Curse of Strahd - the Abbot & a wedding

[toucanbuzz]

Possible spoilers ahead if you plan to play Curse of Strahd!

Issue: where to go next

Background: the Abbot invited the players to an "engagement party" for his bride to Strahd, and the party accepted. The Abbot believes a bride is exactly what Strahd needs, and he's worried Strahd's adolescent infatuation with Ireena might complicate the wedding, so he originally proposed the party drown Ireena, who is tucked away in Vallaki (after all, who better to do it than friends?) Since then, he claims he's spoken with the gods and has been told the party must take her to the local shrine pool where all will be well (the party presumes this will somehow involve Ireena being drowned regardless).

Of course, the party hasn't killed Ireena or taken her near the pool, and so the day of the engagement party has come and Strahd didn't show. The Abbot is upset and blames the party for not curing Strahd's lust for this harlot. The last time the Abbot became upset, he unleashed his minions to take food from the Krezk villagers, and the burgomaster hung himself in shame. The party, to buy time, said they'd take care of it.


So, I'm brainstorming where it'll go from here. Per the book, I know what happens if she gets to the shrine. There isn't really a good hook, and I never thought there should be, to get her there, but the Abbot's ability to Commune and get twisted responses from the Dark Powers seemed appropriate.

But I'm thinking: what if the party doesn't follow through? What will the Abbot do (my Abbot is a calm, creepy, religious zealot obsessed with our female player's hands, which would make a fine addition to the bride)? What about Strahd? Would he even care? Strahd doesn't know the Abbot wants Ireena dead, or assuredly he would, and the party isn't on good terms with Strahd now, having told him off over dinner.

I don't really want this to end up in a combat with the Abbot (the party is convinced he's super-dangerous, though they're high enough level now that he's not if I leave him as-is), and my ultimate goal is to fit it with the themes of Ravenloft: despair, horror, and a twisted macabre.

 

[77IM]

The obvious solution, for the Abbot, is to remove Ireena's face and transplant it onto the golem. Then Strahd will love the golem like he should!

According to an amazing 1997 documentary by esteemed faceologist John Woo, a person can live without a face for quite some time. So the Abbot, being a "good" person, will of course keep Ireena alive. I mean, he can heal with a touch, so she can just lay there and get hit points until the front of her head scabs over. I feel like disfiguring the beautiful and innocent Ireena as a consequence of the party's equivocation is perfectly in line with Ravenloftesque horror.

 

[toucanbuzz]

The obvious solution, for the Abbot, is to remove Ireena's face and transplant it onto the golem. Then Strahd will love the golem like he should!

Creepy and great idea! Fits the way I've been running the Abbot for a long while. If the party does nothing, the Abbot will take it as a sign from the gods he needs to take action himself. And [sblock] The party might end up rescuing and bringing her to the shrine pool anyways because they believe it has healing powers.[/sblock]

Now I'll have to think of Strahd's response, assuming it goes this route...(been playing him as a domestic abuser, wearing Ireena down emotionally until she gives in and comes to him willingly; the party as her friends and protectors could have hastened this process by convincing her but they declined, even when offered a way home).