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Lore
The Executioners covenant is another PvP and invasion-focused group. A dedicated group of religious zealots who predated the forming of the Healing Church, they were lead by Martyr Logarius and sworn to the hunting and destruction of heretics. While pious and fanatical, they were an intensely militant faction who used highly ritualized, violent combat tactics in shockingly brutal ways. Built upon principles related to blood purity and prayer, they were a force to be reckoned with. Their sworn enemies are the vampiric clan known as the Blood Kin of Cainhurst, or, more commonly, Vilebloods. By the time the Player arrives in Yharnam, only one Executioner is left, Alfred, Hunter of Vilebloods.
The Executioners covenant is accessed via Alfred‘s sidequest. Their Caryll Rune is Radiance, which has the in game effect of blessing the Player with higher returns upon healing.
Theories
The Executioners were Hunters under Yharnam and the Pthumerians.
The Executioners are a faction that has existed for generations; since the days of the Pthumerians under their last queen Yharnam. The Pthumerians were a super human race who were either created by or enlisted by the Great Ones to serve as humble guardians over them as they slumbered. The Great Ones slumbering was not a simple sleep from dusk till dawn, it was a successful attempt at ascendancy. The Great Ones who slumbered were those whose consciousness’ transcended to a higher plane, that of the Dreamlands and the Cosmos, where their wills could shape the realities around them and they would be more powerful. While the Great Ones slept, the Pthumerians faithfully watched over their physical bodies, but as time went on the Pthumerians must have come to the realization that the Great Ones were not coming back to lead them. Their people began to develop a society, with its own capital city known as Ihyll, and a monarchy with its leader being the Pthumerian queen. In time the Great Ones returned, though not necessarily in physical form. Though ascended, they were still able to observe and commune with those on lower planes of existence. Great Ones themselves all desire to reproduce, but because of their position they are unable to. To facilitate the birth of their offspring, Great Ones would seek out a surrogate, a woman who could carry their child on their behalf. In the world of Bloodborne, this relationship between a Great One and a woman slated to bear their child is their definition of marriage or at least an engagement to be married.
"The inhuman beings known as the Great Ones imbued this Ring of Betrothal with some special meaning.
In the age of the Great Ones, wedlock was a blood contract, only permitted to those slated to bear a special child."
- Ring of Betrothal description
As the description notes; wedlock was a sacred blood contract, where the blood of a Great One is shared with the bearer of the ring.
Every Great One loses its child, and then yearns for a surrogate, and Oedon, the formless Great One, is no different.
To think, it was corrupted blood that began this eldritch liaison.
- Third Umbilical Cord description (Arianna)
Arianna is a descendant of Annalise, who is in turn a descendant of Yharnam. This description, while specific to Arianna whose corrupted blood allowed her to bear a child of Oedon, speaks more generally to the origin of this blood; that it was the blood of Oedon given to Yharnam in their wedding contract that began the line of tainted blood, culminating in the stillborn infant Mergo. All visions of Yharnam that we see, whether real or a projection, depict her in a wedding dress, with blood staining the area around her belly that was swollen with child. This evidence is telling us that Yharnam was given in marriage to a Great One, and that it was her blood, corrupted by Oedon, which started the very notion of corrupted blood.
In Bloodborne’s wedlock it is important to note that only the bearer of the ring as one who had signed a contract was permitted to receive the blood necessary to bear a child of the Great Ones, a special child.
The beginning of Bloodborne shows us that these blood contracts were no longer being facilitated between a Great One and their surrogate bride, but rather between those who accepted blood ministration and the Church (in a metaphor similar to the Christian Church's "bride of Christ"), which would seem to be an act of blasphemy. The contract of blood transfusion through wedlock stipulates that those who would take the blood must bear a child of blood. So, the making of these contracts outside of their proper use is a likely a very serious crime. Annalise gives us a hint of the gravity in the player’s proposal to her:
“Speak not, those words. We have little need of a consort. Such a path would belike lead to further ruin. Thou'rt dear to Us. We would see no harm befall thee…”
and:
“Ahh, still thy honeyed tongue… The thought alone sufficeth. Thy worth is too great. Now, speak no more in the matter.”
