House Oaths

and the past that is my treasure.
I swear loyalty to the members and goals of House Beaumayn,
and may the dreams of the damned haunt my mind
should I ever break this trust.
As the dark star burns above,
so does my heart burn in service to thee.”

Unlike some other Houses, both sidhe and commoners swear the same oath upon joining the house – in the eyes of the future, all are the same. Those who betray this oath immediately gain the Flaw of Nightmares, which lasts for twice as long as they served the house.

Oath of the Foretelling [Beaumayn] (Book of Lost Houses, p. 23)

“As the Dreaming as my witness,
so shall I speak the truth of what I see and nothing else.
I shall not close my eyes to any image,
nor bend any sound to suit my ears,
nor twist my words to shape anything other than the entire truth.
May the flames of the dark star consume me
if my account is anything but pure.”

Obviously, this oath was designed to convince skeptical audiences that a Beamayn is speaking truly, and it is now traditionally sworn before imparting any important visions to others. A character swearing this oath regains 1 points of Willpower but suffers 2 unsoakable levels of lethal damage if it is broken. Additionally, the chimerical tattoo of a dark purple star appears on the offender's forehead, clearly visible, and remains there until some great atonement is made.

The Oath of Virtues [Aesin] (Book of Lost Houses, p. 42)

"My eternal soul now lies with House Aesin.
I swear by the forests and mountains of my home
that I will uphold the traditions
and customs of House Aesin.
Knowing I reach safety,
I seek shelter beneath the wings of the owl.
If my oath is broken, may the Dreaming strip me
of all privileges and never let me forget
who I was and what I have become."

When the wilder swears this oath, others consider her to be an adult Aesin with all house privileges. The Aesin gains 2 dots to allocate among the abilities she has for her occupation. If the oath is broken, she loses all points in the abilities where the 2 dots were placed. To symbolize belonging to House Aesin, the wilder receives a shield bearing the blazon of the house.

The Oath of the War Band [Daireann] (Book of Lost Houses, p. 64)

"Brothers and Sisters,
by the edge of the sword and the bond of blood
do I swear the strength of my arms
and the courage of my heart
to defend you and our cause from the might of our foes.
Never shall you stand alone on the battlefield
as long as breath remains in my body.
Should I break my oath,
may a rain of cold iron daggers
pierce my breast and send my soul
forever into darkness."

Oath breaking is an unthinkable breach of honor in House Daireann, and those who take oaths do so solemnly and for life. Should a Daireann break an oath, it would only be because a greater matter of honor had demanded it. Usually, an oath is sworn on some type of weapon, and, almost always, a gentle bloodletting is part of the ceremony.

The most feared of House Daireann warriors are those who have sworn an oath to form a war band. Those entwined within such an oath circle fight for one another's lives and honor, no matter what may come to pass. They are single minded and unbending in their protection and loyalty to one another. Daireann bards sing many long laments about how certain of these bands have been slain, one by one, until the last remaining warrior takes his own life rather than stand alone on the battlefield.

At the swearing of this oath, each fae makes a cut on her palm and in turn grasps the palm of all members of the war band. The oath is then in effect. Thenceforth in battle, when fighting as part of a unit, each member has 1 extra point of Willpower to be used only in the combat. Additionally, under the same conditions, all members gain 1 extra Bruised health level. Both the Willpower and the health level fade at the end of combat, which can lead to dire consequences to the Daireann who fights on beyond his normal health levels.

The Oath of Adoption [Varich] (Book of Lost Houses, p. 82)

"One pattern I started,
now I end it to begin anew in the name of Varich,
founder of the house I take as my own.
May any words be heard as truth
and lived as truth and my actions
follow the only truth within my words
forever in the name of my new house.
May I never let a challenge go unanswered.
May I never give a vow of true love to another.
In the name of our father,
the moon, and our mother, the sun,
may I give honor to House Varich,
adopted house, and serve it with my mind, my heart and my faith.
If I foreswear my oath,
may the sun and moon look upon me with disfavor,
may all hands of my adopted house rise against me
and may the pattern of my beating heart
fall to stillness forever."

