Origin

The Eternal Knights of Dracul in service to the Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed are a formidable coven of vampires. This insidious group, led by the infamous Count Dracula himself, is comprised of some of the most feared and notorious figures in vampiric lore. Frequently called "The Knights of Liz Bathory", in honor of their second-in-command, the bloodthirsty Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed, together with the sinister Count Orlock, the terror-inducing vampire of German decent, Nightmare, and a human vessel named Axle Malver who can summon the spirit of Jack the Ripper, they have come to Chicago with a single, chilling purpose: revenge.

The Knights of Liz Bathory: An Unholy Assembly

Count Dracula: The supreme leader of the coven, Dracula’s origins are steeped in legend. Known as Vlad the Impaler in his mortal life, his transformation into Dracula marked the beginning of a reign of terror that has persisted through the centuries. His mastery over the dark arts and unparalleled strength make him a fearsome adversary.

Countess Elizabeth Báthory: Often dubbed the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Báthory is notorious for her alleged crimes of bathing in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. As Dracula’s second-in-command, she brings a lethal combination of beauty, cunning, and a thirst for blood that rivals even Dracula’s.

Count Orlock: Hailing from the silent, eerie town of Wisborg, Orlock’s ghastly appearance and ruthless nature make him a perfect enforcer for Dracula. His ability to instill fear and his insatiable hunger make him a relentless predator.

Nightmare: A vampire shrouded in mystery, Nightmare embodies the very essence of fear. His powers are not fully known, but he is believed to have the ability to manipulate fears of his victims, driving them to both hate and madness before he feeds. What is known is he cannot fly, speaks fluent German, and has an affinity for WWII memorabilia. While Dracula and Bathory, both have great wealth, Nightmare has working knowledge of secret Nazi gold reserves and access to them.

Axle Malver/Jack the Ripper: Axle Malver is a unique addition to the coven—a mortal with a dark secret. Using an ancient spell, Axle can awaken the spirit of Jack the Ripper within him, transforming into the infamous serial killer. In this form, he possesses heightened strength, agility, healing factor and a savage bloodlust that complements the vampiric nature of his companions.

The Brides of Dracula: Three unnamed vampiresses travel with the coven and act as scouts and companions. They live in Transylvania and New York, but have no issue teleporting to Chicago and there's usually at least one in the city. While they are not official members, they have no problem fighting with and dying for Dracula and the Knights.

Story Arcs

Victor Locke Demon Hunter

After a plot to take over the city and possibly expose the whole of Chicago's supernatural community, vampires had become such a threat, they were either killed in vicious battles or exiled from the city. A powerful ward pact was established by a coalition of hunters, witches and various supernaturals. The Church even went along with this, forcing the vampires to flee. This pact kept the city free from vampiric influence for awhile, (though vampires with souls and Estries seemed to not be affected as many remained in the city). However, recent events have shattered this protective barrier and vampires are slowly but surely returning.

Dracula and Lady Bathory were among the first to return to seize the opportunity, feeling the city was ripe for conquest, and the perfect stage was set for their vengeance and to establish a stronghold. Their first appearance was in the original Victor Locke Demon Hunter issue #1. They are seen moving into a Downtown Chicago skyscraper, with heavily tinted windows, that blocked out the sun. They would later go into the astral world to speak with a watcher. This scene was later moved to issue 1 of Decoy.

Hexcraft Mechanics

In Hexcraft Mechanics #1 Dracula, Bathory and one of the wives are seen questioning a mystic as to what he knows about the involvement of other various mystics in writing, creating, boosting or casting anti-vampire spells, but he doesn't tell them anything and Bathory kills him with a magic blast. While under the cover of darkness and in the park, Bathory is naked, making the wife question their fear of being discovered, yet opening themselves up to attention.

CurseRisen

In CurseRisen issue 1 the group are seen returning to Chicago as bats, (and it's the only time you see Nightmare fly, and it's as a bat). At the time we only know Dracula and the name of the group. In issue two Dracula and Bathory are both present and in their human forms. No other members are seen. Dracula sends waves of fear throughout Chicago. Gruesome murders, fires and explosions happen at night, centered around properties and those around a mystic known as Ice Chaotix. .

CurseRisen/Victor Locke Demon Hunter: Demon Noir

Dracula and Lady Bathory engage in an animal sacrifice to invoke a demon named in an ancient tome, while Ashen Yu and Hanover Blake seek out pages from said tome.