First time DM, question about the finale...
So I haven't even run Session zero yet, that's supposed to happen later today, but my DM style is overpreparing. I did my Tarokka reading ahead of Session zero and Strahd's location is listed as the North Tower Peak. That's right above the heart of sorrow, and I kinda doubt they'll pass it without destroying it while they're on their way to meet with Strahd. I'm wondering how you guys would play that.
Would Strahd be waiting in the room above and come down to attack the party as they try to destroy his heart? Or should I have him be just arriving afterwards--angry that he got there too late--when they get to the room above the heart? Or maybe if they do as I expect and attack the heart we can pretend Rahadin or some other servant was there with him and he sent them down the stairs to defend the heart... technically he will be alone once they go up the stairs and encounter him for the first time in accordance with RAW, but for flavor he wasn't alone before that. And in the very small chance that they don't attack the heart because they want to focus on Strahd first, then Rahadin or another servant was never there with him.
What would you all suggest?