If you scrolled down to this point, go back to the top and read everything above here. There's not much and it's all important. There are things of which you simply must be aware before you can submit a concept for this game.
If you have already read all of that, thank you, please proceed. :)
First things first
Since this is a story focused game, this is not the place to put forth mindless combat monsters, cardboard stereotypes, or emotionless loners. You are not the last of anything, nor are you the specialest of special snowflakes. All character concepts need to make sense with respect to the setting.
I do have higher standards for certain breeds/tribes/gifts/fetishes/etc. If you're asking for something that should be fairly rare, don't be surprised or get defensive if I ask you to justify it. We can't all have Pure Breed 5, grand klaives, and custom gifts -- especially not as Cliath.
RTJ -- First Contact
In your first RTJ message, I do not want a character sheet, a list of all your cool toys, or questions about which overpowered gifts and rites I'll allow. What I really want is the following:
Name
Breed/Tribe/Auspice
Brief background
If you're not local, how did you come to find yourself in Southwestern Russia/the former Soviet Union?
If that information piques my interest, I'll ask you for a character sheet and a more detailed background. I have been known to give bonuses based on really good backgrounds in this step, so pull out all the stops.
Falling Caerns and The Shadow Curtain
Caerns falling is a sad fact of life for the Garou, but since the fall of communism, caerns located on formerly-Soviet lands seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate. More disturbing is the fact that there rarely seems to be any attack, no Spirals or Banes waiting to turn a Caern into a Hive, no Garou limping into neighboring septs looking for help or shelter. The Caerns simply... vanish.
Since the early 90s, it has become increasingly difficult for Garou or other Fera to cross the borders which once marked the divide between the rest of the world and the USSR. The phenomenon doesn't seem to follow the borders as they're drawn in the modern day, but the divide is clearly meant to isolate the Motherland. No one knows where this Shadow Curtain comes from or how it works; no one is even sure when it began affecting the Garou. All that is known for sure is that it seems to be getting stronger, and that stronger Garou are affected more dramatically. Elders have not been able to cross the border in some years; lower-ranking Garou with particularly high Rage or Gnosis have significant trouble; even the youngest and weakest of Theurges seem stymied; moon bridges simply will not open if their path would take them across the border.
Keep this in mind when coming up with your character concepts. If your character is not native to Russia, you need to explain why and how they came to be in the Motherland. Communication with the rest of the Nation -- mundane or spiritual -- is spotty at best, so mentors and Kinfolk on the other side of the border aren't in a position to help you very much.
No one has been able to determine the precise location of the border. If you have a question about which side of the border a given region is on, feel free to ask me. Keep in mind that the Motherland is
really freaking huge and has comprised several empires over the ages, so you might be surprised at what's part of it despite not technically being "Russia".
Allowed and Encouraged Character Types
- Garou (Black Furies, Bone Gnawers, Get of Fenris, Glass Walkers, Shadow Lords, Silver Fangs, Silent Strider, Wendigo)*
*Until the numbers balance a little better, I'm giving preference to Ragabash and Philodox concepts.
Allowed, but not particularly Encouraged
The Garou Kin do have an important role to play in the world and their lives are interesting and challenging in their own right. That being said, no kinfolk can go everywhere the Garou can. Nor can they stand toe to toe against the same foes as their Garou relatives. This is not a game which is very focused on Caern home life, or the finding/taking of mates, building of families. Kin with concepts in those areas are unlikely to be admitted.
Be prepared to wow me if you want to ask for this
- Children of Gaia (The Children were exiled from Russia in the 1950s and have only slowly started to return)
- Fianna, Uktena (Due to geography, there's simply not much of a population present; unlike the Black Furies, these tribes have simply not bothered to send representatives)
- Stargazers (Stargazers are surprisingly common in the eastern parts of Russia, but don't have as much representation in the western areas)
- Red Talons (I hold lupus characters to very high standards. If you want to play a Talon, be prepared to show me that you understand the unique challenges of playing a lupus.)
- Corax
- Bastet (most tribes will need a damn good reason for being in the area)
- Gurahl
If you would like to play something interesting, supernatural, and Homid that you've not likely been able to try out before, none of what you've seen listed here has really grabbed your attention, and you're prepared to work with me more than you would need to otherwise, let me know. :)
Will not be considered for any reason
- Mundane Kinfolk
- Skinchangers
- Vampires/Ghouls
- Changelings
- Hunters
- Black Spiral Dancers (seeking Redemption or otherwise)
- Ajaba
- Ananasi
- Mokole
- Nagah
- Ratkin
- Rokea
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Wed 06 Nov 2019.
