Clan Tzimisce
Nicknames: The Dragons, The Fiends
Disciplines: Animalism, Auspex, Vicissitude
Sect: Sabbat
Status: RESTRICTED for new characters

No other clan quite embodies the classical Western image of the Dracula-like vampire like the Tzimisce. From their crumbling ancestral strongholds in old Romania and Moldova to their terrible shapeshifting powers and macabre sense of humor to their armies of misshapen servants, they take each old stereotype about Kindred-kind and amplify it a thousandfold. Some other Kindred suspect that they do this just to be contrary, intentionally cultivating an image of horror and inhumanity to allow them to keep their secrets and frighten outsiders away, but the Tzimisce themselves find this theory amusing. They aren't pandering to anyone's "tastes" when it comes to their activities; they simply are what they are, and aren't interested in hiding it from anyone.

The Tzimisce are one of the founding clans of the Sabbat, and are almost exclusively found in its ranks (although a few of the most old and unfriendly among them stay holed up in the old country and don't involve themselves in politics). As the pre-eminent predators that they are, they believe strongly in the Sabbat tenet that mortals should be theirs to rule, use, and abuse as they see fit, and they use every opportunity to continue their blood experiments and solidify their power over both mortal and Kindred alike in pursuit of that goal.

Clan Advantage and Weakness

Advantages: Most Tzimisce are attended by their faithful retainers, the szlachta, which are Ghouls that have been deformed and reshaped by the Vicissitude Discipline into whatever form is most useful to their owner. All Tzimisce begin with at least one szlachta, which can be in any reasonable form that they could have created with the Vicissitude powers they have. Szlachta are almost always obvious breaches of the Masquerade; most Tzimisce don't care about this much, but even they might keep them under wraps anywhere that their existence might attract the hostile attention of Camarilla Kindredn, Garou, or Hunters.

Disadvantages: The Tzimisce are closely tied to their homelands, so much so that they can barely function outside them; they must rest each day in at least two handsful of their native soil (the soil of wherever it was that they were Embraced) or suffer from increasing exhaustion and hallucinations as the distance from their homeland begins to affect them. Some Tzimisce sew linings of their required earth into their clothing or find a way to carry it with them at all times, while others opt for the traditional coffin-full-of dirt and simply make sure to return home each night.