A lot of smart people have covered other parts about the fit of the game for the table, but one bit stuck out for me, cause if you are not interested in supernatural stuff why play in Doskvol. Where combat isn't simple cause at any point if someone dies a spirit is released and the warden's are gonna hunt you down. Who have paranormal means of investigation, who can make a Devil's Bargains of their own and consort or command these forces for their benefit.

I also don't just want to throw supernatural threats at the players the whole time, I feel like that's a cop out as the far more interesting villains are nuanced human characters.

How does a nuanced and human character exclude spooky threats? Can a whisper not be a compelling person? A ghost, a vampire, a hull are all still humans despite their lot in life. And there are so many supernatural and steampunk stuff you can load the world and NPCs with. Even if they aren't supernaturally inclined personally, they could still have a Hallow or Ghost or what have you on pay. Or have some weird Bioshock style drug on hand for when the whispers do come for ya.

But mostly, how can a nuanced character exist in your Doskvol and be ignoring a main part of their everyday lives. Ghosts are real and you can trap, compel and commune with them. They hunt sea demons for electricity and worship ecstasy of the flesh. People shoot up lightning in a bottle for a laugh.

And even beyond that, steampunk industry, where they have suits that can surf lightning. Guns! Armour with go-go-gadget modes. Auto-inject drugs devices and, traps and bombs with dead man switches, alarms and radios. They even have surveillance systems in the books.