The Gate-Hunger Oath

The Gate-Hunger Oath is Kharod's harsh prayer to the doors that keep it alive. A gate must be fed with guards, repairs, stores, scouts, iron, water, warnings, and pride swallowed before siege. In feast words it sounds like gratitude. In law it becomes labour, tithe, punishment, and clan shame. The oath is old enough that children learn its clauses before they are allowed near deep stairs. Breaking it is not merely treason. It is starving the mouth that holds back the dark, and everyone knows hungry gates bite inward first.