Need I even discuss with this list the degree of anticipation with which I waited for Clanbook Tzimisce Revised to arrive? Need I mention the trepidation with which I awaited some information on who would be writing it--and, when I learned that one of the authors was Lucien Soulban, how I prostrated myself to the floor and sacrificed small furry animals in thanks? Need I divulge the hair-pulling and shrieking that emanated from the vicinity of my home in Pennsylvania when this book came out and I had to wait a whole two weeks for it because none of my local suppliers had ordered sufficient supplies of it?
But I have it now.
When I finished reading CB AssamiteREV, I was filled with a certain melting warmth of being and required a cigarette. CB TzimisceREV isn't quite that good...but it's close.
CREDITS
Written by: Lucien Soulban and James Stewart
Additional material by: Jess Heinig
Developed by: Justin Achilli
Editor: John Chambers
Art Director: Richard Thomas
Layout & Typesetting: Becky Jollensten
Interior Art: Guy Davis, Leif Jones, Vince Locke, Matt Mitchell, and Christopher Shy
Front Cover Art: John Van Fleet
Front & Back Cover Design: Becky Jollensten
Intern: Matthew O'Connor
BREAKDOWN
Clanbook Tzimisce Revised consists of an Introduction (the ubiquitous introductory fiction) and three chapters.
Introduction: Winter Fiend I admit to having usually one of two reactions to most White Wolf beginning fiction--complete indifference or that response that I'm sure all of you are familiar with, the one that causes you to look up, blink rapidly several times, and immediately move on to the body of the book, since it couldn't possibly be worse than what you've just read. TzimisceREV (as CB Baali before it) has forced me to add a third reaction--appreciation for the readability of the style, an enjoyment of the clear evidence of historical research, tempered by the desire for an immediate ritual cleansing once I'd finished. Take that as you will.
Chapter One: A Rabble of Fiends is the revised history section of this evil little volume and begins with a Lexicon--which actually does contain a number of interesting Tzimisce- specific terms, which I will discuss at greater length below. The section itself is arranged in a series of articles by various Tzimisce scholars, covering the Clan from Enoch to the modern nights. The tone of the various scholars tends to vary widely, keeping interest engaged in an extremely readable manner. Scattered throughout this section are useful storytelling hooks in both the "articles" themselves, the in-character flavor text, and a number of side panels. There is a very small sidebar on the "origins" of Koldunic Sorcery and some expansion on the whole relationship (such as it is) between the koldun and the concept of Metamorphosism. The last few pages of this section are devoted to a selection of Tzimisce Methuselahs, including the somewhat reworked Kartarirya (from the original Clanbook), and an African Tzimisce whose sidebar is one of the more screamworthy items in this book. This entire section shows an impressive degree of research, both in terms of history and in Slavic folklore and mythology.
Chapter Two: Ego and Evolution is written in the form of a research report compiled by a young(er) Tzimisce on behalf of a recently awakened Tzimisce Methuselah, and consists of a more detailed examination of the Clan's modern sensibilities and its place within the Sabbat. This section is particularly effective at displaying the deep Tzimisce generational divide and the rather severe fall from "grace" that the Clan has suffered since the nights when it ruled the East, as well as its continuing downward spiral. The Factions segment introduces several new and reworks several old internal divisions within the Clan to very good effect. Metamorphosism gets a more thorough examination than it's really seen before, as do the other Paths of Enlightenment. Revenants continue to suffer miserably, though they do get a sort of backhanded show of respect at the bottom of page 57, as well as a couple new derangements that are actually pretty apt, and a new Revenant house. The last part of this chapter is given to the now-traditional new discipline powers, including a new Path of Koldunic Sorcery (the Path of Sorrow) and several "discipline rotes" though no new Koldunic rituals. New merits, flaws, derangements, and a sidebar on Slavic names rounds out the chapter.
Chapter Three: Among Fiends begins with a quote about the declining state of Clan Tzimisce that brought an evil smile to my face. As always, this is the section where mileage may vary considerably, as it contains the Templates, a sample pack, and a selection of Fiends of note. In the Templates section, I found The Lord of the Ghetto and Koldun Nuevo to be particularly interesting; there's a double-take worthy line hidden in Child of the Dracon. As to the Tzimisce of note...all I have to say is, I wouldn't be Zachary Sikorsky for all the blood in Mexico City.
MY NOT SO HUMBLE OPINIONS:
THE GOOD: I am still basking in the glow of high readability and very good research. This book represents a quantum improvement in the depiction of Clan Tzimisce, especially the finely written decline and fall--the mood, the tone, the whole sensibility of a Clan that once knew greatness and has gone down hard is right there. Similarly, I appreciate the sensation I got of the emergence of modern koldun being roughly equivalent to the emergence of modern witches, the idea of the reclamation of a lost legacy as opposed to springing spontaneously into existence having very compelling and useful hooks attached to it. The whole concept of azhi dahaka, the avatar(s) of change, and the nature of Metamorphosism has already provoked at least one lengthy Tzimisce philosophical discussion among my sisters. You can actually say that a good bit of this book is more than a little bit thought-provoking, as opposed to simply squick-worthy, which was an unfortunate tendency in the first Clanbook. Blessedly, there was not a single scrap, drip, or drop of J. Cobb art defacing this book; the frontispiece illustration for Chapter One is particularly good (though my version of Triglav has six arms) and, for some reason, the illustration on page 50 stuck with me, as well. And, well, I just love the bogatyri to death. I'm glad someone else has read more Russian folktales than Prince Andrei and the Firebird.
THE BAD: ...Unfortunately, the Tzimisce squick-factor is still far too high. The entire Tzimisce aesthetic should not revolve around the beauty of naked, pulsating organs, thanks much. Similarly, Vicissitude modifications do not have to be hideous in order to also be practical or even functional. On Koldunic Sorcery: as I said, Koldunic Sorcery gets a bit of background expansion here, which was sorely needed after the complete failure of Blood Magic to depict it as anything other than another overpowered pseudo- magical discipline. Unfortunately, the background added here does not in any way rectify that situation. Koldunic Sorcery as the gift of "the demon Kupala" relies far too heavily on the metaplot elements of the Transylvania Chronicles--in essence, it makes the background of Koldunic Sorcery completely and utterly useless to anyone who has absolutely no interest in ever running TC or using any of its story elements. Similarly, Koldunic Sorcery needs new rituals. Save the Paths for Thaumaturgy.
THE UGLY: The Planting of the Seed sidebar on page 12. Well. I suppose if Vicissitude can't be just a discipline, the extrusions of the Antediluvian into each of his descendants is probably the least annoying and most mentally disturbing of all the possible options. Bravo--this is GOOD and UGLY.
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