PC:s as diplomats for Vallaki
Context:
- 4 players, level 7. Not on good relations with Strahd. Ireena has flatout rejected him at the end of the last encounter in Krezk. She screamed at him that she does not love him and never will.
In the most recent game, Izek had kidnapped Ireena, pc:s tried to rescue her but she was taken by Strahd in the end. Strahd knows Ireena has seen visions of Tatyanas past and he does not know how to approach her atm. Players know that Fiona Wachter will take reigns in Vallaki and they are planning to get her to appoint them as diplomats for Ravenloft in order try and rescue Ireena. I will make them discuss taxation, Vallakis role in future etc.
My questions are:
- Would Strahd honour the diplomat-status appointed by the Baroness? I´d imagine he´d be at the least intriqued and amused. He would also send a letter to Wachter in which he tells her to revoke the diplomat-status after one visit.
- Strahd would also expect pc:s to come rescue her. Would he "allow" them to rescue Ireena? If the plan succeeds, I´m planning on him taking a hostage. After that he would make a "homunculus" of that character that the player gets to roleplay without knowing what has happened. The real character would be tied to chains in the swamp of Berez.
Posted Mar 3, 2023, 2:43 AM UTC · edited
Maybe Strahd plays along with their charade until they break character. If civil servants don’t perform their duties, they’re hardly useful to Ravenloft, and Strahd doesn’t seem the type of suffer fools.
I feel if Strahd has already acquired Ireena and anticipates another rescue attempt, he probably wouldn’t want them to take her back, since she’ll clearly love him once she finally comes to her senses. Might be fun to do a switcharoo with Ireena and have a monster waiting where they expect to find her.
Alternatively, Strahd might be trying to manipulate Ireena into thinking he’s not that bad after all. E.g. He could use illusory magic to make the PCs think Ireena is already a vampire. If they act hostile towards her, Strahd could swoop in to save her - see, isn’t Barovia such a dangerous land? Even your friends turn against you. I guess the only safe place is at my side.