Dampyr Speciale #1 (2008) pages 128-129: Shadows that hurt

The monsters of Vlatna Castle have Kurjak on the ropes, when Harlan shows up just in time:

“And when you meet him, you will be the one to die.”

“Finish him, Jiang-Shi!”

“The Krsnik!” (meaning Harlan, who shoots the monsters.)

“Yyyagggh!”

“Harlan!”

“Are you hurt?”

“It's little more than a scratch, but it stings like hell. If Mister Droopy Mustache is telling the truth, I've been poisoned.”

“Let's get out of here.”

“There's flames over there. You...how did you…?’

“Hold on to me, buddy. Go ahead. As you can see, the flames and all are just an illusion. I can dispel it easily enough, and as long as you stay in physical contact with me, you too will see everything as it really is.”

“I knew... they had to be illusions. But I couldn't be sure. Harlan, I saw an incredible collection of vampires last night. Are they undead or…?”

“The beings we just faced are not normal undead, that is, vampirized humans. Rather, they are physical emanations of a Master of the Night who must be close to us… very close!”

So all of the threats in this castle are being psychically generated by a single vampire lord. This explains the astonishing range of monsters present, as well as powerful versions of long-dead humans like Vlad Tepes and Countess Báthory. It also explains how Vance's stage show can afford to shred both werewolves and vampires in each performance, since none of them are real.