[@Randomguy], That sucks, sorry to see you go. I understand not having time though.

But just a thought, as a story over game mechanics type, if you don't want so much edge, you could always embrace the dull. Instead of an excellently dual-classed slayer of the undead, you could just play a mild mannered, nerdy cleric who's only going after Strahd because of his morals and doesn't necessarily even feel up to the task..? (That is if you did happen to have any wiggle room in your schedule, of course!)

[@CajunRobinHood], Sounds good. I've been reworking the end of my character backstory with this in mind and added taking revenge on the Lich as a bond. 

[@MooiEen] that's cool. Your urban background will contrast nicely with MC's savage ways and love of nature. 

And I had another thought, what if your character had signed on with a whole other adventuring party who for their first quest took on the Lich in my backstory (maybe some charlatan sold one of them a fake talisman said to give immunity to Lich's or maybe they just didn't know what they were getting into), and the others got slaughtered while our two characters were the only ones to survive and escape and have been traveling together ever since???