Oath of Service to the Benacian Union

The Oath of Service to the Benacian Union is a solemn vow taken by all those entering civil or military service in the Benacian Union. It represents an unwavering commitment to the ideological principles and authorities of the Union-State.

Origins

The Oath finds its origins in the sacred Union Covenant, which binds the souls of all Benacian subjects to the Chain of Being, the Highest Divinity, and the divinely-appointed institutions of governance. It adapts key tenets from this covenant into an oath of fealty.

For civil servants and military personnel, who yield enormous power and influence on behalf of the state, the Oath of Service is a safeguard against abuse of that power. It continuously re-dedicates them to the service of the divine Union cause. Failing to adhere to or abide by their oaths can be a cause for meritorious subjects, even the most exalted amongst the realms, to fall afoul of the dark attentions of the Magisters-Carnifex.

Swearing the Oath

The Moment of the Oath, 1730 AN

The Oath of Service is sworn as part of the entry process into any civil or military position of importance in the Benacian governmental structure, including:

• External Service of the Benacian Union - Diplomats and foreign policy staff
• Benacian Intelligence Community - Intelligence officers
• Benacian Union Defence Force - Military officers and enlisted
• Commission for the Panopticon - State security services
• Senior bureaucrats and ministers across the civil executives of the Benacian Union.

The oath-taking ceremony is a sacred rite overseen by a member of the United Ecclesiastical Corporation of Benacia - the holy priestly order that serves as a representative of the Highest Divinity. The oath-taker signs their name in blood, symbolically binding their soul and descendants.

Key Tenets

By swearing the Oath of Service, the oath-taker vows to:

• Submit totally to Union authority as divinely-ordained
• Revere the Highest Divinity above all other powers
• Perform all duties commanded by their superiors without question
• Root out heresy, demonic forces and other threats to the Union's ideals
• Forsake all pagan faiths and idols that diverge from the Union's doctrine
• Provide protection and assistance to the holy priestly orders
• Perpetual, multi-generational fealty to the Benacian Union until the end of days

Consequences of Violation

The Oath of Service is considered an inviolable, eternal pact. Any violation is deemed not just a breach of duty, but an abhorrent act of heresy and treason against the divinely-instituted order.

Transgressions can carry extremely severe punishments up to and including:

• Charges of high treason and sentences of summary execution
• Subjugation to "Rites of Exorcism" to purge suspected demonic influences
• Revocation of meritorious subject status and permanent exile to a reform settlement on Leng or Raikoth
• Intergenerational impacts on the oath-taker's family and descendants

As such, all Benacian officials and military forces view the upholding of their Oath as the highest obligation - a matter of eternal spiritual consequence as much as legal compliance. The enormity of this commitment infuses an uncompromising zeal into the Union's civilian leadership and armed forces.

The text of the Oath

Oath of Service to the Benacian Union

I, [subject name], do solemnly swear:

To make prompt submission before the Union Standards, before the portraits of the Congress of Chryse, and at the altars of the Highest Divinity.

To bind my soul to the Community of the Realm, as part of the great Chain of Being linking this material world to the Celestial Temple above.

To offer the votive first fruits of my labour to the goddess Agni, forger of the Sword of Fire that scourges the enemies of Humanity.

To dedicate the first kill and first meal of each new year in remembrance of the Benac, our ancestor who first claimed this continent for Humanity.

To genuflect, prostrate, and sign this oath in my blood, binding my soul and those of my descendants in obedience to the laws of the Union-State.

To submit my soul unto the higher powers, for there is no authority except that derived from the Highest Divinity and the Celestial Temple.

To revere the Highest Divinity, to submit to the governing authorities of the Union-State appointed in Its name, and to oppose none who act on Its behalf.

To perform all good works commanded by authority without question or resistance, lest I bring judgement upon myself.

To fear the Highest Divinity and the executives who act in Its name, to associate not with the rebellious who lust for change.

To keep the commandments of Union authority for the sake of submission to the Highest Divinity alone.

To keep the faith of my ancestors, to honour their shrines and memory, while utterly forsaking the false idols of the Vanir, Germania, Sisera and the Baishens.

To offer special protection and assistance to the Tribe of Levi, the Mobads, the Vicars and all who attain Holy Orders as representatives of the true priesthood.

To obey without question the commands of the Holy Kohanim, unless contrary to the law, and assist them in eradicating heresy, demon-consorters and those who refuse this Covenant.

By my words and deeds, by my blood oath today, I commit myself and all my descendants into the perpetual service of the Benacian Union until the end of days.