Binding Oaths in Media

[Kidpen he/him]

Out of curiousity, what binding oaths in entertainment can you think of? They all bind to different degrees, but I want to know a lot of different ones. Off the top of my head, the ancient language in Inheritance(Earthsea kind of as well), a soul oath from Cradle, a monster contract from Arcane Ascension, and an oath on the River Styx or a couple other less major ones from Percy Jackson. I'm sure there are ton I'm missing, and I want to hear them all! If you have one that you particularly like, let me know.

[Ammanas]

If I understand the topic correctly binding oaths could mean it binds a person to another or possibly a group. It could also mean there are severe consequences for gowing against the oath. It seems to be a fairly common thing, but off the top of my head I can only think of two. 

1. The Unbreakable vow in Harry Potter

2. The rites and oaths that take place during a minor short story called The Coming of the White Worm by Clark Ashton Smith. Here is the part (bolded on my part to point out the specifics):

"Behold, O Evagh," said the voice. "I have preserved thee from the doom of thy fellow-men, and have made thee as they that inhabit the bourn of coldness, and they that inhale the airless void. Wisdom ineffable shall be thine, and mastery beyond the conquest of mortals, if thou wilt but worship me and become my thrall. With me thou shalt voyage amid the kingdoms of the north, and shalt pass among the green southern islands, and see the white falling of death upon them in the light from Yikilth. Our coming shall bring eternal frost on their gardens, and shall set upon their people's flesh the seal of that gulf whose rigor paleth one by one the most ardent stars, and putteth rime at the core of suns. All this thou shalt witness, being as one of the lords of death, supernal and immortal; and in the end thou shalt return with me to that world beyond the uttermost pole, in which is mine abiding empire. For I am he whose coming even the gods may not oppose."

Now, seeing that he was without choice in the matter, Evagh professed himself willing to yield worship and service to the pale worm. Beneath the instruction of Dooni and Ux Loddhan, he performed the sevenfold rite that is scarce suitable for narration here, and swore the threefold vow of unspeakable alienation.

Edited May 21, 2018 by Ammanas

[King Cole he/him]

1. In D&D there are several spells that can create magical oaths.

2. A really big one is in Irish folklore. It's called a Geas, and it is a magical oath that completely binds someone to it. If they violate this Geas then sometimes they die. The Irish hero Cuchulain had two Geas. The first was that he could never eat Dog meat, and the second that he would refuse no food given to him by a woman. One day an old crone offered him a meal of dog meat and he was forced into breaking the Geas. Then he died badly. 

[Toaster Retribution he/him]

Oaths as a knight in ASoIaF. As well as the Nights Watch oaths.

[Just a Lifetime he/him]

I like the way Jim Butcher plays with this concept in the Dresden Files.  The following quote shouldn't spoil anything:

Quote

Oaths and promises have a certain kind of power all their own---that was one reason they were so highly regarded among the beings of the supernatural community.  Whenever someone breaks a promise, some of the energy that went into making it feeds back on the promise breaker.  For most people that isn't a really big deal.  Maybe it shows up as a little bad luck, or a cold or a headache or something.

But when a more powerful being or a wizard swears an oath by his own power, the effect is magnified significantly.  Too many broken oaths and promises can cripple a wizard's use of magic, or even destroy the ability entirely.

At some point someone is sure to mention the Oath Rod in The Wheel of Time, so I might as well take care of that now.