Changelings wishing to ally themselves with House Varich swear this oath in the presence of members of the Varich freehold willing to adopt them. The swearer recites the pledge twice – once at noon, when the sun reaches its zenith, and once at night, under the light of the moon. Because both sun and moon must witness this oath, no one may administer the Oath of Adoption on overcast days or during nights where there is no moon.

The Oath of Challenge [Varich] (Book of Lost Houses, p. 82)

"Let no challenge go unanswered,
for the courage of our house must be tested.
The strength of our house must be measured.
The honor of our house must never be in doubt.
We shall preveal over any that might challenge us.
Our will is strong, our courage mighty, honor unequaled.
So shall it be shown in tests against us."

All house members know this oath, for its speaking is required whenever a house member accepts a formal challenge. The speaking of the oath signifies acceptance and commits the swearer to engage in whatever form of combat or competition proposed to her. Varich fae who omit the oath suffer penalty of -1 to their dice pool for deciding the outcome of the challenge.

The Oath of Vengeance [Varich] (Book of Lost Houses, p. 82)

"May the sun darken,
may the moon turn black
and may the call of the dreaming
go unanswered if our vengeance be denied to us."

Though this oath has few words, its consequences belie its brevity. House members who take this Oath of Vengeance link themselves irrevocably to the necessity of carrying out their revenge. If a house member does not show some tangible progress toward fulfilling the oath, she may not gain Glamour from any source, including the use of Dross. Trods will not allow her passage in either direction (so it is not wise to swear this oath in the Near Dreaming). The structures of this oath end when the house member achieves her vengeance or dies in the attempt.

The Oath of Membership [Ailil] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 23)

"By the scales of the silver dragon,
by the light of the fourfold stars,
by the blanket of darkest night,
I deliver my body, heart and will into the keeping of House Ailil.
May it's aims guide my vision,
it's hopes my aspirations,
and it's purpose inspire my actions.
Let all my ambition crumble
in the dust should I betray the words I have spoken this night.
Dragon beside me, stars above me,
night behind me, witness my oath."

Each new noble swears this oath upon attaining full membership into the house. Usually taken under a moonless sky lit only by starlight, the Oath of Membership binds its taker to House Ailil's commitment to the eventual reinstatement of the Twin Courts. Both the house Boon and Flaw become evident upon completion of the Oath. Breaking this oath inflicts the swearer with a profound sense of inadequacy unless the oathbreaker chooses to accept the Oath of the Forsworn.

The Oath of Adoption [Ailil] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 24)

"As my blood now flows with yours,
as my heart beats in time to yours,
as my eyes lift with yours to the same stars,
so now am I one with you.
I swear loyalty to House Ailil with blood, heart and body.
May my heartblood flow unchecked should I betray my chosen house.
Yours I am, spurning all former ties of house and hearth until my blood no longer courses,
my heart no longer beats and the stars no longer make their passage through the heavens."

Sidhe born to another house or commoners with no house affiliation swear this oath upon their adoption into House Ailil. Like the Oath of Membership, the administering of this oath usually takes place under a star-filled sky. To begin the oath-taking process, the swearer sheds a few drops of his blood (usually taken from the wrist or palm) into a goblet containing a contribution of blood from at least three nobles of the house, who also act as witnesses to the oath. After pouring the blood onto the ground, the swearer speaks the words of the oath. The swearer gains a permanent point of Glamour upon completion of the oath. If the oath is broken, the Glamour is forfeit.

The Oath of Loyal Opposition [Ailil] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 24)

"Although my heart embraces the Summer Court,
though my will adheres to the
Seelie Code and though my feet walk a different path,
my spirit and loyalty lie with the silver dragon of House Ailil.
Let not my differences come
between my house and me.
By the summer stars,
by the Beltaine fires and
by the moon of the plenty,
I swear that my actions shall not harm my house,
my words shall not betray my kinship with the silver dragon,
nor shall my will cause detriment to Ailil's banner."

Members of House Ailil who follow the Seelie Code take this oath to affirm their loyalty to their house. Unlike other oaths that take place at the new moon, the Oath of Loyal Opposition generally occurs during one of the full moons of either spring or summer. Although some Seelie members of House Ailil do not feel the need to take this oath, those who involve themselves in the politics of Concordia or who exercise any sort of authority within the house do so as a matter of course.

