picture Glossary picture

By fearing whom I trust I find my way
To truth; by trusting wholly I betray
The trust of wisdom; better far is doubt
Which brings the false into the light of day.
- Al-Ma'arri, Islamic poet

Glossary of Whispering Vault Terms
by Craig A. Brown

This following list is taken from this page, moved here because I wanted t modify it and make it look nicer.

A
Advocate:
The Station (q.v.) involved in defending the rights of the Unbidden (q.q.v.) (From the Black Book)
Aesthetic:
A being of Essence (q.v.) charged with maintaining reality through "contemplation" or Dreaming (q.q.v.)
Anomalies:
Physical disturbances in reality caused by an Enigma (q.v.).
Archetypes:
Persistent Incarnations (q.v.) which fit a consistent pattern.
Architect, the:
The final stage of an Unbidden's (q.v.) life cycle once he enters reality.
Architects, the:
The beings responsible for the creation of domains (q.v.) (from the Black Book)
Armageddon:
The end of the Cosmic Cycle (q.v.), used to mark time.
Ashen Mask, the:
A sign of the Withering (q.v.)
Avatar:
A representation of the soul. Usually refers to Stalkers (q.v.) and Unbidden.
Aversion:
1) A psychological flaw all Unbidden develop that causes an unreasoning fear; or 2) The first stage of the Forbiddance (q.v.)
Awake:
Aware of the Unseen (q.v.) or the state which allows a Shadow (q.q.v.) to enter reality. Other forms Awakened, Awakening (the act of becoming Awake, usually through external forces.)
B
Backlash:
The second stage of the Forbiddance (q.v.)
Banish:
To force an Awakened Shadow out of reality.
Banishment:
The least of the punishments for Unbidden.
Barrier:
A blockage of the Winding Path (q.v.) which must be overcome to access reality.
Beast, the:
The first stage of an Unbidden's life cycle once it enters reality.
Bestowing Mortality:
Third most serious punishment for Unbidden.
Binding:
1) Capturing an Unbidden. Also used as "the Final Binding" or "the Great Binding", banishment to the Vault (q.v.) or 2) The forced servitude of a Shadow to an Unbidden.
Black Abbot, the:
Controller of the Vault. (?, from "Dangerous Prey")
Black Abbot's Gate, the:
Also "the Gate." The entrance to the Vault.
Black Harvest, the:
An Enlightened (q.v.) mortals' organization
Bright Ones:
The Unbidden called VIRUS referred to other Aesthetics with this term. (From AOL post 2/8/95)
C
Call, the:
Also "the Calling." A summons to Stalkers by mortals to investigate an Enigma.
Chosen Ones:
Sensitive (q.v.) mortals destined to become Stalkers.
Chronosphere, the:
All of time, typically every event between Creation (q.v.) and Armageddon.
Circle:
A group or team of Stalkers.
Citadel, the:
Stalker Central and home to the Primal Powers (q.v.).
Cloisters, the:
A central meeting place for Stalkers in the Realm of Essence. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Collective Consciousness:
Mortal belief in the Dream (q.v.).
Condemned, the:
A captured and caged Unbidden. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
"The Confession":
Lord Vincent Hall's diaries, detailing conversations between Hall and an Unbidden. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Constriction:
One of the methods of creating a Husk (q.v.) for a Minion (q.q.v.) (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Constructs:
A Husk infused with Essence. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Corruption:
The warping of the Collective Consciousness by the Enigma, causing the unusual to be accepted as the norm.
Cosmic Cycle, the:
Also "the Cycle." The life of reality, from birth to death.
Creation:
The beginning of the Cycle, when the Aesthetics begin to Dream of reality.
Crossroads, the:
A point from which a Circle of Stalkers can all reach their Domains.
D
Denizens:
The inhabitants of a Shadowland.
Disciplines:
The powers Stalkers use to Hunt (q.v.) Unbidden.
Dismissal:
1) The act of forcing the Guardian's (q.v.) obedience (From the Black Book.) or 2) Being pushed by an Architect into a Shadowland (q.q.v.) (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Domain:
A Stalker's home in the Realm of Essence.
Door with a Thousand Locks, the:
Another name of the Black Abbot's Gate. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Dream, the:
The Realm of Flesh, as created by the Aesthetics.
Dreamers:
The Aesthetics.
Dreaming:
Also "the Dreaming." The Realm of Flesh, or the act of creating it.
Driven:
A state Unenlightened mortals achieve that allows them to confront The Unseen.
Drones:
1) The servants in a Sanctum (q.v.) or 2) The bulk of human souls not Archetypes (q.q.v.)
E
Enhancements:
A special power added to a Sanctum (q.v.)
Enigma(s):
A flaw in the fabric of reality created by an Aesthetic leaving his post. In the Realm of Flesh, it is localized.
Enlightenment:
The state of being a mortal achieves when he becomes aware of the Unseen.
