Mutual Oaths
Mutual oaths, most notably oaths of fealty, are perhaps the most important oaths among the Invictus. One party to the oath promises a service in return to for a specified benefit. Typically, the superior in the pair gets the greater benefit out of the arrangement, but that is hardly a requirement of the arrangement. These oaths are usually sworn voluntarily, by Kindred who feel that the arrangement is advantageous (or necessary), even if it’s not fair.
It is, however, far from unusual for Invictus lords to demand such Oaths from their followers. Indeed, some Invictus Princes with a stranglehold on their domains require a basic oath of fealty from every Kindred in the domain, no matter what covenant the Kindred supports.
Within the Invictus, it is unusual to accept service without an oath of some kind. In most cases, however, the lord takes care to offer a vassal enough in return that no mystic bond is necessary.
The basic oath of fealty is rarely supernaturally enforced, in large part because its terms are normally vague. The Kindred vassal promises loyalty and political or martial support, while the lord promises protection and hunting rights, for example. Nevertheless, Invictus ceremonies are often highly elaborate. Both parties to the oath often write the terms that they swear to in their own blood, each on one half of a piece of paper or parchment. This is then torn in half, and each party keeps the half with the other party’s words on it. Sometimes, however, the ceremony consists simply of the swearing Kindred and a witness in an improvised ritual during which this document is written and the parts separated.
One Invictus Prince required those Kindred swearing fealty to him to keep vigil for a whole day in a subterranean chapel, wearing armor but carrying no weapons. Kindred who managed to remain awake for the whole day were treated with increased respect, but that was not a requirement. The new vassal was then led from the chapel by the Prince’s Seneschal, into the Audience Chamber, and between the massed Kindred of the city. Before the Prince, the vassal was required to abase himself on the floor, and offer his full and unconditional service. The Prince refused such service, declaring that it was due to no creature, living or undead, and instead offered fealty on certain terms, normally agreed to beforehand. The new vassal would refuse those terms, declaring himself unworthy, and the Prince would insist. A second time, the vassal would refuse and the Prince insist. Finally, on the third offering, the vassal accepted, rose to a kneeling position and wrote his half of the Oath. The Prince himself tore their contract in half and awarded the oath to his new vassal.
It is, however, far from unusual for Invictus lords to demand such Oaths from their followers. Indeed, some Invictus Princes with a stranglehold on their domains require a basic oath of fealty from every Kindred in the domain, no matter what covenant the Kindred supports.
Within the Invictus, it is unusual to accept service without an oath of some kind. In most cases, however, the lord takes care to offer a vassal enough in return that no mystic bond is necessary.
The basic oath of fealty is rarely supernaturally enforced, in large part because its terms are normally vague. The Kindred vassal promises loyalty and political or martial support, while the lord promises protection and hunting rights, for example. Nevertheless, Invictus ceremonies are often highly elaborate. Both parties to the oath often write the terms that they swear to in their own blood, each on one half of a piece of paper or parchment. This is then torn in half, and each party keeps the half with the other party’s words on it. Sometimes, however, the ceremony consists simply of the swearing Kindred and a witness in an improvised ritual during which this document is written and the parts separated.
One Invictus Prince required those Kindred swearing fealty to him to keep vigil for a whole day in a subterranean chapel, wearing armor but carrying no weapons. Kindred who managed to remain awake for the whole day were treated with increased respect, but that was not a requirement. The new vassal was then led from the chapel by the Prince’s Seneschal, into the Audience Chamber, and between the massed Kindred of the city. Before the Prince, the vassal was required to abase himself on the floor, and offer his full and unconditional service. The Prince refused such service, declaring that it was due to no creature, living or undead, and instead offered fealty on certain terms, normally agreed to beforehand. The new vassal would refuse those terms, declaring himself unworthy, and the Prince would insist. A second time, the vassal would refuse and the Prince insist. Finally, on the third offering, the vassal accepted, rose to a kneeling position and wrote his half of the Oath. The Prince himself tore their contract in half and awarded the oath to his new vassal.