[CLOSED] WtA 5th ed: Werewolves in South Florida

Welcome to the end of paradise.
By day, the streets and highways of South Florida are restless, choked with starry-eyed vacationers, snowbirds, old folks, and jaded locals. Ibises and iguanas watch cybertrucks roar by with indifferent eyes. By night, the beaches and kava bars come alive--and the Garou fight the Wyrm, who holds a choking grip on the land.

You are the members of a newly formed Garou pack, working together to protect the few and far-between caerns around the tri-county area of West Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade. Where you come from, who you were before your First Change…it doesn’t matter, the Kinseekers argue. The Wyrm is on the rise. Gaia’s lifespan is waning. The pack must survive, and it needs your commitment and cooperation to beat back the Apocalypse.

What do you do when the Apocalypse has arrived–not in an explosive climax, but in the slow poisonous creep of urban sprawl? How do you save your home as faceless powers drown it in concrete? Will you work together, or will rage and despair tear your pack apart?

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The End of Paradise is a Werewolf: the Apocalypse 5th edition chronicle. This is a storytelling game of environmental and spiritual horror, with the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida as its main setting. The Everglades as well as other major cities (Boca Raton, Miami) will also be points of focus.

The playstyle is intended to be sandbox: players must balance their personal goals with the needs of the pack. In this way, the fate of South Florida rests in the hands of the players.

This game is open to players of all experience levels!

Themes
This chronicle will focus on alienation and gentrification. As the tri-county area develops more and more, its creatures become more and more isolated–by highways, streets, and high-rises. The player will find themselves struggling within a cityscape funded by powers that prioritize profit over people.

In this chronicle, the struggle of the Garou mirrors that of the real-life struggle of political organizers in a hostile and apathetic environment. Building and sustaining community in adversity, political violence, and spiritual connections to the environment are themes I expect to explore with the players.

Mature Themes: Several of the themes I've already described would fall under this label. Werewolf: the Apocalypse is an environmental and spiritual horror game, so explorations of violence, rage, and other mature themes are to be expected and negotiated within the troupe. Due to this as well as the political themes of the chronicle, the game will be set to Private.

Character Options
Any of the playable tribes in the 5th edition are good with me. Please follow the rulebook's guidelines for character creation. I set this game up expecting younger Garou PCs, but I'm also open to older character pitches.

Game Duration and Frequency
Looking for two posts a week. The chronicle is pretty open-ended, so I'm down to play as long as the players want to play.

How to Apply
To apply, please share with me (1) which themes you're interested in exploring this game and (2) your character concept (include tribe and auspice). *edited to remove redundancy*

Thanks so much for reading--I'm excited to tell this story with y'all!

This game is run by an indigiqueer person of trans experience, working to represent the diversity of South Florida in their worldbuilding. The players' diversity of experience would add much to the storytelling of this game.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community--as well as all other minorities and marginalized groups--are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Hello, I’m a pretty experienced WtA player, though it’s been a while since I played V5.

Concerning themes I’d like explored within the game: eco-terrorism/activism, urban survival, spirituality, occultism, forbidden knowledge, historical trauma, cultural opression and adaptability.

The character concept I immediately thought of was a Theurge Ghost Council park ranger. They would be stationed in the High Taylor Birch State Park and dedicate their time to protecting coastal mangroves from pollution and urbanisation, along with relocating displaced marsh spirits to new homes.

Other Notes
This chronicle can be considered a sister game to @DragonDweller62’s Vampire: the Masquerade 20th edition chronicle, Boca Raton by Night. We have both been working on this setting, individually as well as discussing it together. So similar themes appear in our recruitment threads, and our settings overlap, but each game has a distinct focus.

If you are a disabled player interested in joining the game, please let me know if you need any accommodations for a comfortable and inclusive gaming experience.

Photo Descriptions and Credits
Description of Photo 1: An empty street with palm trees and street signs. The signs on the crossroads read "Sunrise Blvd" on the left and "SR A1A, FT L Beach Blvd" on the right. Wind blows from the right side of the image, pushing the heads of the palm trees leftward. The image was taken in bright daylight. Photo by Brad Stell on Unsplash.

Description of Photo 2: Expansive wetland landscape under a clear sky at dusk. According to the photographer, the image was taken from Everglades National Park. Photo by Erne Mtz on Unsplash.

@Jotan, thanks for your application and welcome again! Have you played 5th edition Werewolf?

Exploring historical trauma through the lens of a park ranger would be interesting indeed! It may open up conversations at the intersection of environmentalism, colonialism, and indigenous sovereignty.

Hi! Yes, I’ve played V5 Werewolf once, but it was when it originally came out and lasted just a few months, so I wouldn’t consider myself a veteran. I have played other V5 WoD games more often though!

I’m still not entirely sure on the historical trauma thing, to be honest. I’d love to explore it, but I myself am not a Native American, so I’m afraid I’d roleplay wrong and accidentally be disrespectful or harmful.

I’m an experienced ‘Werewolf’ player, but I haven’t yet had the chance to play in a W5 setting, so I’d love to take part in this campaign.

As for themes, I’d be keen on spiritual scenes, pack-oriented gameplay and, above all, dilemmas along the lines of ‘Is it okay to punch a Nazi?’.

I own all the books that have been published so far, but I’m still open to which character I’d most like to play. Probably one who leans towards Hauglosk – perhaps a RedTalon or a wolf-born ShadowLord?

@Dominic, oh, hell yes. I definitely want to explore those sorts of dilemmas. This is giving me ideas…

A wolf-born would be a very interesting experience to explore, especially within a pack dynamic—and especially since human-born Garou seem to be the majority.

