Hello! Here we go on the tidbits of stuff that you all most know to play your roles accurately.
Most of this info comes from the Laurell k. Hamilton books hence the many Anita references ignore them for the most part and most info is from the Wiki article.
Undead
Vampires
Main article: you got a while to get there
Vampires are blood drinking former humans, risen from the dead to prey on the living, with a variety of diverse powers. Vampires in the series have great power individually and within society. In the mythology of the series vampires in large areas are controlled by a single lead vampire known as the Master of the City. These master vampires in turn owe their allegiance to the top of the vampire hierarchy the Vampire Council.
Ghouls
Ghouls are undead scavengers who hunt in packs, typically near the cemetery where they rose, and eat the flesh of the living. Ghouls have animal-level intelligence and typically haunt cemeteries that are no longer holy ground, either because of the passage of time or because of some unholy ritual.
Anita does not know why most ghouls rise from the dead, although in one case, a pack of ghouls apparently rose when Zachary, another animator, was buried and rose from the dead.
Zombies
Zombies are humans or animals raised from the dead by an animator, a vaundun practitioner, or a necromancer. Although they may appear human and have some of their memories at first, zombies quickly lose their memories and begin to rot. Zombies do not need to eat, but if fed meat, zombies will rot more slowly or not at all.
Although not supernaturally strong, zombies are able to use their entire strength without concern for exhaustion or damage. They typically obey their creator's orders absolutely. Zombies are able to operate in daylight, but prefer night, and will hide during the day if permitted.
If an animator's corpse is raised as a zombie, it will arise as a flesh-eating zombie -- uncontrollable, much faster than a normal zombie, and with a taste for human flesh. After it eats, the zombie may begin to regain its human memories and personality.
In another instance, if the victim of a murder is risen as a zombie, the zombie will rise and then actively seek out its murderer. The zombie will then kill the murderer after attacking anything that has gotten in its way.
Vaundun priestess Dominga Salvador created two apparently novel types of zombies.
Salvador was capable of storing the soul of a dead person in a bottle, allowing her to raise zombies before their souls had passed on. By returning the soul to the zombie, Salvador created zombies with souls. This process prevented the zombies from rotting while they had souls, and served as further punishment for the deceased.
Salvador also created a sort of zombie chimera by animating parts of several humans and animals, then melding them into a single monstrous zombie.
Ghosts
Anita has encountered ghosts before. According to her, ghosts cannot actually harm a living person, but paying attention to them allows them to become more solid and attempt to harass or scare their victims. Anita generally tries to avoid animating a corpse if the deceased person's ghost is still haunting their grave. She appears to have no power over them, either, as ghosts are a type of "soul magic," as noted in The Laughing Corpse.
Shapeshifters
See Shapeshifters quite a bit further down the list
Other supernatural creatures
Faeries
Classified as Homo arcanus rather than Homo sapiens, the fey of the Anitaverse share many similarities with those of her later Merry Gentry series of novels.
Fey characteristics
Fey are cross-fertile with humans. Humans with part fey ancestry, such as Magnus and Dorcas Bouvier may share some characteristics of full blooded fey. (Because the only fey to appear in the books are the Bouviers and two exotic specimens, Rawhead and Bloody Bones and Xavier, this section primarily discusses part-blooded fey descended from the fairy high court, such as the Bouviers).
Part-fey such as the Bouviers appear primarily human. In the case of the Bouviers, their most striking physical characteristics are their otherworldly androgynous beauty, and the ability of their irises to "pinwheel" closed when their powers are active.
Physical abilities: All fey seen in the Anita Blake novels to date have been preturnaturally fast and strong, and unusually resistant to damage. Some fullblooded fey, such as Rawhead, are completely immortal under normal conditions. (Ultimately, Rawhead shared blood with Magnus, rendering Rawhead capable of being killed while Magnus lived).
Cold iron: Unlike vampires and lycanthropes, fey are not bothered by silver. Cold forged iron or even lead is more damaging to them.
Glamour: One of the key abilities of the high court fey is that of glamour, an ability to cast illusions. Humans can resist glamour by placing a variety of magic ointments over their eyes.
Sensitivity: Both Magnus and Dorcas were strongly psychic, with abilities such as clairvoyance.
Harmony with nature: When Anita walked through the forest with Dorcas, it appeared as if the forest plants moved aside for her, or that she was in harmony with them. (Anita never saw a plant move, but somehow, forest plants were never wherever Dorcas happened to walk.)
Vampirism: Supposedly, it is impossible to raise a member of the fey as a vampire. However, as Xavier showed, this does not appear to be entirely true.
Fey social organization
In the Anitaverse, fey are barred by law from emigrating into the United States. Because fey are not native to North America, the only fey present in the U.S. are therefore either illegal or are descended from ancestors who arrived in North America before the formation of the United States. (This is in contrast to the Merry Gentry novels, in which the U.S.A is one of the few countries that welcomes full-blooded fey.)
