Minor Protagonists
in alphabetical order

Carpathian – One of a species of long-living individuals who, as a male, loses colors and emotions over the centuries, necessitating the claiming of a lifemate.  The female of the species brings the emotions back to the male if the chemistry is correct.

Master Vampire- In Dark Dream, he’s unnamed but we find he was a boyhood friend of Falcon’s.  While Falcon was sent to Italy to combat the vampire, he was sent to Egypt.  He turned vampire while Falcon chose the road to honor.  He was attempting to abduct Sara Marten, in hopes that she could find the book of the Master Wizard, purportedly it contained powers beyond any that could be conceived of.

Dark Descent: An unknown vampire who had taken Traian’s blood, could track him through the blood.  He believes he has the control over Traian, but Joie redirects Traian’s focus into assisting her battle Valenteen.  The fact that he can command another Master Vampire indicates his absolute power over the situation.  He is still alive after the book, and I’m pretty certain he’ll show up again.

Vampire – A Carpathian, having lost his emotions and colors, loses his soul and turn evil.  Usually, the taking of life during feeding completes the process and the vampire must then be hunted and brought to justice.

Betrayer

A Vampire who either kills Carpathians or who turns them over to humans to be tortured and killed. Usually has no respect for human life.

Psychic Human Women

A small group of individual human women with strong psychic ability who can be converted and become full Carpathians.

Ghoul/Human Puppet

A human who has been infected by a vampire, used to do the bidding of that evil creature.  Often knowing what he or she is doing but unable to resist due to the fact that their blood was taken, they oftentimes kill before they are killed or otherwise healed.  For healing to occur, however, the vampire who infected them must be dead and destroyed (see ritual execution).

Psychic Connection/Bond

A mental telepathic and emotional link between carpathians., a carpathian man and his lifemate, or between a psychic human woman and a male carpathian.

Lifemate

A female Carpathian who is chemically and mentally drawn to a particular male Carpathian so much so that her presence in his life brings back colors and emotions which have disappeared and prevents the male from turning and becoming vampire. A true lifemate can offer herself to the Carpathian Male by offering of her blood freely, “as is her right”.  Then, no matter how ancient the male is, he will not turn, nor will he kill her.

Turning

During feeding, a Carpathian kills his victim and loses any hope of salvation, loses his soul, becomes evil, and “turns” vampire.

Converting

The process by which a psychic human woman becomes a Carpathian female.  Can only be used on psychic human women, cannot be used on human women without psychic talent, they become deranged and then murder small children (a vampiress)

  Blood-Exchanges

The procedure to convert a psychic human woman to a carpathian. It involves the Carpathian male taking blood from the psychic human woman, then the woman taking his blood back from him three times.

Healing Herbs

Herbs used by Gregori and other healers to create an atmosphere of peace and calmness.  Also, herbs used on the body to heal the torn and injured flesh.  Also can be mixed with healing soil to speed healing.

Healing Soil/Rich Carpathian Soil

Soil from the Carpathian mountains that is essential to the health and existence of the Carpathian race.  Use of it on wounds speeds healing, also Carpathians can “go to ground” and heal within the layers of the soil.

Healing/Healing Chants

Chants and incantations used by Gregori and other healers, specifically Aidan and more recently Shea to create meditation during healing procedures, which include herbs and soil.  Also allows the healer to focus and project his essence into the body of the injured to heal from within.

Healing Ritual

A system including herbs, soil, and chants that create the ability to heal Carpathians without use of traditional human doctors.

  Bonding Ritual

The ritual, traditional words uttered by a male Carpathian to his lifemate to cement the bond between them and to signify that the female is claimed and unavailable to other male Carpathians. It also traditionally includes sexual intercourse and sharing of blood.

The Traditional Text of the Ritual – by Christine Feehan
“I claim you as my life mate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give to you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my life mate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care.”

“Go to Ground”

The ability of Carpathians to “open” the earth and immerse themselves in it for rest, rejuvenation, and healing.

Shapeshifting

The ability of Carpathians to change their physical form to assume other shapes, specifically owls and wolves.  Involves compression, and extension of the body shape as well as morphing from one shape to another. Others are Leopards/Panthers, bats/mice and Amazon-Specific forms.  Shapeshifting can also include shifting form to another substance, e.g mist or dust. Vampires often prefer lizards/rats.

Wolf

The preferred shapeshifted form of a Carpathian, which is used to travel mostly on ground and often during early morning daylight hours.

Owl

The preferred shapeshifted form of a Carpathian which is used to travel long distances that might involve flying for extended periods of time.

Leopard/Panther

Alternate shapeshifted form of a Carpathian preferred by a group of Carpathians who escaped death at the hands of marauding humans.  Developed by the group without instruction from adult Carpathians.

Bat/Mouse

Other preferred shapeshifted forms of Carpathians.  They are mainly used to squeeze through small spaces in cave areas or to enter areas (buildings, etc…) and move surreptitiously.

Amazon-Specific Shifts
The South American Carpathian branch developed specific shapeshifted forms for the fauna in their area.  They particularly have been known to shift into the rare Harpy Eagle and the miniature tree-dwelling cat, the Civet.

Lizard/Rat

Two shapeshifted forms often used by vampires.  Could be utilized by any Carpathian, but rarely is.

