One of the Tzimisce's most notorious traits is its members' penchant for pain. While other vampires often commit cruel acts out of anger, hate or simple sadistic pleasure, the Tzimisce obsession with pain seems reflexive--a need rather than a desire.
Accordingly, Tzimisce frequently study and practice the craft of torture, and many among the clan act as fulltime torturers for their sect. In this role they are greatly feared--to the extent that Tzimisce vampires have been given the epithet "Fiends" by their horrified Camarilla brethren.
Tzimisce differ from, say Toreador antitribu in their approach to torture. They see themselves more as scientists than artists; their techniques, while amusing in and of themselves, are means to a greater end. Only by meticulously studying pain--physical, mental and emotional--can one discover the limits of that pain and the means to overcome the Antediluvian's worst on the eve of Gehenna. Thus, most Tzimisce torture sessions are in fact experiments, complete with hypotheses, specific conditions and purposes--however warped and illogical those purposes may seem to mortal or other vampires.
A lesser-known aspect of the Tzimisce is its members' masochistic bent. Tzimisce routinely subject themselves to abuses as great, if not greater, than those they inflict on their victims. Only through fully understanding the capabilities and limitations of the vampiric form will they be able to supersede it - and some experiments are best performed firsthand. Tzimisce have been known to spends weeks or even months in the grip of various infernal devices of their own making.

Torture Techniques
It is an unpleasant fact that a large part of Tzimisce culture revolves around ways and means of hurting other beings.
Psychological preparation is vital for any torture session. Tzimisce disciplines are admirably suited to this. Vicissitude allows the torturer to assume an appropriate shape: perhaps an impossibly beautiful member of the gender to which the victim is attracted, to heighten the shame; or an impossibly hideous one, to heighten the revulsion; or even the form of the victim's worst enemy. Auspex allows the Tzimisce to discover the victim's phobias and dirty little secrets, and to discern which areas of the victim's body are particularly sensitive.
Tzimisce Disciplines also vastly aid the actual session. Vicissitude allows the torturer to become his own tool kit, forming his extremities (or the victim's) into a variety of intrusive implements perfectly shaped to fit the victim (or not quite fit, as the case may be...). Then, too, the sight of one's bones heaving of their own accord through one's skin is always disconcerting--and it becomes difficult to find release in a scream when one's tongue has been grafted to the roof of one's mouth...Animalism allows a variety of noxious creatures (particularly those inspiring panic in the victim) to be summoned and precisely directed.
Of course, physical torture has its limits, particularly against vampires. Most elders worthy of the name have experienced massive bodily trauma at least once during unlife. Moreover, vampires scoff at threats that would break many mortals, such as amputation or castrationo. And how does one threaten a Nosferatu with disfigurement? Even mortals often displaying surprising resilience.
Unfortunately for such victims, Tzimisce are equally skilled at emotional torture. Centuries of unlife give Tzimisce torturers an uncanny degree of psychological insight. Furthermore, Tzimisce control over the Blood Bond provides torturers with a variety of fiendish new ways to hurt their victims. Two vampires may be forcibly Blood Bonded and one painstakingly disfigured before the other's eyes. Alternatively, the Tzimisce may break one victim's Bond while leaving the other still Bound; the un-Bound victim may be then re-Bound to the torturer and induced to inflict physical or emotional pain on the other victim. Tzimisce may also, though rituals, cause already Bound beings to feel emotions other than love. A victim capable of bearing the most atrocious wounds without flinching may be utterly broken by a contemptuous slap from the hand of her now-hostile childe.
Certain Tzimisce actually eschew supernatural means of torture, considering such practices effete. The Sabbat priest Stefan Kostas still speaks with great pride of how he extracted vital military information from a Gangrel Archon, using nothing but a 50 cent disposable razor, three needles, a pack of Holiday Inn matches, a rubber tube and a gallon of Clorox.