The Daoine Sidhe, or fairy high court, is composed of some of the most powerful of the fey. When Anita sees Magnus using glamour, she concludes that he must be descended from the Daoine Sidhe. It is divided into a seelie court of neutral or good fey and an unseelie court of "bad" fey.
Trolls
Lesser Smokey mountain troll
A small North American species, usually between three and a half feet to around five feet tall. Diet consists mostly of plants but occasionally carrion or insects. They walk as humans do, the only other primate species to do so, and are covered in black colored "fur." They are also what Richard has studied for four years in order to obtain his master's degree.
Greater Smokey mountain troll
A large aggressive and carnivorous species of troll, ranging from eight to twelve feet tall. They were hunted to extinction, but they had been fond of pulling trees up by their roots and eating the marrow out of human's bones.
North American cave troll
The smallest troll species on North America, one member of the species (named Peter) was attempted to be converted into Christianity, by a human named Simon Barkley. A scientific journal in 1910 had been published with the information that some trolls had buried their dead with personal artifacts. The newspapers expanded on that information, proclaiming that the trolls mentioned must believe in an afterlife. Simon Barkley wrote a book describing his time with Peter and a professor of Anita's had a picture of Peter looking like he was praying.
Dragons
See Lycan Dragons
Gargoyles
In The Lunatic Cafe, page 55, gargoyles are described as carrion eaters with the nearest grouping located in Kentucky. It is possible that they will attack a man, but it happens rarely. In France, there are three species reported that are either bigger than a human or human sized.
Humans
Human supernatural abilities
Magic and psychic abilities are closely related in the Anita Blake universe. In many cases, magic serves as a ritual to focus psychic abilities, or psychic abilities are necessary to employ various types of magic.
Animators
Anita Blake and many of her associates are animators - humans with an inborn power to raise or inter zombies. Typically, an animator engages in a ritual involving drawing a circle and sacrificing an animal, usually a chicken or goat. However, in some cases, no ritual is required, and before she learned to control her powers, Anita often raised and summoned zombies inadvertently.
The longer time a person has been dead, the more powerful an animator must be in order to raise the zombie, and the greater of a sacrifice is required to do so. Anita is one of the few people powerful enough to raise a centuries old corpse, but even she initially believed that she would require a human sacrifice to do so.
No animator can raise a body until its soul has passed, which usually occurs in about three days. Anita believes that if someone were able to do so, they would achive a true resurrection, bringing the person back to life.
Anita also has the ability to sense the dead. For example, she can walk through a graveyard and "feel" whether the graves are full or empty, and can sense ghosts or human souls.
All of Anita's animator powers are significantly more effective at night.
Some animators are vaundun priests. These animators are trained in the rituals of vaundun and can use their abilities in more sophisticated ways, including the creation of magical talismans called gris-gris.
The most powerful animators, including Anita, are referred to as necromancers. Necromancers have power not only to affect zombies, but have power over all of the dead, including vampires. Anita's grandmother, herself a vaundun priestess, believed that training a necromancer in vaundun led to evil, and therefore encouraged Anita to become Catholic.
Anita's magical power is also useful in a more general respect. She is able to sense other magic when active, and can destroy many spells simply by flooding the affected object with her own raw power.
Witches
Witches appear to be humans with magical talent focused through a variety of rituals. The novels contain numerous passing references to witches.
Upon issuance of a warrant, witches now may be executed rather than captured and held for trial because, like vampires, there is no reliable way to confine a witch safely. Some witches can pass through bars, while others can use their powers from within a cell.
Similar to the relationship between a vampire and its human servant, a witch's powers are magnified if the witch's familiar is nearby.
A sufficiently powerful witch can curse others. Anita describes this process as not being a ritual, but rather the result of a witch focusing his or her entire magical power on another. One of the characters in The Lunatic Cafe was cursed to become a shapeshifter and shift into a swan.
The term "witch" is apparently used very generally, to refer to everyone from Wiccans to dark magicians such as the coven Anita meets in The Lunatic Cafe.
Most witches connect their power and rituals to nature in some way. (Lunatic Cafe).
Clairvoyants
One of Anita's associates has an ability more properly called psychometry, although Anita refers to him as "clairvoyant." He is able to sense the history of an object by touching it. It is possible that he has true clairvoyant powers, but we never seem use any in his appearance.
Pyrokinetics
Also referred to as "firebugs," some humans in the Anita Blake universe have the psychic ability of pyrokinesis. They are able to create flames with their mind, and to shield themselves from the flames.
Sorcerers
Someone who has sold his soul to, or treats with, demons.
Telepaths
The series has not featured any human telepaths. However, Anita has noted that real telepaths are "scary," probably scarier than she is.
Human reaction to the supernatural
Legal status of supernatural beings
A few years before the beginning of the series, vampires had been granted limited human rights in the United States. This is apparently quite novel, and has resulted in a significant number of vampires traveling to the US. It has also caused many vampires to explore the possibility of living legally and openly.
