🩸 Lexicon of Terms

The Lexicon of Terms is a reference guide to words, titles, and concepts that appear in Savage, Book One of The Blood of the Gods Saga. These terms come directly from the language of the novel—used by its characters, institutions, and supernatural communities—and reflect the world as it exists on the page.

Authority, Law, and Power

(Alphabetical)

Abettor of the City A supernatural peacekeeper appointed to maintain balance between human and supernatural communities. An Abettor has legal authority to investigate, mediate, and enforce supernatural law, including the execution of sanctioned threats.

Ascension The process by which a vampire reaches adult status and rises in power, usually through ritual, inheritance, or transformation. Ascension is rare, dangerous, and not always recognized as legitimate.

Execution Order A formal authorization permitting the sanctioned killing of a supernatural entity deemed a significant threat, usually carried out by an Abettor or designated enforcement authority under Supernatural Jurisdiction.

Mediator An individual authorized to negotiate disputes between supernatural factions. Mediators possess limited enforcement authority and rely primarily on neutrality and political leverage.

Sanctioned Kill A legally justified execution carried out under an Execution Order.

Supernatural Jurisdiction The overlapping legal framework governing crimes involving supernatural beings, often conflicting with human law.

Key Historical Events

(Alphabetical by event name)

The Chicago Blood Riots (1998) A large-scale supernatural uprising in Chicago involving coordinated vampire and shifter violence against human authorities. The riots resulted in widespread civilian casualties and exposed the failure of existing institutions to manage supernatural threats. The event directly led to the passage of the Supernatural Registration Act and is frequently cited as justification for expanded federal oversight and sanctioned enforcement policies.

The Creation of Supernatural Jurisdiction (Late 1970s–1980s) The legal framework established following the Turn to govern crimes involving supernatural beings. Supernatural Jurisdiction permits specialized law enforcement authority, including the use of extrajudicial measures in extreme cases.

Escalation of Shifter Tensions (Pre-2015) A period marked by increasing territorial disputes, inter-pack violence, and cross-border aggression among shifter groups, raising concerns of widespread instability.

Formation of the Supernatural Crimes Division (Mid-1980s) The establishment of a specialized branch of the NYPD tasked with investigating crimes involving supernatural entities. The SCD was created in response to escalating post-Turn violence and jurisdictional conflicts and later served as a model for similar divisions adopted by other major cities within their own law enforcement structures.

The Supernatural Registration Act (SRA) A federal law enacted in response to the Chicago Blood Riots requiring the identification, documentation, and regulation of known supernatural beings. The Act formalized government oversight of supernatural populations and expanded enforcement authority at the state and federal levels.

Explore the Reference

Species List & Supernatural Culture

(Alphabetical)

Alpha The ruling leader of a werewolf pack, holding biological, political, and territorial authority.

Bitten Werewolf A werewolf created through infection. Bitten werewolves experience unstable transformations and heightened physical and psychological strain.

Born Werewolf A werewolf born to werewolf parents. Born werewolves possess greater control, stability, and resistance to magical coercion.

Childe A newly created vampire bound to their Maker, also known as their Sire. A childe’s existence is defined by dependence, as they require guidance, protection, and often blood or resources from their Maker while adapting to undeath. The degree of a childe’s autonomy varies according to vampire law, coven custom, or mystical bonds, ranging from near-total control to conditional independence. Newly risen childes are typically unstable, closely monitored, and legally considered the responsibility and property of their Maker until formally released or until they Ascend.

Coven A structured collective of magick users such as witches, warlocks, and sorcerers operating under shared traditions, laws, and territory. Covens function as both magical and political organizations, regulating spellcraft, knowledge, and internal discipline.

Enforcer A pack-appointed individual responsible for enforcing pack law through intimidation, punishment, or execution.

Ghoul A human bound to a vampire through blood dependence, gaining limited enhanced strength, longevity, and resilience in exchange for loyalty and service. Ghouls are not classified as undead and remain subject to human law, though their association with vampire Sects often places them under indirect supernatural oversight.

Lone Wolf/Loner A werewolf who exists outside pack structure, either by choice or exile.

Master/Mistress of the City The highest-ranking vampire authority within a city, responsible for enforcing Sect law and maintaining political balance.

Oddities An independent underground magazine that emerged after the Turn of 1979, focused on supernatural phenomena, occult crimes, and urban legends. Publicly dismissed as a sensationalist tabloid, Oddities is nevertheless known for publishing information that is often uncomfortably close to the truth. Its articles blend real leaks, survivor testimonies, speculation, and intentional misinformation, placing the magazine in a gray zone between conspiracy theory and forbidden knowledge. Though officially ridiculed by authorities and widely despised within supernatural communities, it is quietly monitored by law enforcement and occasionally consulted for patterns, rumors, or leads that conventional sources will not acknowledge.

