Welcome to Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum! Log in and join the community.

Oath of moment

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search
Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Space Marine oath; for the Audio Drama by James Swallow, see Garro: Oath of Moment (Audio Book).

An oath of moment or oath of the moment, was a special oath sworn by Space Marines during the Great Crusade, before going into battle or setting out on a mission. It was taken as a reaffirmation of the oaths sworn to the Emperor and the Legion.[1a]

A typical oath of moment required at least two persons, the swearing Marine(s) and the oath-taker. The oath was usually made over a weapon, and, when written on parchment, was then affixed to the Marine's Power Armour before he departed on his mission.[1a]

Examples

Before departing the Vengeful Spirit to lead the Luna Wolves' 10th Company in the Battle of the Whisperhead Mountains, Captain Garviel Loken swore the following oath, inscribed by Warmaster Horus himself[1b], and read aloud by Captain Luc Sedirae[1a]:

"Do you, Garviel Loken, accept your role in this? Do you promise to lead your men into the zone of war, and conduct them to glory, no matter the ferocity or ingenuity of the foe? Do you swear to crush the insurgents of Sixty-Three Nineteen, despite all they might throw at you? Do you pledge to do honour to the XVI Legion and the Emperor?"

With his hand laid on a fellow Captain's boltgun, Loken responded, "On this matter, and by this weapon, I swear."[1a]

Aboard the frigate Eisenstein, during the Isstvan III massacre, Captain Nathaniel Garro of the Death Guard swore his company to an oath of moment to carry the warning of Horus's treachery back to Terra and the Emperor, no matter what. One of his subordinates, Solun Decius, pointed out that, with all the Marines present taking the oath, there was no third party present to witness it; Garro replied soberly that the Emperor was watching them.[2]

Likewise, oaths of moment were used to cement Garro, and Tylos Rubio's new loyalty to Malcador the Sigillite.[3a][3b]

See also

Sources