VII - RoseRed

typically develop their own lingo to conceal the meaning
of their conversations from outside eavesdroppers
and to reveal their membership to others in the know.
Many social hierarchies use buzzwords to separate the
knowing from the naïve.
The Ordo Dracul is all of those things: a clandestine
organization, a secret society, an academic alliance and
a social subculture. As a result, the members of the covenant
have a colorful and arcane vocabulary.
Academy: All the members of the Ordo Dracul in a
local geographical area. Dragons congregate in “Academies”
the way that birds gather in a flock or battleships
travel in a fleet. Also, a chapter (q.v.).
Blood Coven: A coterie of Dragons.
Caucus: A monthly meeting of all the Dragons the city
or area. It is traditionally held on the night of the new moon.
challenger: In a combat trial governed by the Code
Duello (q.v.), the challenger is the person who initiates
the duel by claiming injury against the minuend (q.v.).
chapter: The local covenant membership. A chapter
may meet in a chapter house. Some domains may be divided
into more than one chapter. Also, an Academy (q.v.).
chrysalis: A mentally, physically and spiritually indeterminate
or liminal state in which a Dragon can transform
herself through a new mastery of a Coil of the
Dragon. Also, the moment of the change itself.
Code Duello: Rules, similar to the Irish dueling code
of 1777, which govern trials-by-combat within or involving
the Sworn of the Axe.
Convener: The highest-ranked unsworn Dragon in
an Academy (q.v.) is given the title of Convener and is
responsible for arranging the monthly Caucus (q.v.).
defendant: Someone who has been accused and is on
trial before a Dragon Jury (q.v.).
disputant: Kindred who issues a challenge to decide a
dispute via Mystery Debate (q.v.).
Dragon Jury: A jury of three members of the Ordo
Dracul, convened to issue a ruling on a personal or legal
issue. Also known as a Juris Draconis, this legal body needs
at least one Oathbound of the Dying Light in order to
be legitimate.
Fate Card: One of 49 Tarot-based archetypes arrived
at via the Paths of Fate (q.v.). Proponents of the Paths
believe a Fate Card indicates an individual’s true nature
and personality.
fontal: A category of Wyrm’s Nest that produces intangible
but appreciable energy of a specific type or “resonance”
and often recharges itself over time. E.g., “That
site is a fontal nest, so I doubt those mages have truly
depleted it.” Also, a wellhead.
haunted: A category of Wyrm’s Nest inhabited by one
or more ghosts. E.g., “That old school is a haunted nest,
and we’d best keep away.”
ordo dracul
Hungarian Marriage: When two Dragons with the
third tier of the Coil of Blood enter into a cycle of mutual
feeding. The laws of the Ordo Dracul forbid it in
most domains.
interlocutor: The challenged party in a Mystery Debate
(q.v.).
Judge of Division: The primary authority of a Dragon
Jury (q.v.), selected by the other two judges.
Juris Draconis: See Dragon Jury.
mediator: The judge at an Axe-Sworn trial by combat.
The mediator’s task is to determine when a damaging
hit has occurred. When it does, it ends a pass (q.v.).
Minor Judge: One of three judges on a Dragon Jury
(q.v.), he is supposed to be of lower status than both
parties in the dispute, if that’s possible.
minuend: The person to whom a combat challenge
has been issued, following the rules set down by the
Sworn of the Axe.
Mystery Debate: An intellectual challenge whereby
disputes can be settled between members of the Sworn
of the Mysteries.
Parliament: A local collective of the Sworn of the
Mysteries. The deliberative body that passes laws for an
Academy (q.v.).
pass: In a duel, one of three attempts to draw blood.
Paths of Fate: A Tarot-based system used to predict
behavior and to show students which natural inclinations
give them spiritual strength.
perilous: A category of Wyrm’s Nest that is dangerous
to visitors, or especially Kindred of the Ordo Dracul.
E.g. “Don’t go there. It’s a perilous nest.”
plaintiff: The person who calls for an inquiry by
Dragon Jury (q.v.).
proctor: The Kindred who oversees, adjudicates and
(often as not) benefits from a Test of the Dying Light (q.v.).
second: When following the Axe-Sworn’s rules for
trial by arms, seconds are allies of the combatants who
try to keep the fight fair and clean.
Superior Judge: One of three judges on a Dragon Jury
(q.v.), she is supposed to be of higher status than both
parties in the dispute, if that’s possible.
Test of the Dying Light: A formal means for settling
differences practiced by the Sworn of the Dying Light.
A proctor (q.v.) sets a task for two quarreling Kindred
and judges in favor of the one who completes it first.
The tasks range from the petty to the epic.
tutor: A member of the Ordo Dracul who has been
formally recognized as an instructor for another member
in one or more of the Coils of the Dragon.
wellhead: A Wyrm’s Nest that channels or emits spiritual
or magical power at a steady or nearly steady rate.
Such power is typically of a particular type or “resonance.”
Also, a fontal nest.
17
introduction
6