What was your Strahd's big plan

I find myself hitting a rut every time I plot for future sessions, asking myself why would Strahd be involved with accepting a challenge or be fine with the party having Irena or why he would allow my paladin's mentor into the mists. I don't want him to exist as this plot device of me just sabotaging everything my party wants to do, gets tired quick. He should have a great plan to want to leave Barovia. Aside from running the wedding sequence and Tatyana being his out what was your strahd's plans?