Her words indicate that if she were to accept the player’s offer of proposal; that some harm would come to them and that such a path would lead to further ruin. Despite her desire to enter into a blood contract with the player, Annalise understands that to do so would be a blasphemous act, worthy of inciting the wrath of the Great Ones.
We know that the use of Great One’s blood was only permitted to those slated to bear a special child, and yet we can see that somehow the Pthumerian people got their hands on large quantities of it; at least large enough to cause an outbreak of the Scourge of the Beast amongst the Pthumerian people, and bring down the entire civilization.
There are trace remains of medical procedures in parts of ailing Loran.
Whether these were attempts to control the scourge of the beast, or the cause of the outbreak, is unknown.
- Ailing Loran Chalice description
The Pthumerian land of Loran was ailing. Ailing simply means “in poor health”, its people were sick and likely dying. What the sickness was, or what caused it is unclear. Perhaps in an ironic twist, the sickness that caused the outbreak of the Scourge in Loran was the baffling ashen blood, the very same that sickness that allowed the Healing Church to give their special blood to the people of Old Yharnam, triggering the outbreak of the scourge there. Whatever the case, the Pthumerians of Loran needed medical attention. Their illness may have been incurable like the ashen blood ailment; a sickness where treatment only provided short-term relief, perhaps then, the only way to safeguard her people was for Yharnam to share her own special blood. The blood had made her strong, superhuman, and there was plenty of it to spare. When fighting Queen Yharnam in the chalice dungeon, her attacks often involve the cutting of her wrists or body in order to give out her blood. There is one particular attack in which Yharnam will hold out her wrists and spray copious blood in an arc before her, laughing while she does it. This gesture is reminiscent of a kind of sacrificial offering to those before her. Perhaps in her day, she did the same thing to satiate the desires of her ailing people. Whether it was Yharnam herself or someone with access, her blood was distributed to the masses. This act was a breach of the contract between Yharnam as a surrogate mother, and the Great Ones. The Defiled Chalice description tells us that:
“Curses are caused by inciting the anger of the Great Ones.”
The contract had been broken, and the Great Ones were angered. The “Curse of Yharnam” as the Afflicted Beggar so eloquently puts it, came upon her people. Bastard’s, children born out of wedlock, were born to the people of Loran who had ingested the special blood. These bastards became synonymous with the curse that was known as the Scourge of the Beast, perhaps because the people understood that the Scourge had come due to breaking that wedlock contract. The Bastard of Loran description tells us that the infants of Loran infected with the scourge are a harbinger of curses and a symbol of defilement. The use of the word defilement neatly ties the narrative back to the Defiled Chalice description.
Special material used in a Holy Chalice ritual.
Remains of Loran infant infected by the scourge.
A harbinger of curses and symbol of defilement.
- Bastard of Loran description
The idea that Yharnam’s blood was distributed to the masses is especially baffling when taking into consideration that not even her own loyal bodyguards were allowed to drink of her blood, as the Blood Rapture rune tells us:
This rune resonates with servants of the Queen, carrier of
the Child of Blood, who yearn for their Queen's blood with
little hope of requitement.
For them, they find solace in "Blood Rapture", that serves as
a surrogate for their desires.
- Blood Rapture rune description
And yet the evidence indicates that much of the population of Loran partook of the blood. Perhaps Queen Yharnam believed that the Great Ones would take mercy on her and her people since the cause was noble? Perhaps, while she denied her bodyguards her blood, the suffering of her people caused a change of heart? Or perhaps, as has been suggested, the blood was distributed to the people without the Queen’s consent. Though how anyone could obtain enough blood from the Queen to cure the people of Loran without her consent is difficult to explain.
And so, the Scourge of the Beast, a curse of the Great Ones, came down upon the people of Loran. In an attempt to stamp out the existence of any who had taken the forbidden blood of queen Yharnam, the monarchy established The Executioners; a group of warriors and fanatics who would become the first ‘hunters’, like the preventative hunters in the days of the Healing Church. We can see the hunter’s mark emblazoned upon the chest of those who wear the Executioners garb; indicating their role. Though going by a different name, they were the hunters of their time.
