Carmilla is a major antagonist in the Castlevania franchise, with a progressively larger role in each game she appears. She is an immensely powerful and influential Vampire Lady and one of Count Vlad Tepes Dracula's highest ranking followers. She is based on the eponymous villainess of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's short story Carmilla. (Though in the story, Carmilla is an anagram and her true name is Countess Mircalla Karnstein).