By the dim glow of forgotten stars and the faint echo of waves on uncharted shores, I, a traveler of the shadows, swear the Oath of the Hidden Paths. I vow to walk in the spaces between light and darkness, to ferry the unseen and the untouchable, to trade in secrets and whispers, and to live by the code known only to those who traverse the roads where others fear to tread.

I pledge that my tongue shall remain ever still, my lips sealed tighter than the vaults I pass through. No secret that crosses my path shall be spoken of again—neither to friend nor foe, not even in dreams or in death. I will carry the weight of these secrets with me, and should I perish, they shall die with me, never to see the light of day. The names of those I trade with, the hands I shake, the faces I encounter—all will be locked in the deepest recesses of my mind, hidden from the prying eyes of the world. To betray a confidence is to betray the very fabric of the Hidden Paths, and such betrayal is met not with mercy, but with swift and unrelenting justice.

I will remain ever loyal to those who walk beside me on these shadowed roads. Loyalty is the currency that binds us, and without it, we are nothing but thieves in the night, lost to the chaos of a world that does not understand our ways. I swear to stand by my crew, my brothers and sisters of the trade, through storm and calm, through bounty and scarcity. I will protect them as they protect me, for in the labyrinth of secrecy and danger, they are my only true allies. If one among us falls, it is not for wealth or power, but for the bond we share—a bond forged in darkness and strengthened by the perils we face together.

I will be ever resourceful, for the Hidden Paths are fraught with obstacles, both seen and unseen. I shall be as the water, flowing through cracks and crevices, finding my way even when the road appears blocked. I will learn to read the winds and the stars, to see beyond the obvious, to think two steps ahead when others only think of the present. I will cultivate the mind as well as the hand, for a smuggler who cannot adapt is one who will not survive. The world we navigate is treacherous, filled with those who would see us caught or killed, but I will outwit them, turning their traps against them, finding victory in every defeat.

Greed shall not own me, though I will take what is mine. I do not walk these paths for riches alone, but for the freedom they offer, the thrill of the unknown, the power of living outside the law. Wealth is a tool, not a master. I will not hoard it mindlessly, nor will I risk all for mere gold. I shall strike bargains that are fair but cunning, never giving more than I must and always taking what is owed. I understand that true wealth is in the freedom to act, to move, to choose, and that no amount of treasure is worth the chains of servitude. When I strike a deal, it will be done with honor among thieves, with the understanding that the Hidden Paths belong to no man, no crown, no empire.

I swear to honor the invisible forces that govern the Hidden Paths—the silent markets, the secret exchanges, the agreements made in the dark. I will not disrupt the delicate balance that allows us to thrive in the cracks of society. The Invisible Hand guides us all, and I shall respect its wisdom. I will make my trades with care and cunning, but I will never seek to dominate or control the unseen forces that keep our world turning. I know that to upset the balance is to invite chaos, and chaos is the enemy of the trade. I will not hoard power, nor will I seek to destroy those who walk beside me on these hidden roads, for we are all bound by the same oath, the same code.

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Speed and silence will be my companions. Time is both my greatest asset and my greatest enemy. I will act quickly, decisively, and without hesitation when the moment calls for it. In my dealings, I will not linger in one place too long, for the paths we walk are not meant for dwelling, but for passing through. I will leave no trace of my presence, no hint of my passage. Like a shadow in the night, I will come and go without a whisper, leaving only the faintest ripple in the fabric of the world. My footsteps will be light, my words fewer still, and those who seek to follow me will find nothing but empty air.

I shall never betray the trust placed in me. Betrayal is the unforgivable sin, the act that shatters the bonds that hold our world together. I swear to never turn against my comrades, my clients, or my trade. Should I be tempted by wealth, power, or the promise of safety, I will remember this oath and know that the price of betrayal is far greater than the rewards. Those who betray the Hidden Paths are hunted without mercy, their names erased from our history, their legacies turned to dust. I will not be one of them. I will protect the trust given to me as fiercely as I protect my life, for without trust, there is no trade, no path, no freedom.

I pledge to preserve the freedom of the Hidden Paths. These roads belong to no king, no empire, no law. They are the last refuge of those who wish to live outside the bounds of society, to exist on their own terms, to choose their own fates. I will fight to keep these paths free from control, domination, and oppression. Should any force seek to claim them, to bind them to their will, I will resist with every fiber of my being. For the Hidden Paths are not just a way of life—they are life itself, a place where the free roam unchained, ungoverned, and unbound.

I swear to pass on the knowledge of the Hidden Paths to those who prove themselves worthy. I know that I will not walk these roads forever, and when my time comes, I will seek out a successor, someone who understands the sacred code and will honor it as I have. I will teach them the routes, the secrets, the dangers, and the wisdom needed to survive. The paths must remain open for those who come after, and it is my duty to ensure they do. My legacy will not be gold or glory, but the continuation of the Hidden Paths, passed from one traveler to the next, as it has been for generations.

By the light of the forgotten stars and the shadow of the veiled moons, I swear this oath, and should I break it, may the winds turn against me, may the paths close before me, and may the shadows betray my every step. For the Hidden Paths are my home, my life, and my salvation, and I will honor them until my last breath.

This is the Oath of the Hidden Paths, and I swear it with my life, my word, and the unseen forces that govern us all.