The Tzimisce are a fictional clan of vampires, associated with the Sabbat, from White Wolf's Vampire: The Masquerade books and role-playing games. Their symbol is the Ouroboros. White Wolf states, "Tales speak of...disfigurements,..experiments, and tortures refined beyond...comprehension...Tzimisce are very territorial." (VtM3 -- p.86-87) These vampires are obsessed with their birthplaces and graves; they almost always carry their "sacred" dirt.
The Tzimisce are known for a body altering technique, vicissitude. Tzimisce can magicallyally alter their bodies, even melt them. For this clan, body alteration is an art and a philosophy. Most tzimisces are transhumanists, posthumanists and darwinists, they seek perfection. Many elder Tzimisce sooner or later becomes totally lost in this cold and utterly inhuman way of thinking. They often "fleshcraft" themselves into another state of being.
The most common "path of life" for a Tzimisce is called the "path of metamorphosis", which is a replacement for their lost humanity. A Tzimisce with this path only have one goal with her whole existence, to become so powerful that the whole world becomes part of herself - Ahzi Dahaka, when the world becomes a part of yourself, a sort of inverted nirvana.
According to the Tzimisce legend, The Cathedral of Flesh was (and is) the most beautiful creation ever. The Cathedral of Flesh is just what it sounds like, a gigantic living being formed into a cathedral. The legends say that the high priest was part of the cathedral and that he spoke with its walls instead of showing himself in person. The cathedral has moved several times since it was created and is now located under New York.
References