Because of the difficulty in holding vampires, lycanthropes, or witches in prison pending trial, they are entitled to very little legal process. Once a judge is convinced that a supernatural being has committed capital crimes, he or she may issue a warrant of execution without trial. (This represents an improvement for vampires and lycanthropes, however -- during Anita's early career, she was entitled to execute vampires without a warrant).
According to Anita in The Lunatic Cafe, witches are executed within 48 hours of conviction of causing death by magic, without delay or appeal.
A number of supernatural actions are illegal or even capital crimes, including vampires using their hypnosis to "deep roll" a person against their will and lycanthropes infecting another person against their will or infecting a minor.
Discrimination against lycanthopes is theoretically illegal but common in practice, and many lycanthropes hide their status for that reason.
Law enforcement
RPIT
Supernatual crimes in the St. Louis region fall under the jurisdiction of the Regional Preturnatural Investigation Taskforce, also known as the "spook squad" or "RPIT" (pronounced "rip-it"). RPIT is dangerous and low status work, and the division is therefore staffed largely with police officers who have offended their superiors.
Vampire executioners
Some people are licensed as vampire executioners and are authorized to kill vampires pursuant to a warrant of execution. Most vampire executioners only kill vampires, but Anita and some others also investigate and combat other supernatural beings.
Vampire executioners are very rare. In Bloody Bones, Anita states that she is only aware of eight living vampire executioners in the United States, two of whom are retired. Vampire executioners named in the book include:
Anita Blake
John Burke
Larry Kirkland
Manny Rodriguez: (Presumably, Manny is one of the two retired executioners Anita is thinking of).
Bounty hunters
In many states, it is legal to hunt lycanthropes for bounty. In some states, only a postmortem blood test to prove lycanthropy is needed to make it legitimate. One of Edward's cover identities is that of "Ted Forrester," a bounty hunter.
Anti-vampire groups
Several anti-vampire groups have appeared in the novel, particularly the League of Human Voters and Humans Against Vampires, each of which seeks to restrict vampire rights by legal means, and Humans First, a group that origionated from the failed Humans against Vampires, which uses violent action against vampires and other supernatural beings.
Vampires
Physical characteristics
All vampires, even new vampires, are extremely strong, strong enough to lift cars.
Vampires are faster than most humans, but it is difficult to tell how much faster. In most cases where a vampire appears to teleport or move with blinding speed, the vampire has actually used its "mind tricks" to conceal its movement.
Vampires' senses of hearing and smell are also very strong.
Vampires are able to appear human only after years of practice. Newly made vampires have difficulty smiling without showing their fangs, and feel as if they are made from carved wood.
Another characteristic of vampires is their ability to remain completely still, expressionless, and silent. New vampires learn this as they age, while older vampires use this often for effect. While asleep during the day, vampires remain completely still, giving the appearance of being dead.
Vampire feeding and conversion
Vampires can drink human, animal, or lycanthrope blood for sustenance and to maintain their spiritual power. However, they cannot eat physical food. A vampire can survive for extended periods without blood, but may be driven insane by the experience.
Vampires are usually made when a victim receives three successive bites from a single vampire within one month, resulting in death. Unless the corpse is staked and beheaded, the victim will rise three days later as a vampire. As a result, vampires usually will not bite even willing humans more than twice in a single month, unless they wish to "bring over" that person as a vampire. A sufficiently powerful vampire, however, can turn a human with a single bite.
When a vampire first rises, it may be confused or dangerous. As a result, persons who might rise as a vampire are stored in a locked morgue, and attended by a vampire counselor, who supplies the newly risen dead with an animal to feed on and helps them adjust to their new status.
If a human is killed during a group feeding and then rises (a very rare occurrence), he or she will rise as an "animalistic vampire" -- with little or no cognitive ability and with extreme strength and resistance to pain.
Repelling or killing vampires
If held by a person with faith, holy objects, such as blessed crosses or Jewish holy books, will repel most vampires. As the vampire approaches, the object will glow or even give off heat. If the vampire contacts the object, it will grow hot enough to burn both the vampire and its wielder. Although Anita states that a cross must be wielded by someone with faith, both humans and vampires use crosses set into walls to restrain vampires.
Vampires cannot enter a person's home without invitation. Once invited, a vampire may enter at will unless the person who invited the vampire revokes his or her invitation.
Most vampires are nearly dead during daylight hours, with an extremely slow heart rate and no ability to respond to threats.
Vampires can typically only be killed by fire, sunlight, decapitation, or a stake through the heart. Silver will typically not kill vampires, but causes wounds that heal with approximately the same speed as humans. Contact with holy water or a holy object will leave permanent scars. Edward has killed vampires by injecting a solution of silver nitrate into their bloodstream, and Anita has killed them by destroying their heart with a blast from a shotgun loaded with silver shot.
Mental powers
Vampires have a variety of mental powers, most of which depend on eye contact.