The Oath of the Foresworn [Ailil] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 24)

"Through broken word, faltering will and shameful deed,
I have brought upon myself this doom.
Let every member of House Ailil know by my presence that
I accept the onus of oath breaker.
May all who hear my words or test my
will or witness my deeds from this night
forward remember that they treat
the one who had joined the ranks of the Forsworn.
By the grace of the silver
dragon and through no merit of my own,

I remain within the fold of House Ailil."

Those who break an oath and seek to acknowledge their shameful deed and, thus, salvage something of their name and personal pride take this oath and participate in the public declaration of submission to the will of their peers. The swearer stands blindfolded in a circle of witnesses and speaks the words of the oath three times. After the first recitation, the witnesses have the opportunity to abjure the speaker. If they remain silent, the speaker continues with the second and finally the third pronouncement. If the oath has been heard three times without objection, the senior witness removes the blindfold from the speaker and pronounces her “Foresworn.”

The taking of this oath negates any penalties of broken oaths, but carries its own penalty; from that time onward, all who interact with the Forsworn individual do so knowing they run the risk of dealing with a liar and an oath breaker. (In game term, the difficulty of all actions that involve persuasion or the giving of promises is increased by 2 due to the character's damaged reputation). Many of the Forsworn, however, wear their status as a badge of honor, taking pride in their admission of guilt.

The Oath of Joining [Leanhaun] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 72)

"Of my own will and with full knowledge of what I ask,
I petition House Leanhaun to accept me.
By the power of the Dreaming,
I forswear what I was and embrace my new brothers and sisters.
I have washed away my plain old life and with this dawn begin
a new existence as kin of House Leanhaun.
I swear by the early flowers of spring,
the greening of the land in summer,
the ripening of the harvest in fall and the slumber of the earth in winter
that I accept the rule of the house,
keeping faith with my new family and our friends and allies.
My heart and hand are Leanhaun's to command.
May I be true to the words I speak now.
I make this pledge freely; my mind is sound and my heart clear of any reservations.
Let me henceforth by known as Leanhaun.
And if I be not true to my word given today before the assembly of my house and witnessed by the Dreaming,
may my eyes grow dim and blind,
my ears cease to hear, my fingers feel no sensation.
May I never experience taste or smell again.
Let my mind hold no words with which I may speak;
may my hand forget how to write.
May all who know my forget my name and may I cease to remember my true self.
May my Dan lie unfulfilled.
This is the penalty I ask be imposed by the
power of the Dreaming should I break my oath to Leanhaun."

Petitioners of the Oath of Adoption must agree to subsequently take the Leanhaun Oath of Majority. If any sidhe learn house secrets that would be damaging to House Leanhaun, they are offered an opportunity to join the house. If they refuse, they are killed. See the oath of Majority for further notation on the celebration regarding the character would go about. Ranking members of House Leanhaun tell the story of Leanhaun and the curse (the house Flaw) afflicts the house and what is expected of the joining member. The petitioner is allowed to ask questions, all of which are answered as honestly as possible. Finally, the house leaders escort her to a pool where she undergoes a ritual bath representing the washing away of her old life and the cleansing of her spirit wherein she gives up all that she once was. The character must wait until dawn (either sleeping or meditating or even partying) to speak the Oath of Joining and from then on she is considered to be reborn as Leanhaun, and takes on the Boon and Flaw.

The Oath of Joining involves anointing the petitioner with redolent oil and cloaking her in an emerald green robe fastened with a golden harp-shaped pin. The ranking noble gives the petitioner a black rose and asks her to repeat the oath.

The Oath of Adoption [Leanhaun] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 72)

"Under the canopy of the night sky,
with stars and moon as witness,
I beseech House Leanhaun to accept my as an adopted member of the family.
I swear that I shall accept all burdens and accolades equally,
and that I will bring no shame or dishonor to Leanhaun's name.
I will learn what I must know to fill
the roles within House Leanhaun that I am given and will seek
to make my new brothers and sisters proud of my accomplishments.
May I bring glory to the
house and may I be acknowledged as one with the family.
Should I betray House Leanhaun,
may the stars cease to guide me,
and the darkest roads within the Dreaming swallow me up,
that my shame be hidden forever."

