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"There is no solid status Quo, only a series of relative realities, personal to each...any or all of which are frail, and subject to eruptions from other states and conditions."The Following is Information relevant to this site which may help you to understand the meaning of terminology and references used throughout, and a bibliography to cite where various information collected at VAU has been gathered from. It also serves to thank those who have contributed to VAU over the years. I hope this serves not only as a helpful reference for those of you who are students, reporters, and website developers gathering research but also is in general a guide for the informed visitor. |
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Ashley, Leonard R.N. The Complete Book of Vampires.VAU Terminology FYI The following are various different terms/names/references/etc referring to the vampire genre, that you will in use see throughout VAU©. Be aware that these are not set in concrete, as so few things in life are, though these definitions are in general use among the genre/community.General Terminology/Community Terminology:
(Note: These terms/definitions also appear in the VAU real vampire exchange under "Terminology")Vampire: Term referring to either fictional vampires, folkloric vampires or modern "real" vampires (energy and blood).
Vampyre: (also "social vampires", "sanguines", or "vampire lifestylers")Term referring to human beings who live in the tradition of the vampire. These people go to various different extremes, anywhere from merely dressing like a vampire to sleeping in coffins.
Psychic Vampire: (also "energy vampire")A physically mortal being who needs to take energy from others.
Blood Vampires: (also "sanguivores")A physically mortal being who needs to drink the blood of others.
Dhampyr: Those members of the vampyre community who were awakened on their own.
Dhampir: Someone who is born by the union of a vampire and a mortal, who can usually sense other vampires.
Blood Fetishist: A human being who drinks blood for pleasure.
Goth(ic): A human being who dresses mostly in black, follows a gothic lifestyle and whose interests lie in many things relating to the occult, whether it be witchcraft, vampirism, satanism, fetishism,etc.
To awaken: (also to become concious or intentional) The point in life where an individual realizes their attraction/position in the vampyre or vampire community. The reference "awakening" is used more for vampyres; the other terms are used more for vampires.
Calmae: An experienced member of the vampyre community.
Elder: An influential/long time member of the vampyre community who has done something significant for it.
Coven: (also "clutch" or "cricle") A group of vampyres come together for friendship,protection and mutual understanding.
Bloodline: (also "clan"...though not to be confused with the clans used in roleplay!) A family-like group of vampyres.
Father/Mother: The leaders of vampyre clans.
Mundane: A non-vampyre person, or one with little understanding of the community.
Swan: A non-vampyre lover who knows about the community. If they are a white swan, they are acceptant of vampyric lifestyle. If they are black,they are acceptant of the lifestyle as well, though do not feel a pull to join.
Fledgling: A person who is new to the vampyre scene.
Porphyria: A disease that usually results in symptoms of vampirism.
Roleplay Terminology:
(Note: These terms/definitions apply to Roleplay gaming esp. White Wolf's World of Darkness and should not be used in conjunction to the real vampire/vampyre communities themselves. These definitions and more can be found at VAU's Roleplaying Pages under "terminology")RPG: Roleplay Game. A game in which people pretend to be fictional characters, making decisions for these characters and weaving a story with other game players and the game master. Generally conducted around a table or on computers, using dice or similar trappings to make decisions.
LARPG: Live Action Roleplay game. An RPG in which players literally act out what their characters are doing. Generally away from table top, without the use of dice to make decisions.
Vampire: The Masquerade/Dark Ages: A Vampire RPG by the White Wolf company. Highly popular with many roleplayers in which players can pretend to be vampires/ This is one game "setting" in the "World of Darkness" series.
Ravenloft: A Vampire RPG by the makers of "Dungeons and Dragons". Players fight vampires.
Storyteller/Game Master: The host of the RPG. He/she sets the scene and situations, guides the players and controls all extra characters within the game.
Player: A participant in the RPG. Creates a character and makes its decisions, subject to the game master's approval
Clans: Types of Vampires, in V:TM game system. Clans include Tremere, Ventrue, Ravnos, Gangrel, Brujah and many others.
Generation: The "age" of the vampire (in V:TM systems) based on how many times removed they are from the first vampire, Cain
Cainite/Kindred: Term for Vampire (in V:TM system).
Folklore/Historic Terminology:
(Note: These terms/definitions apply to Folkloric vampires and historic findings. These definitions and more can be found at VAU's Folklore Pages )Vlad Tepes Dracula: Vlad the Impaler. Prince of Romania (Transylvania, at the time) during the middle ages. Mortal warrior who was so fierce and vicious in his dispensing of "justice" that many believed him to be a vampire
Succubus/Incubus: Folkloric "vampires" who visit a person in spirit form and seduce them in order to drain their vitality.
