LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 17: Andrew and Dice and Clay
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Date: September 30, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City continues Natalie and Jackie’s hilarious and in-depth breakdown of Sarah J. Maas's "House of Sky and Breath" (HOSAB), focusing on the action-packed chapters surrounding the Under King, the reveal of Danika's paternity, and a major combat scene featuring Bryce and Hunt. The hosts weave plot analysis, character insights, shipping debates, and plenty of off-the-wall humor as they dissect what is essentially the novel’s beefiest action-lore intersection yet (plus more Crescent City thirst, of course).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cosplay Antics & Character Personas

Timestamps: 01:52–07:12

• Natalie and Jackie playfully embody the Harpy and Under King, riffing about lipstick stains and bringing (fake) knives to the studio.
• Discussion of millennial hair trauma, bangs-as-Botox, and the existential crisis that comes with hairstyle choices.
  • "I'm not like the other girls. I've got bang. And I'm not talking about that kind of bang." — Natalie (04:22)
• Lighthearted debate about which Crescent City crew members are truly ‘hot’ vs. just powerful, and what the Triari would rate on Earth/ Midgard attractiveness scales.

2. Food, Carbs, and Gwyneth Paltrow Headcanons

Timestamps: 06:20–07:10

• Imagining the Under King as Gwyneth Paltrow, who naturally detests fast food except for “the occasional carb.”
  • "Who needs to hear it out there? You can eat carbs. It's fine." — Jackie (07:00)
• “Triari = hot PR professionals” and crossing that over into Crescent City’s PR-fueled meritocracy.

3. Sexuality & Skeleton Logistics

Timestamps: 08:13–10:07

• The famous “would you have sex with a skeleton?” debate leads to playful theorizing on Crescent City’s ghoulish underworld, skeleton bone-strap-ons, and the Under King's dating preferences.
  • "Would you even have sex with... would it be a bone? He’d just take another bone!” — Jackie (08:33)

4. Plot Recap: Bryce & Hunt Versus the Under King

Timestamps: 10:07–11:16, 27:20–31:06

• Recaps the main immediate threat: Bryce and Hunt about to be eaten (or “have their energy slurped”) by the Under King after asking too many nosy questions.
• Bryce’s and Hunt’s trust and teamwork highlighted in their reaction to danger; hosts call out the scene’s Scooby Doo/slapstick energy.
  • "This feels more like a training montage than anything to me. It’s like a first level boss." — Jackie (34:59)

5. Rune, Ithan, and Cormac Navigate a Dread Wolf–Filled City

Timestamps: 11:17–17:06, 18:20–23:12

• The other POV thread follows Rune, Cormac, and Ithan as they attempt to secretly deliver a message from Agent Day.
• The group observes the Dread Wolves’ uniforms displaying kill tallies — “gold stars” for murder.
  • "It’s funny to think about, like, every time you kill somebody, you get one gold star.” — Natalie (15:21)
• Cormac’s warning about complacency under military occupation echoes real-world themes.

6. Major Lore Bomb: Danika’s Father Revealed

Timestamps: 22:39–25:01

• Mordoc, the terrifying Dread Wolf, is revealed as Danika’s father.
  • "Because he’s Danika’s father." — Natalie (22:56)
  • "What, what, what, what, what?! And you’re just dropping this" — Jackie (23:12)
• Discussion pivots to Sabine’s possible values and motivations, and how Danika emerged as a decent person despite tough parentage.

7. Bryce & Hunt’s Boss Battle: The Shepherd

Timestamps: 27:20–38:27

• The “Shepherd” is introduced — a giant demonic dog summoned to force souls through the gate.
• The dog splits into three—cue hosts’ “Andrew, Dice and Clay” quips.
  • "And, what is certainly an ode to the mythological dog Cerberus, the dog splits into three. I assume Andrew, Dice, and Clay." — Jackie (36:46)
• Scenes are referenced as more thematic/atmospheric than genuinely threatening, with the hosts reveling in the book's humor.

8. Rune's Crew Nearly Exposed—More Teleportation Tension

Timestamps: 41:40–47:09

• Rune, Cormac, and Ithan nearly get sniffed out by Mordoc, whose bloodhound abilities heighten the danger.
  • "Her bloodhound skills come from her father, which is not good news for three people trying to hide from him in this moment." — Jackie (43:38)
• Stealth and teamwork save the day — just barely.

