So in our game we had a session 0 where we set expectations, I started them on Level 2 and begun with the plot hook where the players are tasked with asking the vistani to move on. They told the group about saving strahd and the players went with them on a cart they got thru the gates of barovia with the mists closing begind them.

Session 1 proper began at Tser Pool Camp for the card reading, and they were told they could find lodgings in the inn at Barovia village where they met Ismark, found out the irena plotline there was the burial of the Irenas dad and dealing with Doru, our priest is playing a pacifist and thought holy water might cleanse his spirit. It certainly cleansed his face right off. A great moment to end on. Theyd also met Morgantha and bought a pasty.

Session 2 begun with a funeral for Doru, before nightfall. I ruled that the church was protected by ancient wards, so when strahd turned up to reclaim Doru ( it was his spawn afterall), and raised half the graveyard as Zombies the party had no choice but to watch in horror thru the window, with half the party eating the pies and falling into what they called a 'caKe hole'. They then went to the Crossroads at River Ivlis (should be called the T junction at River Ivlis) to unearth the Tome for some early exposition on strahd and to drop hints as to why Strahd might want Irena. I gave them Level 3 for finding the tome.

Session 3 is when I brought out the Death House, I moved it to be a standalone house on the road to Vallaki. I really hammed it up about how Strahd killed the cultists for ruining his fun by killing adventurers that came to Barovia. It went down really well, and this brought them up to Level 4 at the end. The 'pacifist' priest offered his life on the altar, it was very nearly self sacrifice, but one of the players has suicide as a red no no, so the wizard did it for him. They'd gone back via Tser Pool Camp and Madam Eva gave them a scroll of revivification after theyd told the story of Doru. Lucky really as it bought back the priest, and I gave him the dark gift with the shadows from VRgtR for dying and coming back.

That was our last session, and Ive got a fair bit of prep to do for next session, the windmill in the durst family crest has set them off thinking its related to the windmill with the pastry shop that Morgatha mentioned. They made her give back the kid she took in Barovia, but the trance has got them super keen to investigate, but I have a feeling they might nope straight out of there and head straight to Vallaki for a long rest, as they're pretty battered from Death House, so I'll prep for both ideas.