In Curse Of Strahd, Strahd kidnapped Ireena Kolyana after Pack "violated" his agreement with them. As a reincarnation of Tatyana, Strahd was obsessed with Ireena, and Escher resented the woman for his newfound lack of attention. He treated her as poorly when possible, making her stay at the castle an even greater nightmare.
An orphaned boy in the Village of Barovia, Escher grew up with nothing but his wits and his beauty. He lived by charming and deceiving those who had more than he did, and learned early that people would give freely to those they desired. Escher wanted more than scraps, however; he wanted power, and a life where he was the one being served.
Count Strahd von Zarovich took notice of him while patrolling his village, and the young Escher did not cower or beg. He met the Vampire lord’s gaze with a knowing smile, offering himself with the same practiced ease he had used his entire life. Strahd accepted him, but not as a fleeting amusement. He brought Escher to Castle Ravenloft, dressing him in fine silks and jewels, and giving him a place among his chosen consorts. Escher embraced the change eagerly, slipping into the role of a noble husband as if he had been born to it. The new Count reveled in the endless feasts and courtroom politicking, and for the first time in his life, he wanted for nothing, except to be Strahd’s only love.
As years turned to centuries, Escher’s anxiety about his desirability grew alongside his boredom. Strahd, in a rare act of empathy, gave Escher his own blood, allowing him to transform into a Bat, Wolf, or cloud of mist similar to that of a true vampire. At first, he delighted in the freedom, soaring above the castle’s towers and hunting in the Svalich Woods, but the thrill faded over time. He watched as new lovers came and went, each one stealing a piece of Strahd’s attention, and resentment settled in his bones, especially to the reincarnations of Tatyana Federovna.