The Tzimisce
Tzimisce's are the quintessential vampires. While other vampires desperately try to retain their human nature, Tzimisce actively seek to divorce themselves from it. This attitude has colored Tzimisce culture and society. Accordingly, the clan has fostered some of the most bizarre, alien, and (from a mortal perspective) horrific practices known among vampires.
The Tzimisce Embrace
Given that the clan as a whole holds the Tradition of the Progeny in contempt, Tzimisce are notoriously selective about whom they Embrace. Tzimisce are not human, do not wish to be human, and seek to Embrace people who have in some way deviated from their species - socially, mentally, or emotionally. Such deviation, however, must not preclude adherence to the clan's precepts or the capacity for wit, honor, and charm. Tzimisce infinitely prefer a Hannibal Lecter to a Jeffrey Dahmer. Tzimisce prize intelligence and insight, but intelligence of particular variety - the ability to perceive new ways of looking at things rather than the conventional problem-solving or logical sort. In many ways, this approach resembles that of the Malkavians, but Tzimisce do not respect insanity for its own sake. A catatonic vegetable or dysfunctional schizophrenic is a manifestation of human frailty not proto-vampiric insight. A Tzimisce must be able to shape her madness rather than be shaped by it. Even expedience rarely excuses a hasty Embrace. Tzimisce often hang back during wartime Creation Rites, allowing their Brujah and Pander comrades-in-arms to sully themselves with the animation of cannon fodder. A Fiend in need of muscle would much rather construct a dozen ghouls than transmit precious Tzimisce vitae to an unworthy being. Tzimisce sires retain a good deal of influence in their childer's unlives - much more than most Sabbat vampires do. Though not nearly so controlling as Camarilla sires, Tzimisce maintain relations with their progeny, even those in different packs. Though Tzimisce are never held accountable for the actions of their childer, a Tzimisce who sires a flawed childe often loses respect in the eyes of her clanmates.
Clan Hierarchy
At first glance the Tzimisce seems a fractious, individualistic clan, mirroring the anarchic sect its members founded. This perception is entirely inaccurate. Despite its lack of formal structure, the clan is very tightly bound. Respect for sect and heritage pervades the Tzimisce, and the vagaries of Vicissitude virtually dictate a fair degree of individual self-expression within the communal structure. Then, too, many members are bound by Vinculums established during clan fetes. What little hierarchy exists among Sabbat Tzimisce is based solely on power. Tzimisce who have awakened their zulo shape (i.e.:, have achieved the fourth level of Vicissitude), who have at least one level of Thaumaturgy, and who have demostrated wisdom and loyalty to the sect and clan are known among the clan as zhupans. Zhupans are respected for their knowledge and power, and may "suggest" courses of action to lesser Tzimisce. The lesser Tzimisce are not required to heed a "suggestion", but ignoring a zhupan is considered extremely rude and will almost inevitably alienate the zhupan so snubbed. The head of the Tzimisce clan as a whole is called a Voivode. Though this title carries no official weight in the Sabbat, in practice the Voivode is accorded roughly the same amount of status that a cardinal is given. Voivode is more of a religious office than a secular one. It is the Voivode who decrees the clan's Auctoris and Ignoblis Ritae and who supervises the clan's sacred nights. The Voivode is always formidably proficient in both Vicissitude and Thaumaturgy, extraordinarily self-aware (i.e.:, has nearly mastered her Path of Enlightenment), and extremely wise. The only symbol of office is a cape fleshcrafted from the skins of at least three Tremere vampires slain in personal combat. Battles for the position almost never occur; when they do, the contestants take zulo form and engage in a physical and magical Monomacy to death or submission.
The Old Clan
The majority of Tzimisce elders met Final Death when the clan joined the Sabbat but a fair number escaped their vindictive progeny. Securing their demesnes against the ravages of the Sabbat, these vampires continues to exist much as they had for centuries, albeit more warily. Though some refer to these Tzimisce as the "Old Clan," that is a misnomer. These hoary vampires have little use for sect, clan, or other ties. They remember well the nights of old, when each vampire was a law unto itself, and any other vampire was a potential enemy. (Note that Old Clan Tzimisce do not call themselves "antitribu", as do the surviving non-Sabbat Lasombra.) Accordingly, Old Clan Tzimisce society is structured around individual broods comprising a sire and one or more Blood Bound childer. Childer, for Old Clan Tzimisce, fill the roles of lovers, family, friends, bodyguards and servants. Tzimisce mastery over the Blood Bond allows the sire to attune the emotions of his childer to a desired pitch. Thus, a vampire lover may be Blood Bound to feel all-consuming desire for the sire, a guard may be Blood Bound for loyalty, and a mate may be "programmed"; for love. The fact that these emotions are artificial and one-sided rarely bothers the sire. Old Clan Tzimisce rarely congregate. Other Tzimisce are, if anything, even less trustworthy than other vampires. Indeed, many Old Clan Tzimisce spend more time brooding over some millennia-old, centuries-forgotten slight by one of their "peers" than they do worrying about the very real threat that the Sabbat poses. This is not to say that Old Clan Tzimisce have forgotten their traitorous progeny. On the contrary, many Old Clan Tzimisce have gone so far as to disown younger Tzimisce entirely.These Tzimisce, the Old Clan claims, are not vampires at all, but fleshly hosts for otherworldly parasites called "Souleaters". This distinction seems to be based on the possession of Vicissitude, although some ancient non-Sabbat Tzimisce have verifiably possessed Vicissitude for millennia. Some Sabbat whisper that a few Old Clan childer have been rendered immune to the Vinculum by their elders and sent into the world with the purpose of infiltrating the Sabbat and bringing it down. The clan publicly scoffs at these rumors, but some high-ranking Sabbat have expressed private unease about such a prospect.
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