"Rolling": Vampires can "roll" victims by making eye contact. "Rolling" typically refers to a temporary hypnotic state that vampires can use to conceal their movements, giving them the illusion of instantaneous movement, to give commands to the victim, or to reduce the pain of a vampire's bite. Victims with supernatural power, such as other vampires, animators, human servants, and lycanthropes, display varying amounts of resistance to this technique, but most people avoid the technique by not looking vampires directly in the eyes.
"Deep rolling": Given time, a sufficiently powerful vampire can put a victim into an effectively permanent hypnotic state. In Guilty Pleasures, Aubrey uses this technique on Anita's friend Catherine in order to blackmail Anita -- Anita knows that once deeply rolled, Catherine is Aubrey's to command unless Anita meets his demands.
Mass hypnosis: Some vampires are able to exert a hypnotic effect over an entire crowd. For example, one of the vampire comedians at the Laughing Corpse used mass hypnosis to convince his audiences that he was funny. Mass hypnosis is not a widely known vampire power, and has its limits. For example in Bloody Bones, Anita doubts that any vampire could hold three murder victims simultaneously hypnotized while killing them.
Vampire's bite: A vampire's bite can (but apparently does not always) provide the vampire with mental control over the victim. In Guilty Pleasures, Nikolaos bites Anita and states that after a few bites, her control over Anita will be absolute. Anita is able to remove the effect of the bite by disinfecting the wound with holy water. In Circus of the Damned, Anita states that a vampire must enter a victim's mind during a bite to gain control over the victim.
Empathy: Vampires refer to being able to "smell" emotions such as fear and lust, and some vampires are able to detect lies. It is not clear precisely how much of this ability involves literal scent and how much involves mental powers. However, mental powers are clearly a significant component - once Jean-Claude makes Anita his human servant, he is unable to read her emotions, which suggests that the technique is not purely physical.
Master vampires
After a few centuries, some vampires reach "master vampire" status. Other vampires will never become master vampires, although their abilities continue to increase with age to a certain limit. For example, although Damian, is more than twice Jean-Claude's age and more powerful than most non-masters in the series, he is still weaker than most masters and was unlikely to grown any stronger without magical assistance.
Master vampires are more powerful than typical vampires with regard to the general abilities discussed above, have the ability to control lesser vampires, and may also develop additional powers. Some of the abilities that master vampires may display include the following:
General master level powers
Master level vampires may have some of the following abilities.
Flight
Ability to call animals
Some master vampires have an animal to call, which allows them to summon and command animals and lycanthropes of that type. A sufficiently powerful lycanthrope can interfere with this call. For example, Nikolaos had the ability to call rats and wererats, but Rafael blocked her call, preventing her from calling rats, or from calling wererats against their will.
Early rising
Some master vampires, such as Nikolaos, are able to wake, move, and use their powers during daylight (but must remain in shadow). Aubrey, although not a master vampire, was capable of at least reflexive motion during daylight if threatened.
Voice
Jean-Claude and Mr. Oliver have the ability to form an emotional or hypnotic connection with their voices. Anita characterizes Jean-Claude's voice as having an almost physical sensation, and typically describes his voice as "silk against skin" or "fur against skin." Asher also has this power, but while Jean-Claude is able to portray joy and pleasure better, Asher is able to portray sadness and bitterness better. It is somewhat unclear whether this difference is inherent in the power, or simply due to the individual vampire's personality.
Human servant
Most or all master vampires appear to be able to create a "human servant." By marking a human with four successive "marks," the vampire makes the human into a human servant. A vampire can only have one human servant at one time, and cannot remove a mark once given. A vampire's human servant functions similarly to a witch's familiar, in that when the servant is nearby, the vampire's abilities are stronger. Most vampires seem to be able to exercise some control over their servants, but a necromancer servant, such as Anita, has complete free will. The death of either the servant or the vampire may injure or kill the other member of the relationship.
First mark: the vampire shares energy with the servant. The first mark grants the human servant greater resistance to injury and to vampire mental powers, and an almost complete immunity to their own vampire's mental powers.
Second mark: Anita experiences this mark as a pair of floating points of flame in the color of the vampire's eyes that merged with her own eyes. The second mark allows the vampire to draw power from the human servant, to experience food and drink consumed by the servant, and to enter the servant's dreams.
Third mark: The third mark is made by drinking the servant's blood. It conveys increased healing, immunity to poison, and allows the vampire and servant to communicate mentally even when awake.
Fourth mark: The fourth mark is made when the servant drinks the vampire's blood. It conveys immortality (from age) to the servant and allows the servant to draw on the vampire's strength.
Animal servant
A vampire with the ability to call animals may also form a vampire-servant relationship with one animal or lycanthrope subject to the vampire's call. The series does not provide many details about animal servants, but the process and relationship appears similar to that of a human servant.
Triumvirate
If a vampire binds a human servant and lycanthrope servant within a sufficiently short period of time, the three may form a triangular relationship called a triumvirate. This relationship forms a virtuous circle that magnifies and shares the abilities of all participants.
Resistance to silver
Some vampires are not harmed by silver.
