They are getting very frustrated.@Retreater I think you’re missing a key piece of information in your OP… are the players enjoying it? If they are, it really doesnt matter if they’re running away.
They have only survived because of 1) deus ex machina (someone comes to save them) or 2) the enemies are just playing with them and there's no actual threat.I would award XP for surviving encounters. Sometimes that’s a success all in itself.
Yeah. They're hoping to make it to the Abbey, where they think the Abbot will protect them.Where are the players running too? Nowhere in Barovia is safe. If they retreat to the forest - the forest is full of dangers. Do they flee down the road - they reach Valaki. Do they flee into the moors - well they reach the Windmill.
Constantly they're complaining about how they got "duped" into coming to Barovia and are seeking a way to escape. Which is good - kinda the point, right? But then I'm also wondering how much of that is actually the players (and not just the characters).
Two of the players are legitimately searching for side quests so they can "level up" enough to go on the adventure. Only there's not actually an opportunity for that - since they've run away from the Death House.