DM Notes: Lakeshore 17

It's a very emotional week in Lakeshore! Just about everyone gets feisty in this episode as the weight of the trauma and danger found around every corner bears down on our heroes. Just the way I like it. Let's talk about feelings!

Firstly, we have Nancy reading Susan the riot act for what happened in the battle with Malorax. Though the Naturalist Society has faded in and out of prominence throughout the campaign, and there are several members who never got as much screen time as they could, I'm really happy with how Joan and Nancy, at least, exist to serve as foils to Susan.

Jillian and I had a conversation recently about how in our campaign, which in fairness keeps a very loose relationship with factions as they are written in Urban Shadows, Susan is functionally the leader of one of the most powerful and widely-known groups of Mortality agents. This gives her a ton of responsibility, and as her increasing obsession with hunting demons and Rex has taken her away from the Society, I was excited to explore the ramifications of her position.

Joan is both infatuated with Susan's power and skill and with the idea of fighting for a noble cause. She's kind, reckless, strong and determined, which ends up being a really dangerous mixture for her. Nancy, by contrast, is reluctant to take part in Susan's schemes, but knows that fighting evil is the right thing to do. In some ways, they serve as twisted versions of an angel and demon on Susan's shoulder, and when Susan's plan puts Joan in harm's way, Nancy pops up to give Susan a wake up call.

Kitty also has to deal with Philip and Roman offering her two different courses of action. Philip wants Kitty to be safe, and to him, that means sheltered. Roman thinks Kitty is stifled and needs to do what she wants, even if that means getting into danger. 

Kitty's biggest powers, as we've seen in her dealings with her family and friends (and enemies!) are her empathy and resilience. (She's a total Libra, not unlike Jorie...) So it's no wonder that she seeks to make peace, reconcile everyone, but still make the decision that feels fair for her. I wonder if Susan might do better to notice Kitty's alternative leadership styles and take a page out of her book now and again.

Lastly, Hazel has a bit of a meltdown at the end of this episode. I wasn't sure at first if I wanted to include this scene in our record, just with how much other stuff needed to happen in this episode, but I'm glad I did--I think it rather cemented Hazel as part of the Gang. She really could have just walked away from everything if she felt unsupported after the battle with Malorax.

I sort of wish I'd had more opportunities to include Hazel as a badass before she really gets put through the wringer after fleeing the casino, but I also really like how she acts as a foil to Nox, who is a total badass who doesn't want to let anyone in. Hazel is tough and competent, but she wears her heart on her sleeve, and it's given her a lot more problems than Nox has while also winning her a lot more allies and solutions. 

I really like Nox and Susan's short exchange as they prepare to look for her--these two emotionally closed people trying to understand how they perceive each other. Nox is unable or unwilling to understand why Hazel's honesty and sincerity could earn Susan's support, which Nox could never find himself. And Susan can't see someone who walks a similar path to her, fucking up and making mistakes on their personal quest, and so doesn't understand why Nox sees her as an equal and not a failure.

Honestly, I could write an essay about every scene in this campaign, especially as we approach the endgame and these performances become so layered and emergent. But I'll suffice to say--after a very cathartic episode, all that's left is to hurdle headlong into the final stretch of the adventure. I hope you're as excited as I am.