Bone Pact

The Bone Pact is a binding document (often written in a captain's ledger), article of agreement, and common tradition among pirates in Arethel. Signing ones name upon the Bone Pact guarantees your service to a vessel's captain for so long as the signee agrees to. There is no walking away from the Pact once signed.
Throughout the duration of your agreement, you and your belongings belong to the crew and captain. You're expected to expend all efforts to fulfill whatever duty you have been assigned, regardless of what may be involved. Following the ship's order and toeing the line is of the utmost important, where failing to do so--or worse, betraying your oath--will often result in punishment or in extreme cases, death. In exchange, the captain of the ship will guarantee your place within the crew, and provided you upkeep your end of the oath and serve faithfully and usefully to the crew, you will be treated with all due respect that every crewmate would expect.

History

There is no set year or day that the Bone Pact first started. Tales of it have been passed down for generations among pirates, especially those from Saelgard. It may in fact be likely that the tradition began there in the southern archipelago. In any case, pirates have been following the same ritual and procedure for hundreds of years, and though each crew handles it a bit differently, the core aspects of the Bone Pact have remained the same. Perhaps rooted in superstition or pirate folklore, many agree that the most fearsome or notorious pirates have had Bone Pacts that stand out among the rest -- either by strange happenings or unexplained / unusual phenomenon occurring at the same time as the ritual.
Notably, in recent history, the Bone Pacts of both Bartholomew Mason and Renfri du Foux have gone down in history:
For the former, it is said that Mason had stowed-away aboard a ship, was keelhauled by its crew at least three times and managed to survive by some miracle of the gods. Believing he was favored by Helm (God of Protection) or Talos (God of Storms and Destruction), the captain of the ship had him sign the Bone Pact rather than toss him overboard--perhaps out of fear of angering whatever deity wished him to be spared. Mason would later go on to mutiny against his captors and take over the ship.
For the latter, it is said that Renfri signed the Pact under a winter's blood moon. Although unsubstantiated and according to her own recounting untrue, pirates who grew to fear her wrath explained her notoriety and ferocity with this tale. It was all the more believable considering she signed her Pact with Mason, who at that point was already surrounded by superstition, legends, and fear.

Execution

Traditionally, the captain of the crew one wishes to join will verbally state their intentions, goals, and expectations in the agreement. Once the prospective signee determines and agrees on a duration of service, the captain and signee will use a dagger (typically ceremonial and made of bone or ivory), slice open their right palms, and use a special black quill to sign the Pact with their blood.
Although there are many exceptions, several captains who are knowledgeable in the arcane, will use magic inks to ensure they have a truly binding agreement once they sign.

Components and tools

A bone pact needs only two components, though the captain and crew can make the ceremony as elaborate as they wish.

• A bone or ivory dagger or blade, from which to draw the binding blood
• A parchment ledger or scroll, on which to sign ones name and read off the pact agreement

Participants

The two main participants are the Captain (or often the First-Mate will stand in for the Captain should they be in charge of recruitment), and the signee who wishes to join the crew. In many cases, though it depends on the circumstances and where the pact is being signed, other crew members may observe (or witness) the ceremony. If done privately, a First-Mate, the Captain, or other senior sailors may be present. Other times, it may be done before the whole crew.

Observance

The Bone Pact can be taken at any time, and in any place, provided the components are at hand.

Primary Related Location

Saelgardian Archipelago

Related Organizations

• Pirate's Republic of Saelgard