Meanwhile, the PCs have gone to the terrain, been at the site, found that part of the rebels had been killed by the Effigy of Ivan Szimin, met the remaining part of that command group and... the important thing, chose not to attack them nor to try to bring them to justice. Openly among them, they said they did not like the idea of going against the rebellion (along the path, I gave them several views to the Gundarakite side) and that they had accepted only because of the payment.
I had expected this, and had thought that Strahd would harass them with zombies and skeletons when they deviated from the path, but now I had another idea. The Golem seems to be too strong for them (I hope) and so I was thinking of making Ardonk appear perhaps alone to fight alongside them and kill the Golem, in a kind of penitence for having created the beast (he understood it easily). Tired of seeing so many deaths from his side because of his act, he decided to help alone and not sacrifice anyone else.
Let's say the PCs kill it (I want it to happen). They have seen flocks of bats in the sky and wil keep seeing them over the next nights. This is a hint Strahd is aware. So, when they are finally celebrating their victory, he appears from his carriage and congratulates the PCs for either getting Ardonk killed or drawing him out into the open, also explaining that his gifts don't come free. They may not have done what they thought he was expecting from them, but they did exactly what he wanted them to.
Then he will enter into a 1 to 1 fight with him, out of pride, and to put "the miserable rat in its place", probably calling wolves or soemthing to keep the PCs at bay. He will make full use of his magic to justify some of his apparent powers.
Either way, I expect Ardonk to get killed, but the key issues are:
1) would Ardonk act as described, getting himself into danger?
2) would Strahd do this, or rely on his minions?
3) what would be the PCs reaction, and would they get mad at me?
Thanks all
Ail