This particular oath is only used when House Leanhaun adopts commoners into the house in a very rare occurrence except in those areas where commoner nobles rule. Usually, allegiance or alliance with the house only need proclaimed, but this oath goes farther, actually creating a bond of blood between the commoner and the house, just as if the commoner were sidhe. In essence, the commoner gains an actual rank within the house (though usually no higher than night, and even fewer are awarded higher rank and holdings). As with the Oath of Joining, a newly adopted member must swear an Oath of Majority. Usually, a ranking noble of the house oversees this oath, but there is not as much pomp and ceremony during a commoner's acceptance into the house as there would be if the character were sidhe. The actual oath is taken under the night sky, as stated above.

The Oath of Majority [Leanhaun] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 73)

"By the elements and the essence of Dreams,
I declare before witnesses that
I am ready to take up my duties within House Leanhaun.
I will remain true
to my house, keeping its secrets,
assisting all fellow members and guarding its treasures.
Where one of my own has need, I will provide.
When Leanhaun seeks sanctuary, I shall give shelter.
If danger exists, I will lend aid.
Should one be taken, I will provide rescue and if one forgets,
I shall be there to enfold my own blood in memories.
If I fail in any of my duties, or should I betray my house,
let my name be stricken from the histories and erased from the minds of Dreamers.
Let my story by unfinished,
my purpose unfulfilled and my essence scattered by the winds.
Let no Kithain recall there ever existed such as I."

This oath is taken by all members of House Leanhaun just after their Saining or whenever a new sidhe has joined the house. It is the measure of by which the house determines who is a full member of such, with the right to speak of house matters, petition for aid and hold a fief in the house's name. It forever binds the oath taker to absolute secrecy regarding all house matters and calls for his agreement to harbor and protect all members, rescue those in need and assist in endeavors of interest to Leanhaun.

Upon accepting that someone is ready for majority, all household members who are able to attend join in a feast celebrating the candidate. He is given the place of honor at the table and served special delicacies. At the end of the meal, the ranking noble rises and proclaims to those assembled that one among them has attained majority and seeks permission to take up his full duties as a member of House Leanhaun. Those assembled speak their consent as a group. If any have reservations, they may speak them, either challenging the candidate to answer certain questions to their satisfaction or requiring a duel to first blood. Champions may represent childling candidates in such duels. The duel may also be refused entirely, but if it is, the candidate may not take the oath. Those who are in the position where they must take the oath or die obviously have little choice and must accept the challenge. Challenges are not made lightly or for petty personal reasons. One who challenges a candidate must do so for the good of the house as a whole; frivolous disruptions of the oath taking tend to attract unpleasant retribution from the Dreaming itself.

The Oath of Mutual Support [Leanhaun] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 73)

"By the silver path,
I swear the thee that my house and thine shall bind
together in mutual support.
Let thy troubles be mine and let my woes seek redress through you.
Should anyone come against thee and thine,
I pledge that I and mine shall by there to defend and succor thee.
In like manner, let thee agree to such aid as well in help to me.
From this time until thee and I both agree that our pledge should expire,
let us be as one in our undertakings.
For my part I so swear to thee."

The Oath of Mutual Support is sworn between commoners or other sidhe and those of House Leanhaun, and promises mutual support for each other's causes and concerns and mutual aid in time of need (expending as far as offering sanctuary to ro fighting for another one in need). This oath forms the heart and soul of Leanhaun policy, and is amazingly broad in its definitions, binding defenders and potential friends to their own promise of support and assistance. No Leanhaun fails to uphold the terms of the Oath of Mutual Support; to do so would be to doom the whole house when word of failure spread among the Kithain. Most often, specific circumstances are not named, but general aid is indicated.

The Oath of Service [Leanhaun] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, pp. 73-74)

"I swear by the Dreaming that I will give good service to House Leanhaun,
using the best of my abilities and skills to complete my assigned duties.
Should I uncover secrets or knowledge damaging to the house I give my oath
never to reveal that knowledge or use it in any way against House Leanhaun.
Should I break this oath, may I never be able to swear another, may all
Kithain hence know me for a liar and may my mouth utter nothing but
gibberish when the name of Leanhaun is invoked."

