the living.
Purebloods (aka pures) Werebeasts from generations of were-only family members. Considered royalty among werebeasts, they carry the responsibilities of their species. The mating between two purebloods is the only way to guarantee the conception of a were child.
rogue witch a witch without a coven. Must be accounted for as rogue witches tend to go one of two ways without a coven: dark or insane.
shape-shifter Evil, immortal creatures who can take any form. They are born witches, then spend years seeking innocents to sacrifice to a dark deity. When the deity deems the offerings sufficient, the witch casts a baneful spell to surrender his or her magic and humanity in exchange for immortality and the power of hell at their fingertips. Shape-shifters can command any form and are the deadliest and strongest of all mystical creatures.
Shift Celia’s ability to break down her body into minute particles. Her gift allows her to travel beneath and across soil, concrete, and rock. Celia can also shift a limited number of beings. Disadvantages include not being able to breathe or see until she surfaces.
Skinwalkers Creatures spoken of in whispers and believed to be weres damned to hell for turning on their kind. A humanoid combination of animal and man that reeks of death, a skinwalker can manipulate the elements and subterranean arachnids. Considered impossible to kill.
solis natus magicae The proper term for sunlight born of magic, created by a wielder of spells. Considered “pure” light. Capable of destroying non-master vampires and demons. In large quantities may also kill shape-shifters. Renders the wielder helpless once fired.
Superior Witch A witch of tremendous power and magic who assumes a leadership role among the coven. Wears a talisman around her neck or carries staff with a precious stone at its center to help amplify her magic.
Surface Celia’s ability to reemerge from a shift.
susceptor animae A being capable of taking one’s soul, such as a vampire.
Trudhilde Radinka (aka Destiny) A female born once every century from the union of two witches who possesses rare talents and the aptitude to predict the future. Considered among the elite of the mystical world.
turn To transform a human into a werebeast or vampire. Werebeasts turn by piercing the heart of a human with their fangs and transferring a part of their essence. Vampires pierce through the skull and into the brain to transfer a taste of their magic. Werebeasts risk their lives during the turning process, as they are gifting a part of their souls. Should the transfer fail, both the werebeast and human die. Vampires risk nothing since they’re not losing their souls, but rather taking another’s and releasing it from the human’s body.
vampire A being who consumes the blood of mortals to survive. Beautiful and alluring, vampires will never appear to age past thirty years. Vampires are immune to sunlight unless it is created by magic. They are also immune to objects of faith such as crucifixes. Vampires may be killed by the destruction of their hearts, decapitation, or fire. Master vampires or vampires several centuries old must have both their hearts and heads removed or their bodies completely destroyed.
vampire clans Families of vampires led by master vampires. Masters can control, communicate, and punish their keep through mental telepathy.
velum A veil conjured by magic.
virtutem lucis “The power of light.” The goodness