Elizabeth Bathory: The Blood Countess. Hungarian Countess during the 17th century who bathed in and drank the blood of virgin girls, believing their blood to grant immortaility and youthfulness.
Gilles de Rais: French nobleman during France in the middle ages. His pursuits to find the secrets of the philosopher's stone through blood led him to torture and murder 200-300 children.
Fictional Terminology:
(Note: These terms/definitions apply to Fictional vampires found in literature/poetry/television/film and other forms of fiction. These definitions and more can be found under VAU's Fiction Pages)Bram Stoker: Author of Dracula and various other vampire novels based on his vampiric interpretation of Vlad Dracula.
Anne Rice: Author of The Vampire Chronicles and various other supernatural novels. Created the popular vampiric character of Lestat de Lioncourt.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Popular tv series of the 90's based on an early 1990's movie of the same title. Stars Michelle Gellar and is aired on Warner Brothers network in the USA
Forever Knight: Popular vampire tv series of the 90's based on the character of Nick Knight, the reluctant vampire.
Dark Shadows: Popular vampire "soap opera" of the 60s/70s based on the character of Barnabas Collins.
Kindred: The Embraced: Short-lived Vampire tv series of the 1990's based on Vampire:The Masquerade vampire clans. Centered around vampire prince Julian Luna.
Angel: Spin-off tv series of "Buffy the vampire slayer". Currently airing on Warner Brothers network and focuses on Angel, the "vampire with a soul"
Anita Blake: Vampire Slayer from Laurel K Hamilton's popular "Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter" novel series
Sonja Blue: Vampire/Vampire Slayer from Nancy A. Collins' popular novels.
Blade: Vampire Slayer from popular comic book series.
VAU Bibliography
Integrity and honour has always been of utmost priority to me while creating and maintaining this site. Thus, presented for your reference, is a list of books, films, shows, people, etc I've consulted for information posted throughout this site. Please note that quotations from books, movies etc. are cited on individual pages of VAU where they are located, and not listed here.
New York: Barricade Books, 1998.Bunson, Matthew. The Vampire Encyclopedia.
New York: Crown Publishers, 1993.Dundes, Alan. University of California: Berkeley, CA. 2001-2003 In-class Folklore Lectures.
Father Sebastian. Vampyre Almanac: 1998-99 Edition.
New York: Endless Night, 1998.Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. Vampires Among Us.
New York: Pocket Books, 1991.Guinn, Jeff. Something in the Blood: The Underground World of Today's Vampires.
Arlington: The Summit Publishing Group, 1996.Hill, Gordon. The Vampire Joke Book.
Berkshire: Foulsham., 1991.Konstantinos. Vampires: the Occult Truth.
St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1998.Marcus, Jana. In the Shadow of the Vampire: Reflections from the World of Anne Rice.
New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1997.Marigny, Jean. Vampires: Restless Creatures of the Night.
New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1993.Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead.
Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1994.Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead.
Farmington Hills: Visible Ink Press, 1999.Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Gallery: A Who's Who of the Undead.
Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1998.Proctor, David. The Quotable Vampire.
New York: Kensington Books, 1997.Ramsland, Katherine. Piercing the Darkness: Undercover with Vampires in America Today.
New York: HarperPrism, 1998.Ramsland, Katherine. The Vampire Companion: The Official Guide to Anne Rice's Vampire
Chronicles. New York: Ballantine Books, 1993.Shepard, Leslie, ed. Classic Vampire Stories.
New York: Carol Publishing, 1995.Szigethy, Anna & Graves, Anne. Vampires: From Vlad Drakul to the Vampire Lestat.
Toronto: Key Porter Books , 2001.Smith, Katherine. Journey into Darkness: Ghosts and Vampires of New Orleans.
New Orleans: De Simonin Publications, 1998.
VAU Credits and Contributions
Over the years as Vampires Among Us© has progressed, I've received help, informaton and contributions from countless sources. Friends have offered suggestion and insight, those in the know have offered information and knowledge, and those with other things to offer have contributed generously to help VAU© become the success it is today. Here are my acknowledgements of those who have helped to large and small degrees. Thanks to each and everyone of you!
Rose NoireTiamat
- Resident Dark Lady of VAU...webmistress, graphic designer and site programmer.
- Contribution: My premiere "Buffy the vampire Slayer" resource! She gathers all the news on said tv show and gives it to me to put up for all of you. Plus, she helps me find a use for all of my costumes and appeases my ego by taking costume photos with me which you can see at VAU©. Finally, as my typo sidekick, she makes me look less bad for committing about as many typo sins as I do. Gee, such a great gal...is it any wonder she's my best friend?
