Oath (CTD)

An Oath is a formal, binding declaration of will made by one or more Changelings.

Overview
Oaths are one of the Bedrocks of Kithain society. Made between parties or from one party to another, they create social order. Oaths are not taken lightly. They bind the oathmaker to the Dreaming and the Dreaming itself enforces the oath. Many oaths have palpable benefits for keeping them. Breaking an oath, too, has consequences... some quite dire. At the very least the oathbreaker will be marked as such and be seen as a pariah in the community.

Types
There are many types of Oaths. Below are the ones mentioned or described in Changeling: The Dreaming 2nd Ed.

General Oaths

 * The Oath of Clasped Hands is the ultimate oath of friendship.


 * The Oath of Fealty is an oath of service to a liege lord or lady.


 * The Oath of Escheat is the oath a liege lord or lady makes on accepting the fealty of a vassal.


 * The Oath of the Accepted Burden is an oath to perform a task.


 * The Oath of Guardianship promises to guard an person, place, or thing.


 * The Oath of Truehearts is the oath of lovers.


 * The Oath of the Long Road is the acceptance of a quest.


 * The Oath of Crossed Blades declares enmity for another Fae.


 * The Oath of Fosterage is made when a new Changeling is taken by a mentor.

House Oaths
Each of the Noble Houses also have oaths of loyalty sworn by all Sidhe of the House as well as commoners who chose to become true vassals.

House Aesin
The Oath of House Aesin
 * The Oath of Virtues marks a Wilder as an adult in the House

House Ailil
The oaths of House Ailil
 * The Oath of Membership is pronounced by all Sidhe of the House after their Fior Righ.
 * The Oath of Adoption is sworn by non-house sidhe and commoners who join the house.
 * The Oath of Loyal Opposition is sworn by Seelie members of the house.
 * The Oath of the Forsworn acknowledges the guilt of oathbreaker.

House Balor
The oaths of House Balor
 * The Oath of Majority is sworn by all house members after their Fior Righ.
 * The Oath of Loyal Service binds a commoner to the house without granting membership.
 * The Oath of Adoption and Ritual Maiming makes another sidhe or commoner a member of the house
 * The Oath of the Enchanted Servant is sworn by enchanted humans.

House Daireann
The Oath of House Daireann
 * The Oath of the Warband creates a circle of warriors.

House Dougal
The Oath of House Dougal
 * The Dougal's Oath is sworn by all members of the House.

House Eiluned
The Oaths of House Eiluned
 * The Oath of Silence prevents the swearer for speaking of hidden things.
 * The Oath of Truth prevents the swearer from lying.
 * The Oath of Fealty is spoken by all members of the House.

House Fiona
The Oaths of House Fiona
 * The Oath of Betrothal swears fidelity.

House Leanhaun
The oaths of House Leanhaun
 * The Oath of Joining is taken by Sidhe who which to join the House.
 * The Oath of Adoption is made by commoners joining the House.
 * The Oath of Majority is made by all members of the House.
 * The Oath of Mutual Support links commoners and sidhe together.
 * The Oath of Service is an oath not of joining but of an ally.
 * The Pledge of Binding is made by enchanted mortals.

Oathbreaking
It is possible to break an oath unwittingly. If a fae uses Elder Form to transform themselves into their enemy's beloved and tricks them into breaking their oath, for example, it is possible for them to atone by doing some quest or action.

If, however, the oath is purposely forsworn, the Faerie in question becomes an Oathbreaker, which is one the worst epithets among the Kithain. An oathbreaker is psychically marked and finds it is almost impossible to find a tutor, at least a reputable one, or aid of any sort. Some darker fae may actually prey on the forsworn with the offer of aid at great spiritual, emotional, or physical cost.