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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pukunui" data-source="post: 7059567" data-attributes="member: 54629">In my case, it's because I've not had Strahd attack them first, and they have been careful to avoid attacking him in return. Perhaps by "run away" I just meant "avoid engaging him in combat".Here's a quick run-through:At the beginning of the campaign, the PCs fought some Strahd zombies on the road between the gates and the village. As they were fighting, Strahd rocked up in his carriage and watched. As they cut down the last zombie, he got out, slow-clapping, and approached them. He warned them that "she" belonged to him and then proceeded to charm one of the PCs temporarily (so that they could see how tough his charm DC is).Later, he appeared again while the PCs were attempting to bury Ireena's father in the graveyard. Bat swarms swirled about and wolves attacked and Strahd watched again, calling to Ireena to come to him.Another time was when they were at Yester Hill. They weren't able to stop the ritual that created Wintersplinter, instead focusing on chopping down the Gulthias tree. Strahd noticed them as the tree toppled over but they fled down the hill, and I didn't have him pursue, wrapped up as he was in his memories of the past.The next time, I had him show up in Krezk while they were sleeping at the Krezkovs'. They had just found the sunsword, and I randomly determined which PC was on watch when Strahd knocked on the window. It just happened to be the PC with the sword. He charmed the PC, who fended off his request to be invited in by stating that, since it wasn't his house, it wasn't his place to invite someone in (he's a lawful-minded ex-watchman). Instead, Strahd asked him to come out through the window. He bit the PC and drained him to unconsciousness. The player asked if anything was missing when he came to. I asked if his PC had the sword on him. He said yes, so I said yes, the sword was gone. I'm so mean.Their most recent meeting with Strahd was just last session, as detailed above. Strahd was just arriving at Wachterhaus to formally bestow the burgomaster-ship on Lady Wachter. The PCs were already there, planning on attacking her, when he showed up, so they beat a hasty retreat, nervously chatting with Strahd as they passed on the path outside. (That night, Strahd organized St Andral's Feast.)My group got Ireena to Krezk and let her go with Sergei's spirit in the pool at level 5, too. Yes, the text states that Strahd drops all his other goals and seeks to kill the PCs from that point on, but all he does is send them an invite to the castle ... which makes it clear to me that he still wants to torment them a bit before killing them. So in my game, he's still being cordial to them every time they meet outside the castle, but he's also been reminding them that he's waiting for them to come to the castle. He's been leaving the carriage at all the crossroads, and sending minions to stop them from taking paths that lead away from the castle (whereas they come across nothing on any path leading towards it).</blockquote>

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