While not as serious as the Oath of Majority, The Oath of Service may stand in the place such if a noble or commoner will not swear the former. This covers a time of service and precludes them from discussing their affairs afterward, and as they are sworn before the Dreaming, do incur consequences if broken.

The Pledge of Binding [Leanhaun] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 74)

"Whatever is entrusted to my care I will guard,
whatever tasks are assigned, I will complete.
My self and my talents are given to House Leanhaun,
my loyalty and love as well.
Nothing of those things I witness or learn shall
I speak to any outside the house,
nor shall I make it known through any other means.
If my tongue speaks falsely, let my perfidy be made evident
upon my face that all may know my lies and broken promises.
May I be cast out from the house,
and the hearts and minds of all Leanhaun, and let me
remember none of what has transpired in the time that I served the house."

Enchanted mortals, whether lovers, tutors, servants, or guests must all take this oath if they wish to stay any length of time among the fae of House Leanhaun.

The Oath of Majority [Balor] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 117)

"By the serpent which twines around the golden tower,
by the crimson beam that streams from Balor's Eye,
by the blood that runs like fire through
my veins, I pledge my heart,
mind and body to the will of House Balor.
To the threshold of death and beyond,
my spirit belonds to my house.
My eyes see through the eyes of my ancestors:
my heart beats with the anger of vengeance denied:
my tongue cries out for justice and restitution in the name of Balor and all his children.
Let the challenge that makes my body as different from all others serve as
a constant reminder of my birth and my destiny,
and let no one deter me from my service to my house.
May I suffer the agony of a thousand flames if I betray my house or any of its members.
This I swear, by the tower and beam and blood.
May the Dreaming hear my oath and exact its penalties should I forswear it."

Upon surviving the period of fosterage and the Fior, each new member of House Balor takes this solemn oath before all the members of her freehold or clique. Usually sworn by the light of a full moon, symbol of Balor's Eye, this oath confers all the benefits and responsibilities of house membership upon the oath taker. The oath taker speaks the words of the oath while holding an iron dagger to her throat. At the completion of the oath, the House Boon takes effect; the oath taker demonstrates this by cutting herself at the base of her throat with the dagger held while taking the oath. Should the Dreaming reject the oath for any reason (signified by the loss of Glamour from the wound caused by the iron dagger), the administrator of the oath has the right to use the dagger to slay the oath taker on the spot.

The Oath of Loyal Service [Balor] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 117)

"My faith belongs to you,
my will serves you, my body obeys you.
By word and blood and deed, I swear my utmost loyalty to you.
Under the stars, beneath the moon, below the heavens,
I speak these words to you. Command
me and I will do your bidding;
rely on me and I will not fail you;
trust in me and I will serve you until death.
May my blood turn to dust within my veins,
may my eyes lose their sight forever
and may my heart burst within
my body should I fail in my pledge to you.
My life to you, my heart to you,
my spirit to you, first, last and always."

This oath binds a commoner to house Balor without conferring the Boon of actual house membership upon the oath taker. Used to ensure loyalty of troops going into battle or to secure the allegiance of commoner members of a conquered freehold, this oath usually takes place at night, when both moon and stars are visible, although the moon may reflect any of its phases. The oath taker takes the oath while kneeling before the noble chosen to hear the words. Upon the successful completion of the oath, the oath taker becomes less resistant to obeying orders given by House Balor. In game terms, this oath increases the difficulty of resisted Willpower rolls by 2.

The Oath of Adoption and Ritual Maiming [Balor] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 118)

"I call upon the light of Balor's Eye,
the tongue of the black serpent,
and the doorway of blood to hear my petition
and grant me the right to call myself a child of Balor.
By the shedding of my blood,
I link my fate to my adopted house;
by the shredding of my cloak,
renounce all former allegiances;
by the sacrifice of my body,
I take upon myself the challenge of my new kin.
Swift my feet to answer any summons,
ready my words to speak in defense of my new house,
willing my heart to die if necessary to uphold the honor and might of Balor.
Let all present bear witness to my oath,
by flesh and blood and bone,
and may the Dreaming forsake me forever
should I fail my pledge to thee."