@Jotan, I understand the concern. You wouldn’t necessarily have to roleplay a Native identity to explore these themes. Historically, there has been a tension between the national parks that want to preserve the environment—and thus preventing Native people in the area from the cultural practices of harvesting, controlled burning, etc. that support the growth of the area.

That’s one example. Your character’s work as a park ranger could involve collaborating with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, or perhaps exploring the history of the Tequesta people who once lived in the tri-county area.

It also sounds like you’re interested in occultism! Do you have more thoughts/ideas around that?

Hi, Im new to not only pbp but also WtA. Im hoping to explore themes of; revenge, emotional/impulsive decision making and hopelessness.
I don't have a character concept yet, as I'm still reading through the rulebook, but wanted to post something while I still had the chance.

@Cakestory, thanks for expressing your interest! I'm still reading through the rulebook, too.

I think a good place to start is the official quiz to find your tribe and auspice. You could answer the questions in tune with the werewolf character you'd be interested in playing--or simply answer as yourself.

I just posted this recruitment thread, so I'll probably leave it open till next Wednesday night!

Hello! I'm a beginner to Werewolf, I haven't even so much as created a test character yet.

I would like to explore themes of competing human interests vs. environmental interests, the limitations of violence as a solution to problems, resistance versus oppression, and the necessity and drawback of anger.

I thought I might play a paralegal working for the EPA who was sent to Florida by her office to snoop around and discover if local corporate interests are violating environmental laws, only to discover that she's a werewolf in Florida. I'll talk about things like Tribe and Auspice later once I've cracked my book open.

One of Warren Zevon's lesser-known hits. And his mullet was perfect!

I’ve been reading up on the Talons – and I’m just going to lay out my thoughts here to offer an arrow, if that’s all right.

I’m thinking of playing a Wyrmcomer, that is, a Garou from the Old World; for example as a wolf from the wooded region of Polesia, the character was supposed to be taken to a zoo or enclosure near the game location, but managed to escape.

Wolf-born, Red Talon, for auspice I'm open to all except Ragabash, because I think that a wolf-born Trickster would create too much irritation about human customs in themselves.

@Morphling, thanks for applying! I like the idea of a PC who is finding out at the beginning that they're a werewolf. That would add some interesting pack dynamics, since some are interested in playing older Garou characters.

Please share your concept's tribe and auspice when you are able to, as only those who follow the application guidelines will be considered. I'm leaving applications open till next Wednesday night.

This will be my first time running and playing WtA, too. I'll do my best and have fun--that's all I ask of my players, too!

@valentine_teddies that definitely sounds like an interesting idea. I’d be open to exploring it in that way, especially because it fits with my character concept pretty well. The conflict between preserving nature and respecting indigenous traditions feels very intriguing to play.

And yes, I’d definitely want to play some sort of occult character. In my mind my park ranger had a strong connection to Umbra and the spirits, trying to relocate and care for spiritual life that has been displaced by pollution and other Wyrm activity. It could also be fun to play the process of winning the spirit’s trust.

@Dominic, Wyrmcomer is an interesting label given your character concept's background. (Being forcibly taken from the Old World vs. migrating there of their own volition, as it looks like most Wyrmcomers did.) I have at times wondered about the ethics of zoos in Florida, what with folks like Tiger King and parks like Lion Country Safari. (Like...is that actually good for the animals to be brought from their natural environment, or are we prioritizing our own entertainment and profit? I don't know the answer to this, and it would be interesting to explore this with your character!)

I'm reluctant to use 20th ed. terminology or lore simply because I'm still getting used to 5th ed., and 20th ed. will muddle things up in my head--but I appreciate you sharing it all the same. I wasn't aware of the Wyrmcomers until you brought them up!

I think Red Talon makes sense and would be compelling for your character concept. Let me know if you settle on any auspice, it sounds like that would help narrow down what their personality is like too.

Okay, I've had a chance to look at the book, and I think I'd like the aforementioned concept to have the Philodox auspice and the Black Fury tribe.

Basically, I'd like to either walk the spiritual path (Theurge) or the martial (Ahroun). Perhaps a Galliard.Being a Wolf-born, aspects are a little bit changed, more primal. I hope this is fitting for your intention.

@Morphling, got it! I like that combination--a lawyer suits the path of a Black Fury philodox well. Again, it would be really interesting to see your character concept experience their First Change, learn the ropes of Garou culture, and come into their own.

Application
Themes: Revenge, emotional/impulsive decision making, hopelessnes, loss of home/safety, desperation

Sally is an Ahroun Black fury. Although she hates every second of it. She hates murdering people, she hates the blind rage flowing over her when she sees injustice, she hates how difficult it is to control her wolf form.

I'm hoping to explore how Sally's anger and thirst for revenge clashes with her morals and disdain for bloodshed. As well as her journey through accepting her wolf form, for better or for worse.

Hey Yall! I don't know if yall still need another player, but I'd be happy to join y'all if you do need another. I haven't played WTA, but I have played VTM.

Themes: Dealing with unpleasant but necessary change, loss/major change of self, opening up to new perspectives, depression, whether or not technology os worth it.

I'd like to play a very young garou, someone who underwent the First Change in college, probably something CS related. Probably has been one for under a month or so. And is coming to terms with all this. Especially the voices, and whether or not she is a schizophrenic in a group of schizophrenics or not.

I can give you more, once I crack open the book. If you're already at capacity or comfortable with the current party lmk, and I can withdraw! <3

Edit: Auspice is going to be Ragabash and for tribe, im unsure if this is possible, but I think its be interesting to play a character that doesn't know their tribe uet or hasn't choosen. If I have to choose probably glass walker