The Devils of Swartzhafen were once handsome sons of the von Carstein dynasty, each sired by one of Mannfred's brothers-in-darkness. Though young, this coterie made for a significant part of the von Carstein power base. Where one vampiric whelp might be put in his place easily enough, three of their kind united proved a threat even to the likes of Konrad the Bloody. So it was that the Carstein Devils, as these young bloods called themselves, rode out the turbulent times of old.[1a]