Essence:
The substance of all things spiritual.
Essence, Ambient:
The free floating Essence that Architect Unbidden use to maintain their existence in the Flesh (q.v.)
Essence, Creatures of:
A creature made up of spirit-stuff; one of the Unseen.
Essence, Immortal:
The soul, especially those of Stalkers.
Essence, Persistent:
The substance of the Primal Powers.
Essence, the Realm of:
That part of existence which is made up only of Essence.
Essential Formulae:
Mathematical formulae that can be used to access the Realm of Essence and the Vault. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Execution:
Destruction of the Immortal Essence of an Unbidden, the gravest of punishments.
F
Fetishes (Lesser Passions):
Strange secondary desires that motivate the Unbidden.
Fever, the:
Another name for the first stage of the Forbiddance.
Fifth Key, the:
The Key of Humanity (q.v.) which most closely links a Stalker to his former, mortal status, usually Compassion.
Flesh (Realm of):
The portion of reality inhabited by mortals.
Fleshing:
Another name for Bestowing Mortality (q.v.)
Focus:
The physical object in the Flesh which is the center of an Unbidden's existence.
Forbiddance, the:
The punishment system created by the Powers to prevent Stalkers from harming humanity.
Forgiven, the:
Those Unbidden who prove rehabilitated (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Formal Petition:
A form of the Call (q.v.) more akin to a summoning.
Formless:
The state of a shadow when their Vessel (q.v.) has been destroyed.
G
Gift, the:
Another name for Sensitivity. (see "Sensitive.")
Green Daughters:
An Enlightened Organization (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Group Powers:
Powers that are evoked by and effect an entire Circle (q.v.)
Guardians:
Beings created by the Powers to prevent unauthorized travel through a Navigator (q.v.)
Guides:
Ghostly manifestations of Old Ones (q.v.) in the Realm of Flesh.
H
Host:
Another name for an Unbidden's Vessel.
Hunt:
A mission to Mend (q.v.) an Enigma.
Husk:
A covering created for a Minion (q.v.) to make the Minion eligible for Insignificance (q.q.v.)
I
Idiosyncrasies (the Flawed Mask):
Strange behavior that marks an Unbidden as such.
Immortal Name:
A Stalker's name once transformed, used in the Naming of Names.
Inner World:
A reference used by Old Ones to the Winding Path (q.v.)
Inspired:
A state mortals acquire when they have a special motivation to fight the Unseen.
Inspirations:
Special, unique uses of Disciplines.
Intercession:
The final stage of the Forbiddance.
Invocation:
A portion of a Formal Petition that calls upon the Primal Powers.
Inquisitor:
A station held by the Stalker who received the Call. This Stalker acts as leader and interrogator of mortals. (From the Black Book.)
Insignificance:
The protection from detection by mortals created by the Veil.
K
Keeper:
The Awakened spirit of a Sanctum.
Keys (of Humanity, of Office):
Five portions of a Stalker's mortal personality given form.
L
Lairs:
The home in the Realm of Flesh of an Architect level Unbidden, usually labyrinthine.
"Law of Proximity":
The fundament of the Dreaming that states that the emotions and intent of combat is better expressed in close quarters.
Lesser Furies, the:
A transformation Wardens (q.v.) perform on Trustees (q.q.v.) to hunt escaped Condemned. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Life Link:
An Architects connection to the Enigma it created.
Living Dream:
Another name for the Flesh.
M
Magic:
Mortal manipulation of the Dream and Enigmas.
Mask (-ed, of Humanity, un-):
a backup ability of Stalkers that allows them to maintain the Veil. Unmasking is a total shut down of the ability as well as the Veil.
Mending:
"Reweaving the fabric of reality," or at least patching an Enigma. Usually the end of a Hunt.
Minions:
Shadows Bound into the service of an Unbidden.
"Mob Rule":
The increase of combat ability shown by mortals in large groups. Pack mentality.
Mortal Mask:
Another name for the Mask.
Mortal Name:
A Stalker's name as a mortal. Used in the Naming of Names.
Mutilation:
Changing the shape of a Shadow's Vessel for insertion into a Husk.
N
Naming of Names:
Another portion of a Formal Petition, in which specific names are used.
Navigators:
Massive Shadows whose interior contains the Winding Path.
Neitherspace:
The space between the Flesh and Essence.
Neitherworld:
Another name for Neitherspace (q.v.) (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Novitiate:
A newly transformed Stalker.
O
Occult:
The body of magical knowledge.
Offerings:
Part of a Formal Petition, in which a material sacrifice is made.
Old Ones:
A Navigator (q.v.) whose great age has allowed it to become sapient.
Order, the:
An Enlightened Organization, generally considered an ally to Stalkers.
P
Parasitic Violation:
Inserting a Shadow into a living body for use as a Husk. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Pardon, the:
An option given to those Condemned (q.v.) that transforms them into Trustees (q.q.v.) (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Passions:
The lusts which bring tempt an Aesthetic to the Flesh.
Persistence:
An Unbidden's desire to remain in the Flesh.(From the Black Book formerly a supplement to Vitality.)
Persistent Incarnation:
Recurring themes in mortal personalities.
Postern Gate, the:
Another, lesser known access to the Vault. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Primal Justice:
The laws behind a Stalker's authority (From the Black Book.)
Primal Powers (the):
Also simply "the Powers," the creators of the Aesthetics, and thus the whole of reality.
Pushing:
The power of a Stranger (q.v.) to set its Husk in to overdrive.
R
Radiant Orb, the:
The result of Binding an Unbidden, a glowing sphere of Essence.
Renegade:
Another name for an Unbidden.
Rift, the:
Another name for Neitherspace; the separation between Flesh and Essence.
S
Sanctum:
'
A home for Watchers (q.v.)
Sanguine Seal:
A symbol of power which keeps the Unbidden in the Vault.
Scrying:
Using an Enigma to ascertain information about the Unbidden tied to it.
Secret Masters, the:
An Enlightened Organization.
Seneschal:
A Minion especially bound to maintain a Lair (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Sensitives:
Mortals who have Awakened, becoming aware of the Truth (q.v.)
Servitors:
Creatures of Essence (q.v.) of limited power that Stalkers may call on for aid.
Shadows:
Creatures from Neitherspace, who may or may not be from abandoned Visions (q.v.)
Shadowlands:
Areas of the Flesh that have become so Corrupted(q.v.) that Temporal Isolation (q.q.v.) has created a pocket Realm.
Shrouding:
A process used by Architect Unbidden to hide their Lairs. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Station:
A temporary position given to all members of a Circle, naming their duties for the duration of a Hunt.
Stranger:
The middle stage of an Unbidden's existence in the Flesh.
Supplicant:
The mortal issuing the Call (q.v.), whose existence is threatened by the Enigma.
Stalker:
A mortal who has been transformed into being of Essence for the purpose of finding and correcting Enigmas.
T
Temporal Isolation:
A side effect of the Veil (q.v.) that causes a sufficiently Corrupted area to pass from mortal memory.
Thralls:
Mortals in service to an Unbidden.
Torment:
The second stage of the Forbiddance.
Touchstones:
A two-way access between a Shadowland and the Flesh.
Transference:
The power of a Stranger (q.v.) to leave one Host (q.q.v) and move to another.
Trustees:
Those Condemned who have been offered the Pardon (q.v.) and freed from the Vault. Also called "the Forgiven." (q.v.) (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Truth, the:
The reality beyond the Veil.
U
Unbidden:
An Aesthetic, tempted by lust, who vacates their post to journey to the Flesh.
Uncommon Clay:
Another name for a Stalker's Vessel. (From the Black Book.)
Unenlightened:
Those mortals unable to bear witness to the Unseen; those without Sensitivity.
Unseen:
Creatures of Essence and Shadows; those beings effected by the Veil.
Unveil(-ed, -ing):
To make a display of Essence sufficient to break the Veil.
V
Vampiric Touch:
The method by which a Beast (q.v.) acquire the Essence to continue existing in the Flesh.
Vault, the:
The area in Essence which serves as a prison for captured Unbidden.
Veil, the (of Ignorance):
The force of the Dreaming that protects itself from invasion by beings of Essence by Masking their existence to match mortal expectations.
Vessel:
A Flesh containment for creatures of Essence, particularly Shadows and Stalkers.
Violation, the:
The act of an Aesthetic leaving his post. (From the Black Book.)
Vision, the:
Another name for the Flesh; "the Vision of the Aesthetics."
Visions:
Alternate realities, believed to be abandoned Dreams. (from AOL post dated 5/19/95)
Vital Husks:
A living Husk. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Vulgar Husks:
Armor-like Husks made from inanimate materials. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
W
Warriors:
A Station (q.v.) assigned to all Stalkers in a Circle who are not the Inquisitor or the Advocate.
Wardens:
The keepers of the Vault. (From "Dangerous Prey.")
Watchers:
Stalkers who have been assigned to the Flesh.
Weavers, the:
Servitors (q.v.) who spin the Uncommon Clay (q.v.) of a Stalker's Vessel.
Winding Path, the:
A pathway that leads through Neitherspace between Flesh and Essence in the belly of a Navigator.
Withering:
The damage done to a Host of a Beast by being inhabited.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does cover most of the common phrases in the setting.

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