Blood Oath

A blood oath is a most sacred contract signed by a Bloodsworn which is seen both as a great responsibility but also a huge honor if the oath is fulfilled.

Making a Blood Oath
When someone is ready to perform an oath they gather a few select witnesses before the meeting. There a contract is written regarding what the oath should be about and the conditions for its completion. The oath-taker will then carve a shallow ring around his left arm and then smear some blood on his thumb and mark the contract, and at the same time reciting a small oath always starting with "I swear on my blood". The oath-giver will then heat his signet ring and mark the oath-takers ring with his own mark, making it his Oathband. He will then mark the contract with the same ring, and during that time he will also recite a short oath always starting with "I swear by my ring". After the contract is thoroughly read and signed by both parts, blood and fire respectively, the oath is made.

Breaking a Blood Oath
By breaking an oath you are breaking one of the most sacred rituals of the Bloodsworn and it is not something they take lightly. To make sure that the oath has indeed been broken there will be held a council of wise Mageas and elders in general who discuss the terms and agreements of the contract and investigate on what should be done.

Should it be concluded that the oath had been broken then the oath-taker is summoned to the council. He will have to confess his crime to the council, to the oath-giver, and to both of their families before his left arm is severed below his elbow to show that he or she is a person unfit to take on oaths of any kind, and should be trusted with as little as possible.