Drawing blood from a distance
This ability allows a vampire to cut an opponent, but only if that opponent has a magical aura.
Power drain
Jean-Claude is capable of drawing all of the power from vampires that he has personally sired, reducing them to a weakened, near-skeletal state.
Calling shadows
Some master vampires can call shadows, cloaking an area in darkness.
Pyrokinesis
Some vampires have a minor level of pyrokinesis, but major pyrokinenis is almost unheard of among vampires, because flame is an element of purity.
Bloodlines
Each sourde de sang is capable of supporting a bloodline - a group of vampires who draw power from that vampire either by direct descent or by blood oath. Some powers are only seen in master vampires of a given bloodline.
Rotting vampires
Rotting vampires, such as Janos, have the ability to allow their body to rot into a decaying corpse or even fall apart without suffering damage. As a result, they are almost impossible to kill without fire (or, presumably, sunlight). This ability appears to be limited to selected members of Morte d'Amour's bloodline.
Corruption
Morte d'Amour and selected members of his bloodline are able to cause "corruption" with their bite -- unless the victim is sufficiently powerful to resist, even a single bite can cause a victim to decay and die. This ability appears to be significantly more rare in Morte d'Amour's bloodline than the ability to rot and reform.
Belle Morte
Many of the master vampires in Belle Morte's bloodline have powers relating to love, sex, or seduction. Most of these related powers are "two-sided." Unless used very skillfully, they work simultaneously on the user and the person on whom the power is used.
Ardeur
The greatest of the powers in Belle Morte's bloodline appears to be the ardeur. Belle Morte, Jean-Claude, and Anita are the only living persons known to possess this power fully. The ardeur appears capable of inflaming passion, inspiring love and devotion, addicting people to its effects, and even shaping people into one another's ideal lover.
As Anita has learned, the ardeur must be "fed" -- if she does not use the power, it forces her to use it, which usually results in Anita having "emergency sex" with the nearest likely candidate.
Incubi/Succubi
The most powerful of Belle's line are referred to as incubi (if male) or succubi (if female) -- vampires with the ability to inflame lust, and to draw power from lust, both through the ardeur.
Other related powers
Several master vampires in Belle's line have powers related to the ardeur.
Asher's powers seem to revolve around intimacy and seduction. He is unusually strong at "rolling" his victims mentally, and has a power to "fascinate" others. Asher's bite is literally orgasmic, and his victims often are addicted to the experience and/or experience "flashbacks" of the orgasms received from his bites. Although Asher does not appear to draw strength from lust itself, he can draw power directly from Anita, or, presumably, from anyone else he has seduced as deeply as he has her.
Augustine has the ability to make others love him. As with the other powers in Belle's line, unless he is extremely careful, the power also works in reverse, forcing him to love his victim.
London's power is that he is exceptionally good "food" for the ardeur itself. Using the ardeur on him generates additional power, and he is capable of satisfying the ardeur much more often than anyone else.
Requiem can inflame physical lust in his victims. (And, of course, in himself).
Nighthags
Also called mora, Night Hags are vampires who have the ability to feed on and create fear in those around them. This ability works similarly to the ardeur in that the vampire who feeds using fear can go longer without blood, though not forever. Damian's former Master, Morvoren, is a very powerful night hag and is possible the sourde de sang for the bloodline. Night hags cannot completely turn this power "off"; everywhere they go there is a small feeling of dread, no matter what they do. It is a master-vampire power.
Dragons
A line of Vampires who take there name from there Sourde de sang's Title. They can feed on and gain power form Rage, battle, and combat. This also works in a similar manner to the Ardeur. Beyond this and that fact that they are considered among the greatest of warriors, little is known about this line.
Vampire society
In general, vampires are organized in a strictly hierarchical structure, both as a matter of social organization and as a matter of the magical power that animates them.
With the exception of rogues and members of Malcolm's Church of Eternal Life, all vampires are bound to a master. In most cases, that master will have his or her own master, resulting in a hierarchy of control. Although a sufficiently powerful master appears to have some ability to control subject vampires through purely magical power, there are numerous vampires in the novels who demonstrate an ability and willingness to disobey their master.
Each area large enough to support a social group of vampires is controlled by a single Master of the City. Assuming this position increases a vampire's magical as well as social power, as the master draws a share of power from all the vampires under its control. This position is typically transferred only by the death of the existing master. A vampire traveling to a new area must have the permission of that area's master, and when masters of different cities visit one another, they often engage in detailed negotiations of terms.
All of the individual masters of the various cities in turn owe allegiance to the Vampire Council. The Vampire Council is based in Europe and is composed of several extremely powerful vampires. Normally, a vampire assumes a position on the council by killing an existing member.
Other than obedience to their masters, the rules among vampires vary. For centuries, the Council required vampires to act with discretion, going so far as to kill Vlad Tepes for drawing unnecessary attention. After the United States began recognizing legal rights for vampires, the Council has supported limited cooperation with legal authorities. Vampires living in the U.S. are forbidden to commit crimes, and many city masters engage in vigilante activities to control vampire crime, often delivering criminal vampires to authorities, frequently in pieces.
