The following story is meant to supplement a DM’s preparation to run the Curse of Strahd D&D 5e campaign. It provides a look into the inner life of NPC Ireena Kolyana: from her childhood, through her meetings with Strahd, and ending with the death of her father, the inciting incident of the campaign. Our intention in creating this was to flesh out her character and explore why a young woman might become involved with the dangerous Lord of Barovia while maintaining her fear of him. We have tried to write Strahd in such a way that he can be read as a romantic villain or an opportunistic abuser as preferred by the DM.