"While it's always sad when the blood of our kin is spilled, his deeds gravely harm our brethren and for centuries to come we will feel the repercussions of his actions. With a heavy heart I know that redemption is no longer an option, and a such, I declare open the Bloodhunt for Claude of Marseilles. Make it swift and give him no mercy." - Prince Maurice of Toulouse, May 8, 1576
Capital Punishment
When a vampire has committed a grave sin against their kind, such as feeding on a fellow vampire, betrayed his bloodline or threatened the secrecy of the vampire's existence, a bloodhunt may be called. Bloodhunts are as an old a tradition as the vampyr curse itself, some believe, as the necessity for them would surely exist in the past as it does now. The oldest Bloodhunt in recorded history can be traced back to ancient Egypt, and despite how ancient the ritual is, there isn't many of them in the register. When a Bloodhunt is called, vampires of all bloodlines are expected to take part in it. The offender is named, and until he's captured and killed, the pursuit may not stop. During bloodhunts, any dispute between clans is usually set aside. Territories do not matter and certain traditions can be ignored. All that matters is that the target of the hunt is found and destroyed. A Bloodhunt is different from the simple sentence of death that a master can pass down on his those of his direct descent, or a prince may pass on their subjects. Those are conducted as private, discrete matters. A Bloodhunt is a very public affair and reserved from when crimes are too great and the danger presented is real and pressing. Calling one without good reason is a good way for a prince to lose any shred of respect and authority from his subjects, and when that happens, the prince is usually made to step down from his position in favor of a more reasonable leader.
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