First, vampires gather power directly by feeding, primarily on blood, although some master vampires can also draw power through fear, lust, or directly from their human or animal servants. Vampires also appear to draw power from their subjects.
In return, a vampire receives its animating force from its master, who in turn receives his or her own animating force from his or her own master. A vampire at the head of a bloodline is known as a Sourde de Sang and need not draw its animating force from any "upstream" master.
Vampires interact with humans in a variety of ways.
Vampires may mentally dominate humans, forcing them do their bidding. Vampires refer to these humans as Renfields or more simply slaves.
Vampires also take blood from willing humans. Some vampires are in romantic relationships with humans who willingly donate blood. Others take blood from humans who have a psychological need to supply blood. These latter humans are known as vampire junkies and attend freak parties where they meet vampires.
Vampire terminology
Pomme de sang
A pomme de sang, or "apple of blood," refers to a person who has agreed to feed a vampire regularly. In vampire society, the pomme de sang is a submissive but valued position, similar to a "kept man or woman" among humans. Pommes de sang are protected from interference by other vampires, and are typically given gifts and otherwise treated as a human might treat a lover.
Sourde de sang
A sourde de sang, or "fountain of blood", is a vampire capable of supporting his or her own bloodline. A sourde de sang generates his or her own animating power, and also provides animating power for all vampires that share a bloodline or have taken blood oaths to members of the sourde's bloodline. A sourde de sang is owed a duty of fealty by all vampires that draw power from its bloodline.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampires_(Anita_Blake_mythology)"
Shapeshifter attributes
Shape change
Lycanthropes can assume at least three forms - human, animal, and a "hybrid" form that is bipedal with animal characteristics. Most lycanthropes must feed immediately after changing to an animal state, and are forced into a comatose state for several hours after returning to a human form.
Lycanthropes who spend too much time in animal form may not be able to shift back completely. As a result, some of the lycanthropes Anita meets have fangs or voices or eyes resembling their animal form, even when in human shape.
Other shapeshifters may have different forms available, and may experience different effects. For example, Kaspar is able to shift back and forth to his swan form without unconsciousness, and it is not clear if he has an intermediate "swanman" form.
Contagion
Lycanthropes' bodily fluids are contagious, but only when the lycanthrope is in an animal or hybrid state.
Physical abilities
All lycanthropes are extremely fast, strong, and resistant to damage. Lycanthropes' strength appears to depend somewhat on their actual size and somewhat on their level of supernatural power.
Lycanthropes can recover from almost any wound other than that caused by silver weapons. For example, in Circus of the Damned, Rashida is able to regenerate an entire arm, and Richard Zeeman is able to recover from having his throat literally torn out.
Lycanthropes have extremely acute senses, even in human form. For example, in The Lunatic Cafe Richard claims to be able to "smell" emotions or lies. Narcissus in Chains mentions that sometimes being anxious changes the smell of a person and perhaps that is what the lycanthropes smell. The same book has Nathaniel remarking he can hear a person's heart beat or the blood moving in the body, even in human form.
Lycanthropes are effectively allergic to silver and feel physical pain from even skin contact, although some seem to enjoy silver jewerly.
Command of animals
Lycanthropes appear able to command animals of their species. (For example, wererats can command rats).
Reaction to vampire's call
Lycanthropes can be "called" and commanded by a vampire with the ability to call their species of animal. Sufficiently powerful lycanthropes can resist a vampire's call, or even interfere with the call, preventing the vampire from calling other lycanthropes or animals. For example, Rafael, as the Rat King, was able to prevent Nikolaos from calling actual rats and from calling wererats against their will.
Similarly, sufficiently powerful shapeshifters, such as Richard, are able to look vampires in the eyes without being affected by their mental powers.
Alpha weres
Some shapeshifters reach "alpha" or "master" status, a power level similar to that of a master vampire. Alpha shapeshifters may display some of the following traits:
An ability to resist transforming.
The ability to partially shapeshift, for example shifting hands into claws, or even "cosmetic" shapeshifting - shifting bones or flesh simply to alter appearance.
The ability to force other shapeshifters to change form, or to prevent them from doing so.
Some shapeshifters, such as Richard can share their power with others by allowing them to feed on the shapeshifter's blood.
The ability to heal others, by a variety of means. (For example, Raina was able to heal through sex).
Lycanthrope social organization
Werewolves
The social habits of werewolves are probably the most fully described in the series, both because of Anita and Jean-Claude's association with the wolves and because werewolves appear to be the most prevalent type of shapeshifter, particularly in the St. Louis area.
Dominance
Dominance is a key element in werewolf social organization. The pack is structured in a clear hierarchy, and pack members move up or down by winning or losing challenges against other pack members.
Although most dominance battles end when one participant backs down, leadership of the pack is only transferred by a battle to the death.