- Contact: Tiamat_65@hotmail.com
My Mother and Father
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Hey my sidekick! Are you happy now? You got first billing on this lovely list of contributions. Thanks for giving me such a hard time all the time we've known you, for tolerating my "spoikedness" and my weird sense of humour (never forget Mr. Giggles) and of course for being Buffy girl! And oh hell...thanks for being my surrogate sister who loves gold. You might be able to copy stuff down before me by hand, but you'll never be the typo warrioress! Ha, you wish!!!
Batmen / Ultraviolet Eye
- Contribution: Without their contribution of me, of course this site would not exist, hehe. But aside from that...Mum contributes the occasional bit of wiccan wisdom and insight, while Dad does his best to try and understand where exactly he went wrong in raising his child. :) Mum and her books are responsible mostly for all of my knowledge of wicca and various aspects of the occult and Dad...well Hehe, sometimes he even provides me with some bits of vampire info he hears...at this I am surprised, but nevertheless grateful.
- Contact: N/A
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Yes, you're daughter is weird, but you have to love me anyway :) Thanks for bringing me into the world and raising me...even if a bit unconventionally...and allowing me the opportunity to travel throughout the world and experience all different cultures even when I was too young to really appreciate them sometimes. Thanks for always supporting my efforts and helping me out as best you could in everything. I could never express my total love and appreciation for you both and I highly doubt that you're ever even going to read this little message...but hey, if you ever take a fit into your head to explore this site...then just know I love y'all! Sorry, you would've gotten first billing...but you know how persistent Tia is.
Eli Nymeyer
- Contribution: Gave VAU their CD "Heroin Geek" for review in 2000. Also, long-term supporter of VAU, source of great inspiration and occasional vampire news tidbits and good personal friend.
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Of course you already know I enjoyed the album..you certainly have music in your veins! But thanks also for the long hours of inspiring and thought provoking conversation, for sending me musical and book suggestions, vampire and other news and for all of your support and general friendship! What a guy...what a wonderful friend!
Mark Dillingham
- Contribution: Once the co-founder of VAU's yahoo club "the night haven" and constant provider of insight and suggestions towards VAU's future.
- Contact: virull_crypcode@yahoo.com
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Hey hon...thanks so much for all the help and suggestions you've offered into starting the VAU© off-line club (it will happen soon, dammit!), all those long late-night discussions about nothing and everything (in which you let me ramble on for hours, egotistically), and just for being a general nice guy! Hey, if I could find one...I'd buy you a Gundam!
Sir Pyro
- Contribution: Has provided me with a more developed and well rounded source of entertainment. Mark has offered many suggestions as to weird and obscure movies, music, etc. Hehe, hon, they just don't make 'em with your tastes any more!
- Contact: N/A (privacy please)
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Ah, always nice to know there's someone with tastes running as bizarre and obscure as mine....hehehe, in more ways than one, naturally! For a "country goth boy" you aren't half bad...thank you for many decadent and delightful hours of conversation and entertainment!
Absolute Reality Studios, Santa Cruz
- Contribution: Former Co-Founder of VAU's yahoo club "the Night Have", maker of VAU signet rings, and personal friend
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Oh, you know I only want you for your jewelry skills, hehe :)
UPN 13 TV News, Los Angeles
- Contribution: Photographed Rose professionally and a la gothic mode
- Contact: Absolute Reality Studios Website
Rose's personal message o'thanks: Thanks for being cool people and truly inspired artists! Always fun seeing what you guys come up with!90.7FM (Left in America)
- Contribution: TV Interviewed Rose on Real Vampirism November, 2001
- Contact: UPN 13 website
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Thanks for conducting your interview with an open mind and an enthused curiosity! One hell of an experience for me!
VampyrArt
- Contribution: Radio Interviewed Rose on VAU Halloween 2001 along with Clive Barker, Whitley Strieber and others
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Thanks for appreciating my site and conducting an objective and fun radio interview with me!
Dopamine
- Contribution: Artwork and inspiration to VAU© and kindly gave me a vampyrart promo Tshit
- Contact: VampyrArt Website
Rose's personal message o'thanks: Love the Art, love the t-shirt! Thanks a bunch...and hope to see much more of your continued vampire theme work!Theresa T. Isilwath
- Contribution: Provided their debut CD "Hypothermia" for VAU© to review in 1999.
- Contact: Dikenga (official website)
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Wow...such emotionally expressive music! Enjoyed the music (with the exception of a few parts) greatly...definately keep up the great work and good luck with future endeavors!
Whitley Strieber
- Contribution: Gave VAU© her book Blood Origins to review in 2000.
- Contact: Her Website
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Such talent! Thoroughly enjoyable book...I seriously couldn't stop turning the pages! You should go far in the literary world! Great luck to you!
