I Gave My Word

I swore to Describe I Gave My Word Here, and you shall not deter me! Any dialog to indicate your deep offense that someone says that you could do something that you promised not to, or refrain from something you promised to do — or actually tries to do something you had promised would not happen. (You are, after all, "a man of your word.") Bonus points if no one would realize you had broken it: if you had given it to a dying man, if you gave the promise without thinking of the consequences, or no one would believe the character you gave it to. A Last Request for some reason is actually an especially binding promise — as is a vow made to the already dead. Generally preceded by the Stock Phrase "I give you my word." May indicate Honor Before Reason. On the other hand, a reputation for trustworthiness makes it easier to get people to listen to you, possibly getting you out of a Mexican Standoff, Hostage Situation, or other situation that cannot be resolved by brute force. On the third hand, when getting someone's word, beware of Exact Words. The Blue Blood, particularly the Officer and a Gentleman, is prone to this. Indeed, he may say, "I give my word as a gentleman." More elaborate formulas are possible. This may be because their word is not binding without them, or to emphasize their seriousness. This can be "I swear by X" (usually a deity) — occasionally with the implication that X will personally avenge you on them if they swear falsely — or a specific curse that they invoke to fall on them if they fail (usually expressed in the form "May X strike me down"). Bolt of Divine Retribution is not unknown as punishment. Conversely, some characters, particularly in settings where honor is held highly, will consider any kind of statement, no matter how casual, as binding. Making a blank-check promise — "Yes, I will do something for you" — or making it only because you have been lied to may lead to Honor Before Reason, where a character insists on carrying it out anyway. However, in these situations, even the most honorable character often insists on Exact Words. More prudent characters will break it on these grounds; then, they are more likely to be sure of their facts or refuse to make a blank-check promise. Even some villains stick to scrupulous honesty, either because they retain some ethical standards or because long term Pragmatic Villainy is more effective than short-term Chronic Backstabbing Disorder. It is often a disadvantage for the Devil in a Deal with the Devil. He will follow what he said; he'll squirm the meaning if he can, but if he gave some Impossible Task for you to do and you somehow did it, he will begrudgingly follow through. There are exceptions to this, but if someone is dealing with a literal devil, the deal can be expected to be honored. A truly evil villain, however, may at times respond with "I Lied". If a pure-hearted character must break his word, or insist on Exact Words for some sound reason — such as having been tricked — he will break it but think it Dirty Business. A Knight Templar, on the other hand, will either break his word (or insist on Exact Words) without a tremor of conscience or monomaniacally insist on carrying it out, regardless of the consequences. Similarly, heroes forced into the Sadistic Choice (where one option is saving lives and another is keeping their promise) may end up forced into a Frequently-Broken Unbreakable Vow. Required for Combat by Champion. Compare Not Hyperbole when someone literally carries out their seemingly exaggerated words. Contrast Heroic Vow and Will Not Tell a Lie. Closely related to the Blood Oath. When someone has broken this vow so thoroughly they become ostracised they're The Oath-Breaker. Releasing from the Promise is another option, though some characters think that even the person they've sworn the oath to can't free them. Works using this trope may discuss The Power of Language.