Vampire Terms - Aging
Vampires don’t count their human years when giving their ages, something that greatly annoys any fledgling who’s ever been informed that they are two. And like any mortal two year old, they will always be under the watchful eyes of their elders.
Newborns are vampires in their first year; they feed almost entirely on their maker and other clan members’ blood. While newborn vampires do have enhanced senses and are stronger/faster than the average human, they’re easy targets for other supernaturals and hunters. It’s rare to see a newborn vampire.
Nestlings are vampires between one and twenty-five/thirty. They become more independent at this stage, but are still kept close to the nest, so to speak. Nestlings learn to feed on humans, start developing their powers, and will follow their makers to community events.
Fledgling technically refers to vampires between twenty/thirty and hundred, but is also used generically to mean, ‘young vampire’. A vampire becomes a fledgling once they stop feeding off their maker’s aura and their instincts allow them to leave their maker’s side for long periods of time.
Juvenile is the term commonly used to refer to vampires between 100 and 250/300. The term is holdover from the time prior to the Black Death when vampires of this age were legally adults, but not allowed to turn anyone or hold positions of authority. More modern vampires prefer the term, ‘adult’.
Elders are vampires who’ve developed a second power which normally happens around 250 to 300 years of age. In the past, this would be the age someone would be considered fully an adult and even now elders are favored when it comes to leadership roles.
Ancients are vampires older than a thousand; most develop a third power. Vampires of this age tend to hold places of power and respect within the community.