Pack A political and social unit of werewolves bound by territory, hierarchy, and shared law. Pack lands are recognized as protected territories with limited autonomy, governed by a local Alpha whose authority is recognized across global werewolf society. The Supernatural Crimes Division retains restricted jurisdiction in cases involving federal or cross-territorial crimes.

Pack Law The internal legal code governing werewolf packs, enforced by the Alpha and their appointed enforcers. Pack Law regulates territory, hierarchy, loyalty, punishment, and succession, and takes precedence over human law within pack lands, except in cases involving Supernatural Jurisdiction.

Sect The governing body overseeing vampire society within a city or region. A Sect enforces vampire law and answers to the Master or Mistress of the City. In many cities, Sects are also recognized by human governments as religious organizations, granting limited legal protections while remaining subject to Supernatural Jurisdiction.

Shifter A general term for supernatural beings capable of transforming between human and animal forms. Shifters include, but are not limited to, werewolves, werebears, werecoyotes, and other therianthropic species.

Thrall An individual bound through supernatural coercion to serve another being, most commonly a vampire. The bond compromises autonomy and can override personal will, compelling obedience and loyalty regardless of intent. Thralls differ from ghouls in that their service is enforced through magic rather than voluntary dependence, and they are often considered victims under Supernatural Jurisdiction.

Vampire An immortal supernatural predator created when a human is infected by vampirism. Vampires are sustained by blood and undergo a permanent transformation that severs them from human mortality. They operate within rigid hierarchical structures governed by Sects and exert significant political, social, and economic influence within both supernatural and human systems.

Werewolf A supernatural being capable of shifting between human and wolf form, created either by birth or infection. Werewolves possess enhanced strength, heightened senses, accelerated healing, and extended lifespans, though they are not immortal. Born werewolves typically exhibit greater control and stability, while Bitten werewolves experience more volatile transformations.

Witch/Warlock/Sorcerer A magic user who practices structured spellcraft through study, tradition, ritual, or bloodline inheritance. Witches and warlocks draw power from learned systems rather than instinctual transformation. The terms are often used interchangeably, though some practitioners maintain cultural or personal distinctions.

Magick & Supernatural Practice

(Alphabetical)

Gitano Magick A rare form of practical magic rooted in bodily systems and bloodline inheritance.

Magick The manipulation of supernatural energy to influence physical or spiritual reality. Magick follows rules, costs, and limitations.

Medium/Shaman A human capable of perceiving, communicating with, and interacting with spirits and the spiritual realm. Medium and Shaman are interchangeable terms, with usage varying by cultural, regional, or traditional context.

Necromancer A magic user who manipulates death-related energies, including corpses and spirits.

Practical Magick Magick focused on immediate, physical outcomes rather than symbolic ritual.

Residual Magick Lingering supernatural energy left behind after magical events, detectable by trained individuals.

Ritual Magick Magick performed through structured ceremonies, symbols, and components.

 

Undead & Curses

(Alphabetical)

Revenant A necromantically reanimated being that retains intelligence and purpose beyond death. Revenants are exceptionally rare and extremely difficult to create.

Wendigo Curse A supernatural affliction that amplifies physical and magical abilities while gradually eroding restraint and humanity.

 

Substances & Weaknesses

(Alphabetical)

Wolfsbane A toxic plant harmful to werewolves. In controlled doses, it can suppress transformation; in high doses, it is lethal.

Key Locations

(Alphabetical)

Freaks A neutral bar and discothèque frequented by supernatural beings. Freaks is privately operated by a non-aligned proprietor and staff, whose neutrality is strictly enforced and widely respected. The establishment functions as informal neutral ground, serving as a hub for information exchange, negotiation, and discreet meetings between factions.

The Dakota A historic New York building known within supernatural circles as a center of occult and political influence. The Dakota is associated with high-level vampire and magick-user activity and is regarded as a nexus of power rather than a simple residence.

Pack House A protected stronghold located within pack-controlled territory. The Pack House serves as both a residence and seat of authority for the local Alpha and is considered sovereign ground, with outside enforcement restricted except under Supernatural Jurisdiction.

Supernatural Crimes Division (SCD) The headquarters and operational center of the Supernatural Crimes Division. The SCD functions as the primary enforcement body for supernatural law, operating under expanded authority granted by Supernatural Jurisdiction.