A dominant pack member may issue any order to submissive member, provided that the dominant does not order the submissive to do anything illegal.
A pack member may offer or receive "protection" to or from another member. A pack member must accept all challenges on behalf of any person to whom he or she has offered protection.
Non-werewolves, such as Jean-Claude and Anita Blake may be classified as "dominant" to certain members of the pack, but may not typically be considered "alpha" or full members of the pack. (Anita is an exception, as usual).
Werewolf terminology
The werewolves have a variety of private terms, primarily borrowed from wolf-related mythology.
Bolverk
The Bolverk is the enforcer of the Ulfric. The Bolverk carries out punishments or performs duties the Ulfric does not want to do himself, or if he is not available to do so. For example, in the Thronnos Rokke clan, Richard makes Anita the Bolverk of his pack because he is too kind-hearted to carry out punishments necessary to those who challenge his authority.
Erato and Eros
Erato, a muse of erotic poetry, and Eros is the god of love or lust. For the werewolves, these roles are held by other werewolves who help the new werewolves control themselves from changing during sex.
Fenrir
An official challenger to the Ulfric, named after Fenrisulfr or Fenrir, the wolf that is destined to kill Odin in Norse mythology.
Freki and Geri
The Ulfric's two seconds. Named after Odin's wolves of Norse mythology.
Lukoi
The werewolves' name for themselves, in honor of King Lykaon, a historic werewolf.
Lupa
The position of "Lupa" is reserved for the Ulfric's chosen mate. Although the lupa need not fight for her/his position, the position of most dominant female (or male in the case of male Lupas) is determined by conflict. The term is Latin for "she-wolf" and "prostitute."
Lupanar
A meeting place for the lukoi, possibly their place of power. For Richard's clan, there is a huge rock that the Ulfric sits on that looks like a throne, hence Thronos Rokke clan. In Blue Moon, the lupanar of the Oak Tree Clan has an incredibly huge oak tree in it.
Munin
The munin are the spirits or memories of the dead pack members, named after Munin, Odin's raven of memory in Norse mythology. Live pack members can "call the munin," drawing on memories or abilities of former members. Various packs appear to preserve the munin by different methods. For example, the werewolves of the Thronos Rokke clan preserve the munin of dead pack members by eating their bodies. Anita can also channel the munin of former Lupa of the Thronos Rokke clan, Raina. This is possible because Anita personally killed Raina, and her necromancy powers and ties with the Ulfric of the clan allowed Raina to bind her munin to Anita.
Thronos Rokke
The name of the St. Louis clan of werewolves, named for the "throne rock" on which their Ulfric sits.
Ulfric
The ultimate alpha male of the pack. An alpha werewolf may become Ulfric only by killing the existing pack leader. Theoretically, female weres may become Ulfric, but female Ulfrics are rare because the strongest males normally have a significant strength advantage over even the strongest females. The term is a derivative of the Norse "ulfr," meaning "wolf."
Wereleopards
St. Louis's wereleopards are substantially less numerous than its werewolves and wererats, apparently because cat-based lycanthropy is less contagious than the former two varieties.
The St. Louis pard does not display the sort of elaborate social rituals shown by the werewolves, possibly because of their smaller numbers, or because Gabriel's decision to reshape the pard members into submissive prostitutes warped their social structures beyond recognition.
The principal social characteristic of the pard members is a need for physical contact as a source of emotional reassurance. Pard members frequently rub against one another and against Anita as if they were cats.
Wereleopard terminology
Pard
Similar to Lukoi for the werewolves, "pard" is the term wereleopards use to refer to themselves. (In Middle English, "pard" referred to panthers or leopards).
Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj
A given pard's queen is its "Nimir-Ra," and its king is its "Nimir-Raj." (Nimir appears to be a version of "Namir," the word for panther in Hindi, Arabic, and Hebrew. "Raj" is Hindi for king or ruler.)
Léoparde lionné and lion passant
Terms based in French heraldry to describe an alpha. According to Gwen in Burnt Offerings, a "léoparde lionné" refers to a rampant leopard -- an alpha who is a brave protector or avenger such as Anita. Gwen states that a "lion passant" refers to a sleeping lion -- an alpha that leads but does not protect.
In fact, the pard's understanding of heraldry appears to be in error. Under standard heraldry terms, passant means a walking animal (three legs on the ground, one leg up), while dormant means a sleeping animal. The term "léoparde lionné," however, is used correctly -- the term referred to a leopard in the typical pose of a heraldic lion, i.e. rampant.[1]
Wererats
The wererats of St. Louis refer to their community as the Rodere. They are led by Rafael, their Rat King. Rafael's rats include a disproportionately high number of soldiers and mercenaries, and are more likely to use guns than most other lycanthropes.
Rafael has allied his Rodere with Richard and Anita and, through them, to the Thronos Rokke clan and Blooddrinkers clan. The name of Rafael's clan is the Dark Crown Clan, and Rafael has a crown branded into his arm to show he is the king.