9. Bar Bonding & Unlikely Alliances

Timestamps: 47:52–56:45

• Rune and Ethan decompress (and set up an alibi) over a mid-day whiskey at a pub, discussing friendship, grief, and potential brotherhood.
  • "I'm getting a very big brother vibe from Ruhn in this moment." — Jackie (55:15)
• Arrival of the Hind and Harpy (frenemies or foes?) at the bar — cliffhanger!
  • "Mind if I join you?" Her voice was lovely, fair and cool. Yet no light shone in her amber eyes." — Natalie (56:15)

10. Bryce & Hunt: Lightning, Lore, & Love

Timestamps: 63:10–72:27

• As the Reapers try to take Bryce’s first light, she and Hunt are pushed to their limits.
• Hunt, in a moment of pure desperation/love, unleashes a massive lightning attack through Bryce’s star sword, echoing the sculpture in the ballet house lobby — a pivotal 'power duo' moment.
  • “Bryce, who'd gotten to her feet anyway and planned to go down swinging. Bryce, his mate.” — Jackie (70:05)
  • "He lightning her sword. Oh, we didn't even know they could do it.” — Jackie (71:54)
• Ends with speculation: have their powers just combined… or is this risky AF?

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Loyalty:
  • “You shouldn’t need to have loyalty if you’re being a decent person, then you shouldn’t have to request loyalty. You just have it naturally.” — Jackie (19:27)
• On Dread Wolves:
  • “The wolf shifters were exactly as Ruhn had expected. Cold eyed and harsh faced. Above their pristine gray uniforms, a black and white patch of a wolf's skull and crossbones…The seven golden stars of the Asteri shone on a red patch above their hearts.” — Natalie (14:15, reading from the novel)
• On Cerberus/Shepherd:
  • "What is certainly an ode to the mythological dog Cerberus. The dog splits into three. I assume Andrew, Dice and Clay." — Jackie (36:53)
• On Trauma & Teamwork:
  • “For Hunt, there was only Bryce, bleeding and hurt…Bryce, his mate.” — Jackie (70:05, reading)
• On SJM’s Style:
  • “She’s great with the mic drops. She’s great with the small bosses. But, yeah, this definitely seems like a more...I don’t want to say silly situation, but it is.” — Natalie (35:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Cosplay banter/Harpy & Under King | 01:52–07:12 | | Under King as Gwyneth Paltrow | 06:41–07:10 | | Skeleton sex & bone jokes | 08:13–10:07 | | Plot recap: Bryce, Hunt & Under King | 10:07–11:16, 27:20–31:06 | | Dread Wolf city patrol & gold stars | 14:15–18:20 | | Mordoc revealed as Danika's father | 22:39–25:01 | | Shepherd fight & Cerberus jokes | 27:20–38:27 | | Rune/Ethan bonding in the pub | 47:52–56:45 | | Hind & Harpy's surprise bar arrival | 56:05–63:01 | | Climax: Lightning + Star Sword combo | 70:05–71:54 |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the core LPN Deep Dives flavor: irreverent, explicit, and joyfully nerdy — blending sharp Crescent City analysis with plenty of asides, meta commentary, cosplay confessions, and unfiltered friendship energy. Natalie and Jackie’s loyal listeners will find plenty of inside jokes, as well as robust (albeit curses-filled) SJM worldbuilding analysis.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

You’ll come out of this recap knowing:

• Key plot and lore turns from these HOSAB chapters (Danika’s parentage, Shepherd battle, the boys’ city danger, Hind/Harpy cliffhanger).
• Natalie & Jackie’s unique character takes, including playful debates on attractiveness, loyalty, trauma, and the complexities of found family.
• The crucial, potentially game-changing act of Hunt channeling his powers through Bryce’s sword, setting the stage for major consequences in coming chapters.
• Classic LPN Deep Dives banter — sometimes dirty, always on point, and never missing a moment to riff on the Crescent City universe.

Next Assignment

Read up to Chapter 35 for next week!

[End of summary.]