Oaths of the Mot
All mots have access to a special set of oath rites. These rituals cement relationships between the members of mots. There are two kinds of oaths, lesser and greater, but the chief difference is the number of Uratha who are bound to an oath. Lesser Oaths are sworn between individuals; Greater Oaths are sworn between packs and their totems. Oaths should not overlap. If one swears a Lesser Oath to a member of another pack and then the packs decide t enact a Greater Oath, the Lesser Oath is dissolved.
The spirits that enforce the oaths naturally don't care about contradictions with the Oath of the Moon. If an Uratha swears an oath that puts the Oath of the Moon in jeopardy, the spirits won't interfere. But, should an Uratha attempt to swear an oath that works against a previous oath, the ritual attempting to enact the new oath will fail.
Oaths remain in place until they are discharged or broken. Fulfilling the oath once is enough to dissolve them. Oaths are also a mark of honor, especially among the mots. Fulfilling one at great cost is almost always an affirmation of one's Renown (and an opportune time to spend experience to gain Renown.)
Rite List
Rite of the Lesser Oath: These oaths also are also called lesser fainings, blood oaths, oaths of hearth, or oaths of the karls. These vows are normally sworn between good friends who are not of the same pack. But, powerful elders may also require oaths between long-standing enemies to prevent further hostilities and end blood feuds. Lesser Oaths can also be made between totems and the Uratha who venerate them, as additional bans.- Lesser Oaths do not give Uratha magical knowledge of when they may be endangered, and, for the most part, are taken literally. It is assumed that the Uratha will sacrifice pretty much anything to fulfill an oath. For example, two Uratha friends take a blood oath to defend their respective human children. The child of the first Uratha dies in an auto accident two miles away. The second Uratha neither gains a sixth sense that his "oathchild" was in danger nor is his oath broken since he had no power over it. Now, if he were driving a car that was involved in the accident, then he has broken his oath.
- Rite of the Greater Oath: Greater Oaths are also called greater fainings, pack oaths, ring oaths and oaths of the tree.
- Greater Oaths are sown between one group of Uratha and their totem and another group of Uratha and their totem. Ring oaths cannot be sworn between individuals. A Greater Oath requires the involvement and acquiescence of two totems that witness and bind the oaths. Any Uratha who joins such a pack later on assumes the oath as well when the werewolf accept his totem's patronage.
- These oaths are often mutual protection agreements or bans, such as a binding agreement to prevent some future territorial clash. Think of these oaths as either binding the members to do something or to not do something. Breaking a Greater vow is a level 7 sin against Harmony (roll four dice). Moreover, doing so is often enough to sever the ties between totem and the Uratha who venerate it. At the very least, the totem will withdraw its favors until all of the offending Uratha perform the Rite of Contrition.
- While fulfilling an Oath - both in spirit and letter - the avowed Uratha can call upon the power of oath itself, regaining one Essence and one Willpower immediately. Moreover, they gain +1 to all die rolls for the scene. This bonus can be gained only once.
References
- WTF: Blasphemies, p. 98-100