Dragon

Particular Carpathians have shapeshifted into dragons, there are also a race of immortals referred to as Dragonseekers and we see evidence of skeletal dragons in a cave, once used by the Wizards.

Emotions/Colors

Those things lost by male Carpathians during their long existence that is one reason for their propensity to turn vampire .  They are regained by a male finding and claiming his lifemate .

Light/Dark

Light is represented in this context by a female carpathian or a psychic human woman.  Dark is represented by a male carpathian and definitely by a vampire.

“Opening the Earth”

The ability of a Carpathian to command the earth to open so that the carpathian can submerse him/her self in it for rest and healing.

“Feeding the command”

The ability of a carpathian to add strength to a command issued by another carpathian so as to increase its force and effectiveness.  It is usually used when the strength of the one command is lessened by such things as injury or daylight.

Compulsion

The ability of a Carpathian or Vampire to plant a desired outcome into the mind of a susceptible human or other weakened Carpathian.  Usually Carpathians use it to guide humans to them for feeding, force humans away from a particular area that is dangerous, or to assist other Carpathians in accepting blood when they cannot accept it for themselves.  Vampires use compulsions to direct humans to either harm others or themselves.  Compulsions can also be used on certain animals and insects to help in battle.

Merging

The ability of Carpathians to share a common mental path.  Or the ability of a Carpathian male and Carpathian female/psychic human woman to join their mental energies during sexual intercourse.

Earth/Fire/Air/Water/Æther – Elementals

Things in nature which can be called upon by Carpathian and Vampire alike to show force, cover them in daylight, protect their lairs, or to prevent an enemy in battle from gaining the upper hand.  Usually called upon displays are violent storms, lightening, fog, and earthquakes.  Carpathians can also dissolve into mist to travel on the air with the fog or clouds.  They can also shapeshift into dust.

Projection

The ability of Carpathians in general to leave their bodies and travel, psychically, to observe events, ascertain the power of enemies, or to protect innocent individuals.  Not usually practicable during the day, but certain high powered Carpathians have gained this ability as well.  Also used during healing rituals to enter an injured body and heal from within.

Feeding

The traditional terminology for taking of blood from human and other sources for the sustenance of the Carpathian species.  Traditionally it does include some psychic compulsion but for the Carpathian does not include the death of the being which provided the sustenance.  Also can be used to signify the ability of Carpathians to sustain one another during times of great need.

Claiming

The traditional process by which a Carpathian female is united with a Carpathian male.  It traditionally involves the female reaching age 18, interacting with eligible males, finding that chemical connection, exchanging blood, the male voicing the ritual words and sexual intercourse.  It can be used by Carpathian males to unite with psychic human women as well.

Fledgling

A Carpathian who is approximately 200 years old or less.  Males who reach the end of their fledgling status lose all emotions and colors.  The majority of Carpathians do not come into their powers fully until about this time.

Ancient

As opposed to a Fledgling, an Ancient is a Carpathian, either male or female, who has survived for many centuries, or as in the case of such legends as Gabriel and Lucian, 2000 years.  Ancients have powers unlike any other Carpathians alive and emanate this power freely.

Hunter

A Carpathian who has been called to the service of his people, with almost no hope of ever finding a lifemate.  He dedicates his life to ridding the world of the vampire (see ritual execution), and when he can no longer bear the darkness spreading across his own soul, he is enjoined to meet the dawn, to avoid turning vampire himself.

 

Ritual Execution
The method by which a Carpathian hunter dispatches a vampire.  It involves plummeting the fist through the chest wall, extracting the heart, and incinerating the heart, the body, and the remaining blood, so that the Undead will not rise again.

“Meet the Dawn
When a Carpathian has met the limits of his endurance, when he can no longer prevent the spread of darkness across his soul, he can chose to walk into the sun and commit ritual suicide, to prevent him turning vampire.  Also known as Greeting the Dawn or Choosing the Dawn.

  Werewolves

A specific race of Shapeshifters whose existence in the world is threatened similarly by extinction as the Carpathian , Jaguar and Dragonseeker races are.  Unknown if they are indeed immortal such as the other Shapeshifter races, but Vladimir Dubrinsky cautioned all Carpathians to simply avoid them the best they could.

  Jaguar Race

Those of a race of Shapeshifters, whose lineage has been passed down, generation to generation.  There is a possibility that they are the basis for the psychic human women who are able to be converted to Carpathian.  The lineage includes the Jaguar Race of the Scarletti dynasty, and the Jaguar Race of South America, which we encounter in Dark Hunger for the first time.

Dragonseeker Clan

Those of a particular branch of Carpathians who have powerful abilities, intensely cunning and with a decided warrior mentality.  They are long thought to have disappeared, but with the resurgence of Dominic Dragonseeker and the link of the Dragonseeker Clan to Colby Jansen’s father, they may be a continued force.  Carpathians have long revered the particular abilites, both in magical skills and battle, of this Clan. They are also highly respected in the fact that their lineage often produces healthy female children. All members of the Dragonseeker Clan have a distinctive birthmark, in the shape of a Dragon, which can hide itself at will when Hunters and Vampires alike are near.

Wizards

A non-immortal race of individuals specifically talented in magicks of all sorts, they were very powerful, but unfortunately could find no way to make themselves immortal.  They were known to associate with dragons in the past and many of their belongings are thought to be immensely powerful.  At least one Master Wizard was responsible for a war between the Wizards and the Carpathians.