Upon occasion, a member of another house or one of the commoner kith will both desire and prove worthy of membership in House Balor. This oath, taken in the company of those whio will stand as sponsors for the petitioner as well as the local commander of the house, severs all former ties with other houses. The oath taker completes the oath with some form of ritual disfigurement, intended to inflict upon her a challenge to mark her as a member of the house. While some adopted members take drastic measures such as putting out one of their eyes or cutting off a hand, most content themselves with severing a finger or toe. The oath taker gains a permanent point of Glamour upon the successful completion this oath.

The Oath of the Enchanted Servant [Balor] (Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, p. 119)

"By the token of my service,
by the beating of my heart,
by the promise of my lips,
I pledge myself to you for so long as you have need of me.
My dreams are yours, my soul belongs to you,
my body exists for you alone.
Though born to mortal flesh,
I embrace the visions you put before me,
knowing that you inhabit a world I can see only
through your grace and by your pleasure.
May the Dreaming look with favor on my oath,
may the hidden world grant my access,
may the stars and sky bear witness to my words.
Let my troth be honored,
let my words hold me fast and may my life be forfeit
should I fail to keep the oath I take this night."

Humans Enchanted by members of House Balor as long-term servants or slaves take this oath upon receiving the token that confers upon them the benefits of Enchantment. Usually an Elaborate ceremony surrounds the oath in order to impress upon the oath taker the lowliness of her postion and the severity of the punishment should she fail to keep her word. The oath taker speaks the words while kneeling in the center of a circle of house members – her soon to be masters. The administrator of the oath marks the oath taker with either a brand or some form of bodily piercing as a physical reminder of her servitude of House Balor. Humans bound to this house lose all ability to resist commands by members of the house. Although the oath does not contain an indication of term of service, usually the only release from the oath comes with the death of the oath taker – usually at the hands of the individual who administered the oath.

Dougal's Oath (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 25)

"My heart is Dougal's heart,
My arm will take up his hammer.
My body will take his burden.
My heart will take on his will.
I will work until the end of my day's doing his work."

This is the oath sworn by the fae who want to join House Dougal. A master normally administers it after the applicant serves an apprenticeship – thus providing one's dedication to the house – but any master or noble of the house can oversee the taking of the oath. It seems short compared to the oaths of other houses, but deeds are always more important than words in House Dougal, of course. The applicant swears the oath in work clothes while holding a silver hammer.

The Boon and Flaw of House Dougal manifest in the taker upon swearing this oath. The oathswearer also gains one permanent point of Glamour and Willpower. Anyone who loses his status in the house, then loses these points and gains a permanent point of Banality. He also loses the Boon of the house, but keeps the Flaw. Characters who begin as members of House Dougal do not gain the additional points of Glamour and Willpower.

The Oath of Silence [Eiluned] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 43)

"I do pledge this day, with heart and mind and soul, that I will never betray this confidence.
Until the stones have crumbled unto dust, and the sea fallen a hundred thousand thousand times from the thundering heavens,
this long I will remain silent.
When the last star flares and fades in the night sky,
leaving naught but blackness and this world is a dream once more,
this long I will keep my word."

Once sworn, the one swearing this oath can speak only of the forbidden topic by spending a permanent point of Willpower. In doing so, the character also gains a permanent point of Banality.

The Oath of Truth [Eiluned] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 43)

"Although it may bring tears or sorrow,
burning rage or silent hatred,
let the veil be lifted now.
Let all see clearly and know in their hearts that this I do speak without deceit or duplicity,
but plainly and honestly as the best I know how.
This do I pledge: I shall speak the truth."

Anyone attempting to lie about the subject of this oath after swearing it gains a permanent point of Banality as well as being completely drained of Glamour until the following sunrise or sunset, whichever comes first.

The Oath of Fealty [Eiluned] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 43)

"Today I pledge my loyalty to the Black and Silver,
through my lord (insert name of liege).
I will grant my betters the respect they have earned and work to guide those yuonger than I to the path of understanding and
wisdom.
Each day I shall strive to learn more of the world and my own heart,
to better enrich both Eiluned and myself.
Above all, I pledge to House Eiluned myself as vassal,
and I hope I may serve with honor and distinction."

