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Lore
“Acts of goodness are not always wise,
and acts of evil are not always foolish,
but regardless, we shall always strive to be good.”
Logarius was the leader of a secretive band of fanatical warriors known as The Executioners. Like the Hunters under Gehrman and the Healing Church hunters, the Executioners under Logarius honed their craft in their dedicated workshop, a "secretive enclave of mystical beliefs and heady fanaticism that served as the backbone of their unique brand of justice". Their badge was shaped like the 'breaking wheel' they use to cleanse heretics, called the Logarius Wheel, a weapon blessed with rare Pthumerian blood magic by their leader, which to them represented their righteous destiny. The symbol of the Executioner covenant is their Gold Ardeo, a conical gold helmet which to them represents "luminosity, ambition and an unflagging resolve to face impurity", “staring it down with stern, golden spirit”. Ardeo in this case is likely a reference to the Latin word for burning, passion, or to be in turmoil/love, meanings that are very in line with the emotional and fanatical beliefs and behavior of the Executioners. This design is mirrored in their Caryll Rune 'Radiance'. This rune is very close in resemblance to the Eye of Providence symbol, which may refer to The Executioners belief their they carried out the will of the Gods. The pointed structure of the Ardeo also resembles a capriote, which is a Spanish Catholic headwear garment worn by confraternities of penitents; those who practice acts of devotion in the form of self admonishment such as mortification of the flesh, self-flagellation, etc. though the connection is likely only meant to indicate their devout and violent nature. They predate the Healing Church, at least by a small margin, as their Executioner Garb states: :"Later became the basis for all Church attire, with its heavy draping of Holy Shawl." This outfit has the longest and widest holy shawl of any of the outfits in game, perhaps indicating their deep reverence for their faith.
Logarius' Executioners were an enclosed organization, their workshop a secretive enclave indicating their seclusion from wider society, perhaps as an attempt to separate themselves from anything they did not wish to associate with, or which they deemed impure. They do bear the Hunter's Mark upon their breast, indicating that they have integrated with the ranks of the Healing Church to a degree, but their motivations and modes of enactment differ greatly from that of the Church, making them more allies than direct underlings of the greater powers of Yharnam. Likely drawing on older, Pthumerian tradition, their mystical beliefs likely revolved around the belief that certain kinds of blood were corrupt or impure.
“Let us cleanse these tarnished streets.
And may the Good Blood guide your way.”
– Alfred, Hunter of Vilebloods
Their fanatical beliefs made them feel entitled to take the lives of any who would be deemed tarnished and their skillset and equipment gave them the power to do so. It is likely that the Healing Church further empowered them in this capacity once it had formed fully, as they worked to eliminate not only their own enemies but those of the Church itself, as their beliefs likely, initially, aligned. The Executioner Gauntlets state that the rivets along the knuckle are a sign of their reliance not only on armed combat but hand to hand battle as well, taking their militant nature beyond what many members of the Church proper are capable of. Their Logarius Wheel weapons are based upon the real-world medieval torture and execution tool the 'breaking wheel', implying a ritualized and intentionally gruesome spectacle was intended to be made of their enemies, a warning to not follow in the footsteps of those they punished. Logarius may have brought this custom to Yharnam, or worked his beliefs into preexisting methods used by the citizens there, though no other weapon created by the Church or Hunter workshops quite resembles the Wheel in style. As the quote at the beginning of the page may indicate, the Executioners likely believed their methods were entirely necessary despite recognizing them as brutal and cruel in nature, the 'goodness' of sparing a wicked life being unwise, and the 'evil' of their mass slaughter being justifiable in its reasoning. This quote, attributed to Logarius, indicates the mindset with which is trained and led his covenant.
The largest organized group of Church branded heretics were the nobles of Cainhurst Castle, who had, at some time prior to the founding of the Healing Church, been given corrupted blood by a Scholar of Byrgenwurth, which they accepted and imbibed, transforming them into the vampiric creatures known to their detractors as "Vilebloods". It should be noted that, while in the English version of the game there is no other term used, the Japanese text makes it clear that Vileblood is in fact a slur used against them, and they refer to themselves as the Blood Kin of Cainhurst, explaining the derogatory nature of the word. While it is unclear if the Executioners were formed prior to this event, it focused the group, and they defined themselves specifically by their hunting of Vilebloods above all else. However, he knew that while Queen Annalise lived, more Vilebloods would always replace those they destroyed, as she, their immortal leader, was able to create new members of their ranks. With this knowledge in mind, Logarius led his cohort in battle against the Cainhurst noble family, attempting to wipe them out, which eventually culminated in an act of total war on the grounds of Cainhurst Castle itself.
Executioners proceeded to slaughter the nobles of the castle, and in return were largely slaughtered themselves. Only those not directly part of the Cainhurst lineage and coven were spared, as when the Player arrives the Castle's servants live still, toiling away at their pontless tasks, and those transformed by their untamed blood lust into beasts remain on the grounds. Bloodlickers litter the area, gorging themselves on the remains of the fallen, even likely their own prior comrades. There is a noticeably absent direct route to the throne room, which may have been destroyed by the Executioners during their assault, to hinder any who would seek out Annalise and her forbidden blood. Alternatively, the nobles may have destroyed the route in an attempt to halt the progress of their attackers. Within the walls the bereaved ghosts of Cainhurst maidens linger, alternatively weeping in sorrow and screaming in rage. Their bound hands, blindfolded eyes and slit throats/severed heads indicate that the battle was indeed won by the Executioners, who had the time to perform the rituals of execution, rather than all of them falling in battle. Despite all obstacles in their path, the Executioners managed to invade successfully, murdering the King of Cainhurst, whose Crown of Illusions Logarius donned.
With his army largely eliminated, and the threat of the Vilebloods only ended in so far as their current ranks, Logarius made the choice to keep Queen Annalise imprisoned in her own former kingdom, trapping her face in an iron mask to prevent her from further drinking blood and then sealing her throne room away with the former King's crown. To ensure no others could happen upon the Queen, intentionally or not, and risk reviving the Vileblood line, he then "became a blessed anchor, guarding us from evil"; in essence, remaining forevermore guarding her hidden prison, killing any who would approach. By the time the Player approaches, it is clear some time has passed, as he is now a rotting, frozen corpse, perhaps no longer even truly alive, only animated by some magic to remain at his post. Here he may be killed, granting the Player access to Queen Annalise themself, where they may choose to serve her or invite Alfred, the self-proclaimed protégé of Logarius himself, to end her reign.
Though called a Martyr in the game, Alfred does not consider his consecration to be completed, as, despite his holy sacrifice, he is not properly dead, nor is his task entirely completed. It is unclear whether his Martyrdom is canonized by the Healing Church in any capacity, or if it is related specifically to the old customs of the Executioners. He will only believe peace has been properly attained for his Master once he has ground up Annalise himself, properly laying him to rest by symbolically completing his mission.
Attacks Table
Theories
Logarius is a Pthumerian
Logarius is immortal because of imbibing the blood of the Cainhurst Vilebloods as he slaughtered them
Sources
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