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- Dedicant
- One who has formally accepted his or her latent nature and is actively pursuing the process of vampire Awakening. Dedicants typically receive instruction and guidance from one or more Awakened vampires, most often the person responsible for catalyzing their initial Awakening. The term Dedicant reflects their dedication to their own self-realization of being a vampire.
- Dharma
- Often translated as duty, a Sanskrit term that indicates the path one must follow in their life. The idea of dharma is inextricably linked to the motion of karma, for it is in following ones dharma that one can gain release from karma.
- Dominus
- * (formal, Sanguinarium) A "high elder" and often the leaders or most senior members of a household in the Sanguinarium system. Among the dominus are the high priests (Azra is used in the text though it is mentioned only in passing elsewhere) and primus (founders) of the family. In the Kheprian system dominus are 3rd degree. Dominus often lead covens, organize Houses and watch over Havens. A similar but not identical term is the Eclipsan Vran.
- Donor
- *(general, Sanguinarius, Sanguinarium) 1. (OSV and Sanguinarium) Someone who shares his or her blood or life energy, without obligation. Many donors enter into partnerships with vampires. These partnerships are often also sexual in nature, although they do not have to be. Many donors prefer to be monogamous, offering themselves to just one vampire at a time. Some donors will offer themselves to entire covens, provided their offerings are appreciated and not abused. Donors are cherished and protected by responsible vampires and are often given gifts in return for their services. They are honored affiliates of a House or coven.
2. (Sanguinarius) Someone who gives or shares their blood or life-energy, without obligation. Many donors prefer to offer themselves to just one vampire, but some donors will offer of themselves to entire covens, provided their offerings are appreciated and not abused. - Donor Swans
- (formal, OSV) In the OSV terminology, someone who shares thier blood or life energy without obligation. Many donors enter into partenrships with vampires. These partnerships may often be sexual in nature, although they do not have to be so. Many donors prefer to be monogamous, offering their gifts to just one vampire at a time. Some donors will offer themselves to an entire House or Order, provided that their offerings are appreciated and not abused. There are several types of donor swans in the OSV system including Crystal Swans (pranic or psi energy), Crimson Swans (Sanguine) and Amber Swans (Pranic and Sanguine). In the Eclipsan system, all nonvampiric allies of vampires are called Kithani and all donors given the title of M'kheru. (see also source or Kitra)
- Dragon, The
- *(formal, Sanguinarium) The Dragon is the "hunger" or the "thirst" of vampire fiction and mythology according to OSV, as well as somehow being the Higher Self in this tradition. It is the draw to consume pranic energy, which can often manifest as a blood lust or as an emotional vampire. As one follows the Strigoi Vii path, the Dragon may manifest as a temptation or draw to one's night side. The primal nature of a vampire, interpreted by this group as primal fire. Some traditions believe that this is what causes the Hunger or Thirst. In the OSV it is also considered the inner light or higher self and supposedly can be mastered with the development of the Will, meditation, dreamwalking and thier concept of the Twilight balanc, which originally is a concept created by the Temple of the Vampire. The Dragon is referred to in the OSV tradition as being our true self, our creative fire, our power and our potential to supposedly somehow become superhuman. Eclipsans call this the Beast or Khaibit.
- Dream Festival
- (formal, OSV) A holiday celebrated by members of OSV that falls on the Summer Solstice and that is used to celebrate their Dayside existence, including birth family and donors. This is an adaptation of a Wiccan and Pagan holiday for use by the OSV.