Anyone attempting to willfully and deliberately betray House Eiluned after swearing this oath gains a permanent point of Banality, and henceforth, he pays double for anything requiring him to spend Glamour points. This effect can be reversed only by a public proclamation by the betrayer's former lord.

The Oath of Betrothal [Fiona] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, pp. 68)

"Lady/Lord, to you I give all the affections and warmth of my heart that these may ease you across miles and years to come.
I will be your friend, your companion and your mate as you desire.
In desolate hours shall I keep you company and on the field of battle bear your token with pride and honor.
Never shall you be lonely; never shall your tears go untouched by my hand.
Ere my bond be broken, no longer shall my loins find pleasure;
no longer shall my heart find gladness in carnal pleasure.
May the teeth of Fiona's silver lion tear me asunder if I betray your trust!"

No system info for this; see the Oath of Truehearts for suggestions on this.

The Oath of the Falcon [Gwydion] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 100)

"Lords and Ladies of the Falcon,
I do swear fealty unto thee and to the noble House of Gywdion,
from this day until the sun burns no longer
I shall never fail to defend my charges,
nor the honor of my brothers and sisters.
I shall bring the House of Gwydion honor by my deeds.
In the name of Lord Gwydion the Grey and the Lady Keredwyn, I swear it."

Those swearing this oath are bound to serve House Gwydion in all fashions. Those who betray the oath are stricken of the house's Boon, but keep the Flaw. Once broken, it can be renewed only by the High Lord of House Gwydion.

The Oath of Duty [Liam] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 123)

"May the light of the Sun burn my skin,
May the light of the Moon bring me fear,
May the food of the Earth bring me hunger,
May the waters of Life parch my throat
Should I forego the compass of my journey,
Should I neglect the care of the Dreaming,
Should I be blind to the needs of my charges,
Should I ignore the purity of my duty."

This is the first and most sacred oath of House Liam. No member fails to swear it, for it is the foundation of the house's laws and beliefs. Without it, little would hold the house together.

The key to understanding the Oath of Duty is that it's voluntary. House Liam forces no childling or wilder to belong who does not wish it. A good deal of any fostering is dedicated to explaining the meaning of the oath and reassuring the fosterling that it is completely her option whether to swear it or not. Without choice, an oath is meaningless.

The first quatrain is not just a list of penalties for one who breaks the oath. House Liam considers its duty to be life. Without duty, without the willingness to carry on the example of Lord Liam himself, there is no meaning to the sacrifice he and his house have made. Life is service and the first quatrain reflects this tenet.

The second quatrain reinforces and expounds upon that duty. The house carries the concept of noblesse oblige to the nth degree. The direction of obligation should be clear for a noble: As nobles, they are obliged to protect those who need it most. The single pure principal is the core of the House Liam moral code.

The Oath of Duty is sworn at the end of the Saining, usually to the Kithian who fostered the changeling who is swearing. There is no great ceremony associated with it, as it is considered private. Those who come to the house from outside take this oath after they have sworn the Oath of Union (also in private) to a House Liam witness of their choice. The bond between the oathswearer and the witness is akin to that of siblings.

The Oath of Union [Liam] (Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses, p. 124)

"I come naked before you, unbound by the ties of blood or honor,
Unbound by doubts or hesitation, I stand unadorned before you.
I humbly ask that House Liam clothe me, in the manner of the house;
In the manner that is fitting. I pray that you grant me this boon
I swear I will accept the burdens of House Liam, as they are no burdens;
It is no hardship to protect. I swear that I will take them up with joy.
As a life without meaning: For my life is united with the house."

The first sacred oath of House Liam is for those who were not born into the house. It is, as such, a rebirth. It is treated as such in the ritual associated with it.

The changeling swearing the oath goes before the witness naked. He is expected to swear the oath with eyes closed, trusting that the witness hears him and accepts his words. If the witness believes the supplicant's sincerity. He places a white robe, representing swaddling clothes, onto the oathswearer.

The Oath of Union carries a great deal of symbolic and magical weight and is enforced by the weight of Glamour. Breaking it can lead to sickness and a literal wasting away, if the Kithain breaking the oath is not too banal. Banality is a defense against impact.