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Message: <blockquote data-quote="epithet" data-source="post: 7516045" data-attributes="member: 6796566">Some folks might be hesitant to mess with the Strahd backstory, since it goes all the way back to I6. I thought one change would be very significant in the characterisation of Strahd, though--to provide an actual betrayal for him to remain bitter about. In the revised history, Strahd decides to settle down and sends for his family, making Sergei the captain of his guards. He looks for a bride, and finds Ireena, who is "the fairest of them all." He makes arrangements with her father to marry her, and takes her to Ravenloft to become his princess. Before the wedding, he sends her on a little progress through the land of Barovia so that she can see her subjects and whatnot, guarded by (of course) Sergei. They are predictably naughty and get married at the gazebo in Krezk. Ireena wants to flee, but Sergei has to do honorable thing and confront his brother, insisting that Strahd will be moved to forgiveness by the power of their "true love." Strahd forgives nothing, and in the affair of honor strikes down Sergei. As he is poised to deliver the death blow, many of the guards betray their lord to defend their captain, and Strahd is himself mortally wounded. This is when the Dark Powers see their opportunity, and the offer is made and accepted. The dying Strahd administers the death blow to Sergei and drinks his blood.This puts Strahd in the position of being morally vile but legally justified, truly Lawful Evil. From his point of view, Ireena is actually his property, stolen by his brother in an act of treachery. As an added bonus you can put the ghost of the father that sold Ireena to Strahd somewhere like the dungeon, unforgiven by Ireena for selling her off and unforgiven by Strahd because it didn't work out.</blockquote>

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