Oath-Keeping and Oath-Breaking

Giving and keeping oaths is very important to Perrenders. The verbal exchange of mutual promises and commitments is the basis of law, of marriage, of business, of politics and of friendship. Many Perrenders find it offensive to be required to commit to a written contract when they have given their word of honour on a financial transaction, which causes frequent difficulties for followers of Zilchus, for whom the written contract is so important. A written record of what was agreed is one thing - making what was written more important than what was said is another thing entirely.

An oath should not be given lightly, because once given it is considered legally and morally binding on all parties. Oaths are distinguished by key phrases (such as "I give my word", "I vow" and "I pledge") or by the seriousness of the promise (such as a commitment to marry or a vow not to rest until you have killed your child's murderer). People who make an oath that requires them to break the law are in a no-win situation, as it is very shameful to break an oath, no matter how thoughtless.

For example, an enduring Perrenland tradition is that of the formal blood feud. On occasion, two individuals or groups will share an enmity that is so great that they swear a formal oath that binds them to seek the death of the other party. Once this oath has been sworn, it cannot be legally broken - so such feuds are not undertaken lightly. Luckily, two clans have never entered into a formal blood feud, which could only end upon the utter destruction of one of the two clans. Though the oath is binding, it does not mean that the two parties need fight every time they meet. The feud may be temporarily halted due to other circumstances, such as a threat from a common external enemy. Eventually, though, such feuds will eventually result in the death of one or both of the parties involved, as the following story explains.

Many years ago, two strong warriors of the Roodbêrg clan, Ârald Grijsdal and Willem Spoormáken, fought, as young men do, over the love of a lass of their acquaintance. Such was their rivalry that the girl was overcome by despair and cast herself from a cliff. Each man blamed the other and they swore a blood feud, swearing to slay each other. As fate would have it, though, the mercenary band that both served in was called to action. They marched into war upon war across the Flanaess, growing in skill and reputation. Over the years they each saved the other's life, as battle comrades do, and despite their feud, became the closest of friends. Finally, as aged men, they returned to Perrenland. Both were renowned as peerless warriors, and their friendship was well known. But neither had forgotten their oath. Despite the protestations of their families and friends, they met in a duel. Their fight was long and hard - none had seen the like before, even from men as aged as they - and Willem was slain by Ârald's blade. The victor took his opponent's head with all due ceremony and presented it to his family. He then instructed his shield bearer to take his own head and give it to Willem's people. Their oath fulfilled, the two venerable warriors were buried together, and a great cairn raised to honour them.