Oath of the Falcon

The Oath of the Falcon is the Oath of House Gwydion.

Words

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.

Overview

This oath is administered to Sidhe of the House after completing their Fior-Righ. Nobles of other houses as well as commoners seeking to be adopted make the same oath. Those swearing this oath are bound to serve House Gwydion in all ways.

Effects

The fae who betrays this oath is stricken of the house's Boon, but keeps the Flaw. Once broken, it can be renewed only by the High Lord of House Gwydion.

The Commoner Made Noble

House Gwydion is noticeably calmer than other houses toward the practice of inducting commoners into their ranks. Some consider this condescension, but the Gwydion fae claim that few fae of any kith can live up to their highly exacting standards. Trolls make up the majority of Gwydion commoners-of-rank, as Duke Topaz exemplifies. It's very rare for a boggan or sluagh to attain such an honor; tradition requires that a commoner not only do a great service for the house, but they must also have achieved great glory in battle before being heeded for nobility. Should a commoner prove their martial prowess and sterling leadership to the house's satisfaction, they may be offered the Oath of the Falcon. To date, not one commoner has refused such an honor, which speaks as much for the rarity of the offer as for its esteem.

The Oath of the Falcon is always sworn before a gathering of Gwydion fae to remind all present that the newcomer is now as Gwydion as the rest. The ceremony tales place in full sunlight, often on Midsummer itself. Once done, the new noble's name is entered into the great register of House Gwydion.

Many nobles offer the oath to a worthy commoner months before actually holding the ceremony. The aspiring noble often performs with even greater enthusiasm during those months, justifying their patron's faith. However, those who are offered the oath and arrogantly grow lax in their efforts before the actual induction find the offer rescinded. House Gwydion has no use for fair-weather champions.

References

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