The Hunter x Hunter principle: a restriction you choose grants power in proportion to what it costs you. Freedom includes the freedom to bind yourself.
What you see
Oath badges
The rules
An Oath is sworn at a Waystone, witnessed (recorded in the Ledger), and cannot be unsworn for a week. Breaking it strips the bonus and marks the Ledger ("Forsworn"), a badge worn for a month.
Oath library (closed, extensible by ADR): No Shield (+damage), No Song (+Focus), No Bound Gear (PvP: +loot from kills), Never Retreat, Never Yield, Solo (no party bonuses; +drops), Toll-only (never fight a Warden; Toll basket −25%), Bare Hands (Fist only; +Dexterity), No Companions, No Waystone travel (walk everything; +Perception).
Bonuses are additive-capped in one category each; three Oaths at most. Oaths are visible on your card to others (the world can see what you swore).
Sworn modes are Oaths taken at creation and never breakable: Sworn Solo (no trading with players ever; self-found; the Ledger tracks a separate first-clear list), Sworn Hardcore (one death; the Ledger writes the obituary; the character becomes a Draft the player may meet later), Sworn Pacifist (Toll-only climber; no combat techniques; companion may fight), Sworn Silent (no Marginalia, no NPC dialogue; +Perception; for those who want only the numbers).
Hidden
There is more to this system than the rules above. Nobody has registered a discovery yet.
Generated from the game's own rules and tables by the Wiki agent. If the wiki and the game disagree, the wiki is out of date, not wrong.