Sacred Strictures

"Remember the Sacred Strictures, boy, and there is no power in this universe that can lead you astray"

- Mercius Nothian to a young Krovo Scrios

The Sacred Strictures, also known as the Seven Strictures and the Savant's Creed, was a mantra of a series of core principles that governed and guided the actions, both individually and as a group, of the Savants of the Charon Dominion. A collection of beliefs, moral codes and directions, and doctrines that formed the foundations for a Savant's ethics, the Sacred Strictures were seven self-restrictions Savants were to impose upon themselves in order to keep themselves pure toward the Harbinger, the Void and their purpose in regards to the Void of Oblivion.

In total, there were seven separate laws within the Sacred Strictures; the Wandering Eye, the False Tongue, the Indolent Heart, the Roving Feet, the Ravenous Mind, the Lustful Flesh, and the Errant Spirit. Savants that willingly broke the Sacred Strictures were deemed heretics, and condemned to the Silence. The Silence was considered to have been a realm within the Void where life extinguished is barred from unity with the Void, and instead is excised into nothingness and destruction. The Animites, as well as their descendants and those that took up their system of beliefs, were all considered to have been heretics, condemned to the Silence.

Mantra
The Strictures, as penned originally by the First Prophet at the dawn of the Oblivion Crusades:


 * Restrict the Wandering Eye
 * Restrict the False Tongue
 * Restrict the Indolent Heart
 * Restrict the Roving Feet
 * Restrict the Ravenous Mind
 * Restrict the Lustful Flesh
 * Restrict the Errant Spirit
 * &mdash;The Sacred Strictures, passed down through the First Prophet

Analysis of the Sacred Strictures
In the prevention of misinterpretation of the tenants of the Strictures, the Savant Caste had clear interpretations of the meaning behind each of the penned creeds. Indeed, the act of supposition toward the explanation of the First Prophet's Sacred Strictures alone has been stated, in rare instances, to be enough to have a Savant condemned and excised from the Caste.

"Restrict the Wandering Eye"

- The First Stricture

The first of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant protecting themselves from the illusion of avarice, greed and material desires. The destiny of all life was the Void, and nothing of the physical plane could traverse into the higher plane of where the Void resided. Thus, in the end, all material things, luxuries and wealth were ultimately vanity and worthless once a Savant's destiny was achieved, being death and unity in the embrace of the Void. Strong attachments with objects of any kind were a distraction that could jeopardize a Savant's fate with the Void. Heretics, those who have come to know what was required of them and willingly ignored them for the sake of greed, was condemned to the Silence.

"Restrict the False Tongue"

- The Second Stricture

The second of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant restricting themselves from expelling falsehoods from their mouths, even unto their enemies. Outright lies, lies of omission and crafty deceptions such as tailored words, false implications and improper exaggerations, were all considered unbecoming for the morality of a Savant in servitude of the Void. A Savant's mission was one that involved freeing all life to the truth of the universe, in which all life was to be in union with the Void. Lies and falsehoods were considered to be both destructive and self-destructive, and once a Savant engaged in the practice, it was almost impossible to fully stop.

"Restrict the Indolent Heart"

- The Third Stricture

The third of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant preventing themselves from becoming inert or idle. The duties of the Savant were not fit for the torpid, the dilatory or the lethargic, nor was it for the stupid, uneducated and the unintelligent. Vigilance, acuity and attentiveness coupled with strength of mind and will, cleverness, discernment and wisdom were what all Savants subscribed to and aspired to ever-improve within themselves. Laziness was the bane of productivity, and no Savant was to guilty of such indolence.

"Restrict the Roving Feet"

- The Fourth Stricture

The fourth of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant restricting themselves from the danger of forgetting their place or overstepping their boundaries and authority. Authority is a birthright of all Voidborn, and none are as entitled to such as the Savant Caste, the leaders of the Charon Dominion. However, even all Savants must be wary of never assuming greater importance or authority than they are due or entitled to. Such has proved to become a source of strife, contention, discord and a breakdown of the unity that binds all Savants in purpose.

"Restrict the Ravenous Mind"

- The Fifth Stricture

The fifth of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant learning to beware the danger of unbridled curiosity, whether involving matters of the Void beyond their concern and responsibility, heretical doctrine such as the tenants of the Animites, or the philosophies outside those passed down by the First Prophet of the Presence. The outlook and perspectives, particularly those of the natives of the realspace galaxy, were to be viewed as limited, stagnant and corruptible, a mere reflection of those that lacked the depth and understanding that came with bondage to the Void. While Savants were to learn about the nature, powers and science of the Force, even that was to be carried out in cautious restraint, lest the foreign values and belief structure taint the unwary mind. Intuitiveness was a valuable characteristic, but strong curiosity could set a Savant on the path to damnation to the Silence.

"Restrict the Lustful Flesh"

- The Sixth Structure

The sixth of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant exercising self-discipline and mastering control over the strong desires one would inevitably develop through their lives. The body often craved things outside one's purpose, such as the imaginings of leading another life, which could become strong enough to lead a Savant to act upon their desires. Romance and cardinal impulses were also considered dangerous as they could easily fester into desires that became rival to a Savants forsworn devotion. While reproduction was a necessity to produce more thralls, Zealots or Savants, the attachment to a mate, a child, a lover or a friend was always to be subordinate to ones devotion to the Void.

"Restrict the Errant Spirit"

- The Seventh Stricture

The seventh of the Sacred Strictures dealt with a Savant preventing themselves becoming distracted, indecisive or otherwise sidetracked from their higher calling and purpose. Even outside the first six, there would always be matters that could rob a Savant of their conviction, from which a Savant must always be on guard. Such was personified in the 'spirit', the entire sum of a Savant's essence through their actions, intent, desires and faith, which a Savant had to do their utmost to prevent from becoming divided. A Savant without clear purpose and clarity of thought would, inevitably, fall. And from a fall, only the Silence remained for them.

Behind the scenes
The "Sacred Strictures" were heavily based upon the "Seven Strictures" of the Abbey of the Everyman's Overseers within the Dishonored universe.