Thread by @LoreByNightVTM

I've seen criticisms like this a lot & it just goes to show how stupid 'fans' of #VampireTheMasuqerade are not knowing the grander themes of the game & the Lasombra. Allow me to waffle about why the relationship is perfect for showing its themes in this thread. [SPOILERS]

Ok, so we all know about the main crux of VtM. Not only do we have all the normal scary things to worry about, but as a Kindred, we have to worry about the personal crisis of coming to terms of being a vampire and the fight that we have with our degrading humanity.

This is a REALLY important factor for all games of VtM, regardless of edition or sect that you are playing, even more so for VtM V5, the version this visual novel is basing its narrative and lore of.

Julia being of Clan Lasombra addresses this point in many important ways.

"Do I still look the same even if I can't see my own reflection? I can control the darkness and see ghosts, but I can't operate technology. Why is this? Even the other Kindred can with the ol' Bluss of Life trick. I can't. It is like I am some sort of alien, a monster."

Julia is a Neonate Lasombra in this game, unlike the many players who play Lasombra who avoid all of these questions at character creation and just play the Lasombra who has been embraced for X no of years ago & are Edgy Overlords. That's cool, but Edgy Overlord lacks nuance.

Julia has refinement. She is smart, funny and is someone I can see myself hanging out with. She reminds me of one of my closest friends actually, that is how likeable she is.

She is a PERSON. People embrace people and people have emotions and interests.

She was not embraced into the Sabbat that would smash away her humanity within hours of her embrace. She has little interest in mastering Obtenebration/Oblivion. She is all alone trying to get by, trying to fit in somehow, trying to make sense of it all.

Enter Dakota, Julia's girlfriend who loves Julia and tries to make her feel better about the horrible task her superiors have forced her to do. Depending on your choices, Julia can either embrace her Camarilla responsibilities or just run away with Dakota to an Anarch domain.

Again, these two endings demonstrate superb understanding in the lore and themes of VtM, V5 and the dominance all members of Clan Lasombra strive for.

In the good ending, she solves the case and becomes the Lasombra Primogen of NYC, abandoning Dakota and her humanity. She is not inherently monstrous (yet) but she gives in to her primitive Lasombra lust for power and begins to emulate humanity, rather than feel it.

The Camarilla are filled with a bunch of elderly vampires who haven't truly felt human for hundreds of years. That can't possibly know what it feels l like. It's like trying to get your grandma to understand why TikTok is a thing. There is a large gulf between societies.

This is naturally much worse because of the MUCH larger age gap, and how the Camarilla are pulling back further and further from the kine, making it even harder for them to blend in with the cattle.

In the bad ending, she runs away with Dakota to what I can presume is an Anarch domain with Dakota, where the Kindred there hold their humanity much closer to their chest. Julia is unsure whether she truly loves Dakota, but at least she feels some emotion here.

This also appeals to the Lasombra nature of not bowing dowing to anyone. The Lasombra do not use the term clan to define themselves. It creates a sense of unity that a social club may bring, implying that they were equal to the others. They are not equal. They are the Lasombra.

Shadows of New York City is not a lesbian vampire story for lesbians. To think that it is means you are not mature enough to fully handle VtM in all it's dark and gritty glory and many nuances that make it such a beautifully macabre experience you stupid pee brains.

To conclude, Shadows of New York and Coteries of NYC before it are by far the best representations of #VtM in any media, exploring all the main themes of the TTRPG with superb mastery and I will fight anyone who says different.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.