War Wizard Oath of Loyalty
War Wizards swear before the Mage Royal and one other War Wizard, plus a court scribe or member of the Obarskyr family, or the second-in-command of the War Wizards plus three other War Wizards of at least twelve seasons of service (rank doesn't matter) and a court scribe. In the event that the Royal Magician/Mage Royal and the Court Wizard are two separate persons, either one of them will suffice. In the event that both offices are vacant, any nine long-service War Wizards (so long as their number includes either one of the two highest-ranking surviving War Wizards) can receive the oath of loyalty.
This oath is informally but universally known as "The Handflame" because someone accepting the oath before the court for dramatic effect often conjures up illusory flame about their hands, transferring it briefly to the swearer's hands as the accepter clasps the hands of the swearer (a formality usually entirely dispensed with in private). A War Wizard's oath is taken only once; dismissal from the organization (for reasons of age, ill health, loss of desire to serve, or unfitting conduct) is known as "release from the oath." The Handflame is always spoken from memory, not recited by the accepter or a prompter and repeated by swearer.
Please note that all personal oaths and many noble oaths have included variant flowery language (if approved beforehand by both independent heralds AND the accepters), and there's no reason why War Wizard oaths shouldn't also have embellishments, so long as this core is retained. I can say that Vangerdahast has been overheard to grunt: "Well enough, I accept your service. Swear to serve?"
response was: "Uh, yes."Vangey: "Right, you're in. Now, I order you to-"
In Cormyr, nobles (when they come of age) personally swear loyalty to both the sovereign (by name, and in the presence of the monarch) AND the Crown, pledging their persons to "the defense of the realm." Purple Dragons, lesser courtiers, and minor officials of the realm swear to "the Crown and the Dragon Throne" before no less than three ranking courtiers and/or the Royal Magician or a member of the Obarskyrs plus a court sage (in time of war, "battlefield oaths" are acceptable before three serving Purple Dragons and a Purple Dragon officer of the rank of ornrion or higher). Oaths are sworn when entering service, and may be re-demanded ("reconfirmed") at any time.
Highknights and courtiers of rank Lord Chamberlain, the High Chatelaine, the Master of the King's Stables, etc. take personal oaths to the sovereign (in the presence of the sovereign, a priest of the swearer's prime faith, the Royal Magician, another member of the blood Obarskyr or failing that two persons of one of the three 'royal' noble families, and a court sage and a court scribe).
All of the above oaths are usually renewed when a new sovereign or regent takes the Dragon Throne.