The job of the Executioners was to separate themselves from the rest of Pthumerian society, and act with agency to seek out and eradicate those who had taken forbidden blood. The logic may have been that by halting the spread of the forbidden blood, the wrath of the Great Ones would be satiated and the curse would end. This is perhaps why in the Chalice Dungeons we see so much death. Pits of blood and bodies, mass killings and graves. The eradication of those who had tasted the blood of Yharnam was merciless and exhaustive; the clothing and weaponry of the Executioners becoming steeped in the ire of the fallen. The Executioners themselves passed on their knowledge in weaponry and combat from father to son throughout the generations. Despite the seemingly ‘official’ weapon of the Logarius' Executioners being a cumbersome wheel, Logarius himself does not wield one. Instead we see him wearing a sword and scythe (or pick). Logarius’ sword resembles the weapons seen in the hands of the Pthumerian Watchers who defend the halls of the chalice dungeons. The Watchers wield a golden version which is shorter, but the shape of the blade is very similar. The sword Logarius wields also somewhat resembles the dagger of the Pthumerian Queen, prior to her coating it in blood. Logarius’ scythe resembles the weaponry of the transformative scythe or pick of the Pthumerian Elder, a being with clear links to the line of the Pthumerians. These weapons are vastly different from those wielded by his followers, and indicate that the head of the Executioners followed the precepts and traditions of those who came before. Logarius himself is much taller than an average human, and his skin has a blue tinge to it. The way he fights in combat also has many ties to that of the Pthumerian Elder, especially in the way they levitate and plummet towards the player to swing their scythe-like weapon. If Logarius is indeed a descendant of the Pthumerians, this adds further credence to the idea that the Executioners began in the time of the Pthumerians.
It is possible that the idea for the wheel of Logarius sparked from the wheels of the carriages the Executioners would use to carry away the bodies of the fallen for disposal: The wheel symbolizes righteous destiny; the eventual demise of those who would take forbidden blood.
The Executioner line continued all the way down until the time of Logarius and the Healing Church. After committing genocide against the Cainhurst nobles, it would seem that the Executioners were enlisted into the Church fold, perhaps to be rebranded as Hunters, and while the line of Executioners may have died out, their influence was felt for generations to come.
Sources
Executioner's Gloves
One of the secret treasures hidden in Cainhurst.
The gloves of an executioner from a faraway land.
Passed from executioner father to executioner son, these
gloves can be used to summon wrathful spirits of the past by
smearing them with blood.
It is said that nobles found immeasurable delight in the
dance of these vengeful spectres.
Gold Ardeo
The off helmet worn by the band of executioners
commanded by the martyr Logarius.
The conical gold helmet, symbol of the executioners,
represents luminosity, ambition, and an unflagging resolve to
face impurity, staring it down with stern, golden spirit.
As the great Logarius once said, "Acts of goodness are not
always wise, and acts of evil are not always foolish, but
regardless, we shall always strive to be good."
Executioner Garb
Attire worn by the band of executioners commanded by the
martyr Logarius.
Later became the basis for all Church attire, with its heavy
draping of Holy Shawl.
As the great Logarius once said, "Acts of goodness are not
always wise, and acts of evil are not always foolish, but
regardless, we shall always strive to be good."
Executioner Gauntlets
Gauntlets worn by the band of executioners commanded by
the martyr Logarius.
The brass rivets are unique to the executioners, and reflect
their adoration of hand-to-hand combat.
As the great Logarius once said, "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 Wheel
Weapon wielded by Martyr Logarius' band of executioners.
Used to slaughter the Vilebloods in Cainhurst.
Bathed in pools of their blood, and forever stepped in their ire.
Transform to release the power of the wheel and manifest
their lingering rage in a show of utter brilliance.
Hunter Axe
One of the trick weapons of the workshop, commonly used on the hunt.