Werehyenas
The werehyenas are one of the major power groups in the St. Louis shapeshifter community, together with the werewolves and wererats. Their leader, Narcissus has recruited only men as werehyenas, because hyenas in nature are matrilineal, and Narcissus therefore fears that if his group included a female alpha, she would displace his leadership.
Wereswans
Wereswans are shapeshifters but not lycanthropes. Being a wereswan is most often a result of a curse or of heredity. They are also the only non-predator form of lycanthropy yet seen in the Anita-verse, and therefore often risk being victimized as prey by the other species.
Female wereswans are referred to as swanmanes. (See also Swan May). The wereswans of are currently led by Donovan Reece, their Swan King. Reece states that he is the first Swan King in a century, and that he has been destined from birth to that position, since he has a birthmark in the shape of a swan. Kaspar Gunderson, the former leader of the wereswans of St. Louis, was a Swan Prince.
Werelions
Mentioned in Danse Macabre, the werelions of St. Louis are a pride of mostly-submissives led by Joseph.
Werelion terminology
Pride
Rex and Regina
A given pride's king is its "Rex," and its queen is its "Regina." ("Rex" is Latin for absolute ruler or king, and "Regina" is Latin for queen.)
Uncommon wereanimals
Weresnakes
Throughout the series, the only weresnakes Anita has encountered are werecobras and (perhaps more indirectly) wereanacondas.
Of the werecobras, the leaders are called Kadra (female) and Kashyapa (male). They have the ability to have offspring like mammals or like reptiles.
Werebears
The queen of this group is called an Ursa, which might imply there are more than a handful of members but Anita only meets a few.
Weretigers
One of the rarest forms of lycanthropes, there is only one weretiger in St. Louis, named Christine.
Weredogs
One weredog is mentioned, Janet Talbot, who says her shapeshifting ability is inherited.
Werefox
There is only one werefox mentioned, Gilbert (also called "Gil"), who is exceptionally timid.
Werejaguars
Primarily located in New Mexico, there hasn't been any mention of them in St. Louis.
Other shapeshifters
Panweres
Panweres have the power to transform into more than one type of lycanthrope. The one panwere mentioned in the Anitaverse was Chimera, who was capable of transforming into a werelion, wereleopard, werehyena and many others. Anita Blake was also believed to be a panwere by Chimera because he sensed that she was part leopard and wolf.
Miscellaneous shapeshifters
The St. Louis community includes a number of other shapeshifters, include weretigers, werelions, werebears, werefoxes, and weredogs.
Lamia
A Lamia is a half human, half snake. They are supposed to be extinct except for one. She was Mr. Oliver's servant but when he died she began working at the Circus of the Damned. They are also believed to be "true immortals". When Anita Blake tried to kill her nothing worked she just healed like water. They can change from human to a half snake form (snake tail/human torso). They have retractable fangs that inject lethal poisons into a body that has been bitten. Their fangs also inject a substance that can change a human into a Lamia, which was what she was trying to do to her harem in Circus of the Damned.
Nagas
A Naga is a snake-like Hindu creature that is immortal. In The Lunatic Cafe one naga survived being skinned alive, by someone who wanted the skin for shape-shifting. However, that plan was foiled since Nagas are immortal and the spell for skin shape-shifting requires the original occupant of the skin to be dead by the end of the spell.
Nagas are known as the guardians of pearls and raindrops, in Hindu legend. Their skin has a pearl on the forehead. They are usually shown as cobras/snakes, or human-headed snakes, but could take on a full human form.
Were Dragons
A Were Dragons are among the rarest of the Lycanthorp Races. It's estimated that they only number about 7,000 on the entire North American continent. And worldwide, No more then 56,000 exist. They come in 2 variety's, eastern and western. Eastern are typically longer, but shorter and narrower.
In Sanfransisco, one of the only 4 Flights in the US is located, Numbering some 362 western variety, and 78 eastern.
Western, when transformed to full dragon form, are generally 9 feet tall at the shoulder when on all fours, and about 6 feet long. By contrast, eastern are generally just under 6feet tall, and about 10 feet long. They come in a variety of colors and patterns. there Half way form is generally about 7 to 8 feet tall, with head, wings, and tail, and some times claws. Powerful Members of the species can summon not only just the eyes or claws, but also the wings and tail.
Were dragons are matriarchal, and Leading relys on Gender and strength in gender. Where dragon Lycanthropy is usually genetic, requiring that the person have it passed down to them, and in such cases, they usually don't show signs till they completely adolescents. Exceptions exist however, and there have been extremely rare cases where it has been passed through infection.
Magical shapeshifters
Witches could potentially shape-shift, with the proper spell and with the skin from a werecreature. Shifting this way has benefits since the person gains all the power of the skin but is not tied to simply changing with a full moon. Unfortunately, for the spell to work properly, the werecreature has to die at the end of the spell.
A witch was also responsible for Kaspar Gunderson's ability to shift into a swan, she cast a spell on him, hoping it would make him more compassionate.
