Geasa

[Garthanos]

This is an Oath Magic : The idea is that by accepting restrictions which may in some ways be and frequently are completely arbitrary one can create sustainable definite ability enhancements you empower yourself becoming enchanted.

There is a Martial equivalent I think perhaps centered on the Warlord Class?
Empowered Oaths like fealty and similar things also have a very ancient mythic feel to them. Breaking an oath had serious negative and flashy magical repercussions but I think the main advantages of keeping ones oath were less flashy than the Geasa but in a magical universe could be quite real..

Just thinking outloud
has anyone posted anything on Oath Magic or Geas for 4e?

 

[TheLordWinter]

Conviently, I just happened to write this up for my last session. I hope it's helpful!

GEAS
Some promises and words can be broken without an idle thought, but not so with a geas – a geas is a sworn oath made with another bound up into the very deep magic of the world itself. Also known as a Dragon's Promise, a geas can exact a heavy toll if it is broken.
Level: 10
Category: Binding
Component Cost: 0 gp
Market Price: 1,000 gp
Time: 1 minute
Key Skill: Religion
Duration: Until the geas has been violated or lifted.

When words and promises are not enough to ensure someone's good faith, a skilled wizard or priest may invoke a geas. The geas represents a promise between two parties, typically one of mutual protection, honesty or faith. The powerful magics within the world itself acts as a safe holder for the oath, and will punish either party if they break their side of the promise. What this punishment may be is left to the will of the DM, but should be in some way thematically appropriate. A character who has sworn to always tell an ally the truth may find after lying that their tongue withers and they are now mute or that no one believes a word they say. In addition there will always be a visible mark upon the offender, which in some way marks him or her as someone who has broken the geas. The only known way for a geas to be lifted without triggering its awful repercussions is for one party to willingly release the other from it. In a case where multiple people share the same geas, this does not free all of them from its effects at the same time.

A geas cannot be taken up by force – the magic of the geas only takes effect when it is taken up willingly. The magic of the land itself will not accept a false promise or agreement only through threat or intimidation – it must instead come from the participant's hearts. If both parties do not agree to the geas, then the entire geas will not take effect and everyone under its effects is aware of its failure. A character may only be under the effect of one geas at a given time – if a character attempts to agree to a second geas, it will automatically fail even if the character was intent on fulfilling the new oath. Finally, a character is free to offer his own interpretation on how he chooses to accomplish the effects of a geas. If a knight is under a geas to defend a princess who is walking into a dragon's den, he may elect to boldly charge in and face down the dragon or he may elect to knock out the princess and drag her away for her own safety. Both are reasonable examples and neither contradicts the inherent nature of the geas, because of the knight's conviction in both cases that he is fulfilling his oath to protect the princess.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Not that I've seen. A geas could be a type of ritual. Not sure what exactly the parameters would be, it would depend on what the affect on the target was, etc.

"Ordinary" oaths would be social strictures. Break it and people are unlikely to take you at your word in the future.

Of course in a magical universe you might be able to swear an oath "In the name of Gelin" and give it actual teeth. I would think that too would be a form/variation of a ritual. Maybe such a 'binding oath' has to be sworn in the Temple of Gelin and there could be specific conditions (IE essentially it becomes a ritual administered by a Cleric of Gelin). Simply blurting out an oath and mentioning the name of a higher power MIGHT also have some kind of effect/consequences, but that could be more unpredictable and might not be as convincing to whoever is interested in making sure you keep your word.

As for advantages... There could be some sort of buff you could gain for taking on an oath like that, but it would probably be pretty circumstantial. I would think it would only be applicable in the direct furtherance of the oath and it would depend heavily on the nature of the higher power invoked. Of course failing to fullfil such an oath would also logically have consequences!

 

[Garthanos]

As for advantages... There could be some sort of buff you could gain for taking on an oath like that, but it would probably be pretty circumstantial. I would think it would only be applicable in the direct furtherance of the oath and it would depend heavily on the nature of the higher power invoked. Of course failing to fullfil such an oath would also logically have consequences!

Another word for Geasa would be Taboo and supposedly heros were sometimes born with them, sort of the way you were born with a true name, but would need a mage/priest to reveal it.

The Celtic Hero CuhCulaine(sp) had a Geasa to never eat dog flesh, and the defeat in battle that finally killed him was said to be precipitated by breaking that geasa resulting in him loosing his strength. In some ways this sounds more like acting contrary to ones Totemic magic (for his name means Dog of Culaine or something like that.). Other geasa required actions under a certain circumstance instead of forbiding them, always bow to each of the four directions before eating.

Oaths / Geasa and Totems and True names all seem like there could be some very rich heritage to bring more myth to the magical world of D&D.

 

[Quickleaf]

has anyone posted anything on Oath Magic or Geas for 4e?

I was wrestling with this idea a while ago.

Oaths usually imply quests, for which the reward is XP. So the rogue takes the quest for the coin, but the paladin swears an oath to complete the quest. I think from the player's perspective this means the paladin would be taking on a greater social risk. So I wondered if the benefits/hindrances of oaths could be modelled with a reputation/allegiance system.

But I wanted something a little more magical, a subtle kind of magic that to an onlooker might be dismissed as ill fortune. Like, you recover faster from wounds while fulfilling the oath (extra healing surge) or you gain an extra action point; conversely, breaking or failing the oath causes you to lose healing surge/action point.

I felt this was a little bland though effective, and decided it would be more interesting to add some kind of rider effect: Your sword will not break unless you violate or fail your oath. That kind of thing. It would depend upon the person you were swearing to and the nature of your oath.

Another idea I came up with is that the oath could have different effects based upon in whose name you swear it. So you could swear an oath upon:
* Your life/honor (Self)
* Your father/mother's soul (Ancestral)
* Your king/queen (Regency)
* Your deity (Deific)

Conviently, I just happened to write this up for my last session. I hope it's helpful!

Nice write-up!

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Yeah, that would be one reasonable interpretation.

I agree there is a lot of potential for developing the whole area of oaths and whatnot. Another thing that came up once a while back in my campaign was trial by combat, which is kind of a related topic. There could be a ritual for that as well. Exactly what the effects of the ritual would be, and what the conditions under which the combat would take place is an interesting question. Does it insure victory for the innocent party? Does it provide them with an edge in the trial? In the latter case what are the ramifications of the guilty party winning? What would the general social ramifications be when you have a sure fire way of determining guilt or innocence? Would it be a fight to the death? etc.

 

[Garthanos]

Conviently, I just happened to write this up for my last session. I hope it's helpful!

Thanks, I do like it though it emulates more a normal binding oath to me... the kind of thing to go on the list for Martial Rites actually.

The taboo style Geasa remains open I think