Binding Vow

Historical texts describe the ritual as creating a Pact between the participants as a show of commitment to a deal struck, creating a penalty should one side break their end of the agreement.

Accounts vary on the after-effects of performing a vow. Some vaguely describe light marking on one's wrist and hand or an insignia appearing on the palm as a show of the spell taking effect while others don't mention any physical sign at all.   The penalties for breaking a Vow are also subject to inconsistency. Stories of such events range from scars burning into flesh as a sign of broken Vows to deep cuts appearing on one's hand to burning pain leading to severing one's hand off.   Some have speculated if the variation in accounts could be attributed to stipulations made in individual Vows themselves instead of something built into the ritual itself.

The actual ritual itself is kept rather vague in most accounts. Students on the subject have theorized that the exact manner of performing a Vow might be another possible point subject to change depending on the deal. Given the shrewd secrecy often associated with Dwarves and how some accounts discuss the ritual in more cultural contexts instead of magical, it is also speculated that not all participants were made fully aware of the penalties involved.