Retains the qualities of an axe, but offers a wider palette of attacks by transforming.
Boasts a heavy blunt attack, leading to high rally potential.
No matter their pasts, beasts are no more than beasts.
Some choose this axe to play the part of executioner.
Wheel Hunter Badge
Martyr Logarius led a band of executioners, and this badge
was crafted at their dedicated workshop. The wheel
symbolises righteous destiny.
Their workshop was a secretive enclave of mystical beliefs
and heady fanaticism which served as the backbone of the
Executioners' unique brand of justice.
Corruption Rune
A secret symbol left by Caryll, runesmith of Byrgenwerth.
Several runes contain a nuance of "Blood," including the rune of "Corruption,"
associated with the oath of the corrupt. Pledgers to this oath are
Cainhurst Vilebloods. hunters of blood who find dregs for their Queen in coldblood,
particularly in that of hunters. Yet the corrupt are heretics in the eyes of the Church,
and thus subject to the wrath of the Executioners
Radiance Rune
Radiance" rune. Symbol of the Executioners.
A secret symbol left by Caryll, runesmith of Byrgenwerth.
The rune for "Radiance," adopted by the sworn Executioners under Logarius' command.
The executioners despise the impure Vilebloods,
and no matter what the circumstances,
would never cooperate with the bloodthirsty hunters who serve the undead queen. Annalise.
Crown of Illusions
One of the precious secrets of Cainhurst.
The old king's crown is said to reveal illusions, and expose a
mirage that hides a secret.
And so Logarius donned the crown of his own volition,
determined to prevent a single soul from stumbling upon the
vile secret. What visions did he see, sitting serenely upon his
new throne?
Reiterpallasch
Weapon wielded by the Knights of Cainhurst.
Combines an elegant knight's sword with the
peculiar firearm wielded by the Cainhurst order.
The old nobles, long-time imbibers of blood, are no strangers
to the sanguine plague, and the disposal of beasts was a
discrete task left to their servants, or knights, as they were
called for the sake of appearances.
Alfred, Hunter of Vilebloods dialogue:
When first met:
“You're a hunter, aren't you? I knew it. That's precisely how I started out!
Oh, beg pardon, you may call me Alfred.
Protege of Master Logarius, hunter of Vilebloods.
So, what say you? Our prey might differ, but we are hunters, the both of us.
Why not cooperate, and discuss the things we've learned?”
Talk about Corrupted Vilebloods first time:
“Ah-hah! There’s something I want to tell you.
A bit of a wisdom from the eminent Master Logarius.
Once, a scholar betrayed his fellows at Byrgenwerth and
brought forbidden blood back with him to Cainhurst Castle.
It was there that the first of the inhuman Vilebloods was born,
The Vilebloods are fiendish creatures who threaten the purity of the Church’s blood healing.
The rule of the Vilebloods is still alive today, and so to honor my Master’s wishes,
I search for the path to Cainhurst Castle.”
Select "Talk about the Corrupted Vilebloods”:
“In his time, Master Logarius led his executioners
into Cainhurst Castle to cleanse it of the Vileblood.
But all did not go well and Master Logarius
became a blessed anchor, guarding us from evil.
…Tragic, tragic time…
… that Master Logarius should be abandoned in the accursed domain of the Vilebloods.
I must free him, so that he may be properly honored in martyrdom.”
“Ah, I feel my master's hand at work.
Praise the Good Blood!
And let us cleanse these tarnished streets.”
If spoken to after:
“It has been an honor, but I must say good-bye.
Let us cleanse these tarnished streets.
And may the Good Blood guide your way.”
After ‘killing’ Annalise, Queen of the Vilebloods:
“Well? Isn't it wonderful? Now master can be canonized as a true martyr!”
Annalise, Queen of the Vilebloods dialogue:
While kneeling:
“Visitor… Moon-scented hunter…
I am Annalise, Queen of Castle Cainhurst.
Ruler of the Vilebloods, and sworn enemy of the church.
Yet, Our people are murdered, and
We are prisoner to this wretched mask.
What is it thou’rt in search of?”
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