Josette Scott
- Contribution: Gave his novel The Last Vampire (sequel to The Hunger) to VAU to review in 2001
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: While The Hunger will always remain a classic in the eyes of many, its long-awaited sequel The Last Vampire didn't dissapoint!
Slim Pixie
- Contribution: Poetry, artwork, writing to VAU©
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Beautiful work from a beautiful person! The deep quality of your soul reflects itself in the amazing quality of your work. You honour VAU© with your contributions, many thanks!
Zaen
- Contribution: Artwork to VAU© and regular chatter in the Café Crimson
- Contact: slimpixie@altavista.com
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Gorgeous oil paintings with such intriguing themes....your work looks lovely at VAU© and you have my sincere gratitude for being so kind as to contribute it. See you in the Café!
Morphaeus
- Contribution: Artwork to VAU©
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Wow...love that wolf painting. Nice use of combined medium..some incredible art, thanks for sharing it with VAU!
Jezebel
- Contribution: Artwork to VAU© and personal friend
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: You have the most amazing imagination...and general cool guy! thanks for the art and the long hours of interesting conversation!
Sphere Laser
- Contribution: Artwork to VAU© and personal friend
- Contact: feetbabies@hotmail.com
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Thanks for the art and the many years of weirdness and mayhem! Hehe, and always remember..."Du hast einen Schmetterling auf deinen Eiern"
Kenneth Zeigler
- Contribution: Gave VAU their CD "Battallion" to Review in 2002
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Cool sounds with interesting lyrics! Thanks for sharing.
Regular chatters at the VAU© Chat Forum (6Undr,Hedral, Denera, Carl, Cynthia, Kat, Slim, DeLaCroix, Kortag, the list goes on...)
- Contribution: Gave VAU his novel The Waters of Ulan to review in 2001
- Contact:
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Vampire story with a twist! Quite the page-turner too...I enjoyed it..thanks for sharing!
Former VO'ers (From Vampyres Only)
- Contribution: These are the people who are the essence of the vampire community spirit as they constantly gather at VAU© to chat and keep things lively and familial.
- Contact: VAU© Chat Forum
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Though you might not know it, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your loyalty, all of you! It's evident that you all seem to regard each other as sort of a surrogate family, or at the very least good, good friends and it is this very thing that forms the essence of the vampire/vampyre community...gives me pride and inspiration in my own lifestlye and being able to provide a service to unite those of like minds. I only hope many more can find their haven in VAU©.
Concrete Blonde/Johnette Napolitano
- Contribution: Way back in the hay day of the internet and long before the birth of VAU©, Vampyres Only was the place to be. It was there that I first found my roots within the vampire community on-line and the people in VO were then and always will be like a family to be which I have never met or truly known but in spirit.
- Contact: N/A (too many to list)
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: You were all my home away from home, my second family and I always enjoyed my time spent at VO. When that room died, most of my zeal for chatting died with it. But the wonderful thing is that a lot of you I am still in contact with today! So to you, LadyBlak, Desdemona, Venusvii, Warlock, J Ripper, Sammi, Natasha, Crystal Star, Soul Drinker, Julian, Hemlock, Sylph, Draven, Demon, Istageon and the dearly departed Firedancer as well as entire battalion of other people...to you I dedicate this contribution. Thank you all for being there then and now!
Every Male I've ever known in a "more than friendship" relationship
- Contribution: My favourite music group whose lyrics, melodies and perspectives on life have gotten me through many a troublesome hour and have always inspired and reflected the darker part of my soul.
- Contact them: Concrete Blonde (Unofficial website)
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: You might never know it nor find out, but I owe to you Ms. Napolitano so much gratitude! The sound of your voice, the lyrics of your songs, and the instrumental background (provided by the rest of the group) have not only always been a pleasure to listen to, but also have provided me with hope, inspiration and happiness in any and every occasion for many years now. Ah, how sad it is to have to come to terms with the fact that the group is now defunked....but you've left your legacy, at least. So once again...thank you for the music!
You, the visitor
- Contribution: Hehe...um...we won't go there.
- Contact: Um...
- Rose's personal message o'thanks: Teheee, you all didn't know it at the time but you've all been part of one long, massive experimentation/project. You've created a monster...hehehe, some of you of course might be aware of this fact more accuetely than others, I'm sure. But hey...thanks to all of you for the journey (so far...)!
- Contribution: You are the reason this site is here....there is no nobler contribution than that.
- Contact : You would know that better than I...
Rose's personal message o'thanks: This website lives for you and because of you. It is only thanks to each and every visitor that VAU© has thrived over the course of 4 years, and risen to become so popular within the vampiric internet community. I cannot thank any of you enough for the inspiration each and every one of you provides by visiting VAU© and letting me know that the site matters to you and that it is worth while for me to keep it going! Without you, VAU© would simply cease to exist...