The Vitae Aeternum Pact is a piece of Lore in New World MMORPG. It's a part of Tales of Aeternum.
Found on Aeternum
On this island of eternal life there have been established three parties of interest: The Marauders, The Syndicate, and The Covenant that shall thusly be referred to as 'Factions'.
These Factions represent their individual interests and motivations that shall be introduced to every new denizen (henceforth referred to as 'the subject') of Aeternum. These introductions shall take place in the order of signing; first Marauders, then Syndicate, and finally Covenant.
Each settlement's Magistrate shall direct the subject to the Marauders representative of the corresponding settlement who may issue a test of mettle in order to judge the subject's physical prowess. After said test, the Marauder representative must send the subject to the Syndicate representative of the settlement so that they may issue a test of wit in order to judge the subject's cunning in battle. After said test, the Syndicate representative must send the subject to the Covenant representative of the settlement so that they may issue a test of valor in order to judge the subject's gallantry.
Once all three tests have been issued the subject is to return to the Magistrate of the settlement and make a formal, immutable decision on which Faction they wish to swear their undying allegiance to. Henceforth the subject shall belong to their chosen Faction and be available to fight in Wars for settlement gubernatorial control as well as conduct missions for influence within their Faction.
All members of each Faction agree to conduct their fighting away from the settlements of Aeternum, as they are hereby decreed sanctuary.
So the Pact is decreed and so it shall be so for so long as there is life on Aeternum.
Signed:
The Marauders - Representative Commander Joshi
The Syndicate - Representative Alchemist Long
The Covenant - Representative Adjudicator Amano
Found in Everfall Settlement
My fellow Marauders, if you will allow me a moment of extremely brief sentimentality, are among the bravest and most noble fighters on this island.
Here in our faction it matters not your creed or origin but how ferociously you can fight and conquer. The Vitae Aeternum Pact dictates that we issue a test of strength to all newcomers and, once proven worthy, extend the offer of membership to them. It is disappointing to turn them towards the Syndicate. To give undeserved weight to their well-spun fantasies. But it is the price to pay to insure potential recruits make a well-informed decision. They will then join up with us, for life, with no regrets.
While all factions must band together to fight the Corruption, the Marauders are without pretense, an uncomplicated bunch united in blood shed on the battlefield. What more could an adventurer ask for?
-Commander Chauhan of Everfall
Found in Everfall Settlement
The Syndicate may have thinkers from all corners of the world in a seemingly incongruent group of intellectuals, but we are united in the use of our mind before our fists or our hearts, often prone to error as they are. The Syndicate is superior in its objectivity and logical outlook on conflicts. We may have internal disagreements but there is one thing we can agree on: we are better equipped for battle with our sharp, focused minds than the other factions.
Still, we must cooperate with the thoughtless Marauders and Covenant against the Corrupted in the end, lest we desire mutually-assured destruction at the hands of the red tide.
-Alchemist Olivera of Everfall
Found in Everfall Settlement
Our sacred cause cannot be beaten. The snakes of the Marauders and Syndicate stand no chance against us, but at the same time can be, if wielded properly, vital tools in the fight against Corruption. The enemy of my enemy is my friend sometimes, and the same applies to all those fighting Corruption. Though it is said "to lie with dogs, you wake with fleas," cooperation is at times necessary if the Corrupted tide is to be stemmed. This Vitae Aeternum Pact calls us together in the handing off of new denizens to one another to see where they best fit in, and if they are pious enough, to join the Covenant. After the choice is made, we still must rely upon others if we are to truly end the threat of Corruption.-Adjudicator Amano of Everfall
From the journal of Commander Edwin of the Marauders, First Light
Should just crush them all right now, Pact be damned! What use is the Pact if no one does anything? If I were leading the Marauders, I'd make certain that things happened... force those Syndicate cowards to give over what they've researched, and wipe the sanctimonious smirk off the faces of the Covenant with my blade, if I had to. Commander Joshi is a great woman, but the others bind her hands! If the weak were meant to rule, then it wouldn't be so easy to get rid of them, would it? I'll talk with her about it more, next time I see her.
From the records of Alchemist Long of the Syndicate, First Light
Commander Joshi has again proposed that we carry the fight to the north... and while the day will come that we must do this, the time is not yet right. I, and the rest of my brethren, are certain that we will uncover something that will give us an edge over the Corruption. The Ancients must have had some way of fighting against it, perhaps they were too few at the end, or there was not enough time? That halfwit Amano tried to say that the Ancients fell because they lacked faith, that the Covenant is stronger than the Ancients were because of it. I could have throttled her right then.
We must not be hasty. And I must control my temper.
An unsent letter from Adjudicator Dempster of the Covenant, First Light
While this Pact has made these sanctuary settlements much quieter, I fear it has only prolonged the existing conflict. Each leader knows that the Corruption is the true enemy, the rot at the center of all chaos across the island, yet none is willing to step back and accept another viewpoint. I refuse to be caught up in the rank venality of the Marauders, and even if Alchemist Long and I sometimes agree on the blessed nature of azoth, her inability to find faith in our cause makes her a difficult ally. While I am certain our beliefs will act as both sword and shield against the darkness ahead, I am at least willing to grant that some members of the other Factions make points to consider. That does not make me doubt our cause, no... I believe it makes me stronger in it.
From the personal notes of Commander Joshi of the Marauders, Windsward
I am aware that not all share my viewpoint, hence the purpose behind the Pact... but part of that was agreeing to join together to fight against the Corruption! Each time I propose that we take the fight to the north, to the heart of the enemy, I am blocked by imbeciles! The Syndicate keeps saying that now is not the right time, that we must wait and find more knowledge of the Ancients... but doesn't stop us from losing fine people each day to this Corruption! And the Covenant are no better, thinking that their beliefs will keep them safe.
The only thing needed to keep us safe is a blade, a strong arm, and the will to use it.
From the journal of Alchemist Jansz of the Syndicate, Windsward
Progress is being made, but slowly. Others have spread far and wide, searching for any and every remnant of the Ancients. Anything that can aid us in the coming battle is immediately sent to a settlement for safekeeping and research, though we often have to fight off bands of Marauders or Covenant in the wilds. They see us as easy targets, they see us as weak... but they do not know the knowledge we possess, which gives us an edge. Often, a threat is more useful than an action, so we have reached a stalemate. We may not be willing to throw ourselves at an enemy, but we are more than capable of defending ourselves.
A discarded draft from Adjudicator Dempster of the Covenant, Windsward
Those heathens! They refuse to understand that our cause is just and right, and with that on our side, we cannot fail! If they would accept that we have been chosen by Aeternum to fight, to restore the glory and divinity of azoth, we could wipe the Corruption away in a matter of weeks! But no, those Marauder fools want to charge in with nothing to protect them but their armor and blades! Without faith in our cause, they will fall like a bloody harvest before the might of the Corrupted. But still, they do wish to fight... the conniving Syndicate thinkers, on the other hand, want only to sit and wait and hide, hoping for providence to fall into their laps.