Logomancy — Oathbinding¶
Oathbinding is the Logomancy Method concerned with sealing vows, alliances, and promises. It is the most common Logomancy Method, and the reason Humans are trusted as negotiators and intermediaries even when they are not fully trusted as people.
Threads (Oathbinding)¶
- Minor Vow — a small personal promise, backed by consequence.
- Binding Oath — a formal, witnessed promise between parties.
- Death Oath — the rarest and gravest vow; breaking it can kill.
Base Ka Cost (Oathbinding)¶
| Vow Weight | Effect | Base Ka |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Vow | A small personal commitment; breaking it brings bad luck or mild misfortune | 1 |
| Binding Oath | A formal, witnessed promise; breaking it brings real harm — pain, sickness, or lasting misfortune | 3 |
| Great Oath | A vow sealing an alliance or compact between factions; breaking it is severe and public | 6 |
| Death Oath | The vow itself carries mortal stakes; breaking it can kill the oathbreaker | 10 |
Parties¶
| Parties Bound | Ka Modifier | TD Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Two individuals | +0 | +0 |
| A group or delegation | +2 | use Group TD rules |
| Factions or nations | +4 | use Group TD rules |
Duration¶
Unlike most Evocation or Vitalis effects, an Oathbinding is not maintained — it is bound once, and holds until fulfilled, released, or broken. No further Ka is paid to sustain a sworn oath.
Channeling Difficulty (Oathbinding)¶
Modifiers: - Freely and willingly sworn: +0 - One party reluctant or under pressure: +2 - Vow contradicts the swearer's own nature or interest: +4 - Binding someone without their full knowledge or consent: +6 — ethically fraught, and should carry narrative weight beyond the roll
Burn¶
Burn may be taken to: - force a vow to bind despite a reluctant party's resistance - seal an oath instantly without the normal ritual - strengthen the consequence of breaking a specific binding
Design Notes¶
- Oathbinding is Logomancy's cheapest and safest Method — it is meant to be usable, not just legendary.
- The severity of breaking an oath is a GM call guided by the vow's weight, not a fixed table. A Death Oath doesn't have to kill outright; it can maim, curse, or doom the breaker's fortunes permanently.