Anarch

A rebel among the Kindred, one with no respect for the elders.

Ancilla

An "adolescent" vampire, one who is no longer a neonate, but is not an elder either.

Antideluvian

One of the eldest Kindred, a member of the third generation. A warlord of the Jyhad.

Book of Nod

The "sacred" book of the Kindred, tracing the race's origins and early history. It has never been published in its entirety, although fragments are known to exist in various languages.

The Beast

The drives and urges which prompt a vampire to become entirely a monster, forsaking all Humanity.

Brood

A group of vampires gathered around a leader (usually their sire). A brood may in time become a clan.

The Camarilla

A global sect of vampires in which all Kindred may hold membership. Its rule is far from absolute, and it serves as a debating chamber more than a government.

Childe

A derogatory term for a young, inexperienced vampire.

Clan

A group of vampires who share certain mystic and physical characteristics.

The Damned

The immortal, undead race. All the vampires as a whole.

Diablerie

The cannibalistic behavior common among Kindred, involving the consumption of the blood of another vampire. The Elders do so out of need, whereas the anarchs do so out of desire for power.

Domain

The fiefdom claimed by a vampire.

Elder

A vampire who is 300 years of age or older.

Elysium

The name given for the places where the elders meet and gather, commonly operas, theaters or other public places of high culture.

The Embrace

The act of transforming a mortal into a vampire by draining the mortal's blood and replacing it with a small amount of the vampire's own blood.

Generation

The number of steps between a vampire and the mythical Caine

Gehenna

The end of the Third Cycle; the impending Armageddon when the Antediluvians shall awaken and devour all vampires

Golconda

The state of being to which many vampires aspire, in which a balance is found between opposing urges and scruples.

Inconnu

A sect of vampires, mostly Methuselahs, who have removed themselves from both mortal and Kindred affairs.

The Jyhad

The secret war being waged between the few surviving vampires and the third generation, using younger vampires as pawns. Also used to describe any sort of conflict or warfare between vampires.

Kindred

A vampire

Kine

A contemptuous term for mortals

Lextalionis

The code of the Kindred, allegedly created by Caine. It suggests biblical justice -- an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

The Masquerade

The effort begun after the end of the great wars to hide Kindred society from the mortal world. A policy reaffirmed after the time of the Inquisition.

Methuselah

An elder who no longer lives among the other Kindred.

Neonate

A young, newly created Kindred.

Progeny

A collective term for all the vampires created by one sire. Less formal, and less flattering, is Get.

The Sabbat

A sect of vampires controlling much of eastern North America. The are violent and bestial, reveling in needless cruelty.

Sect

General name for one of three primary groups among the Kindred -- the Camarilla, Sabbat and Inconnu

Sire

The parent-creator of a vampire

Vitae

Blood