Item from The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
A ter'angreal that binds channelers to oaths they cannot break — the foundation of Aes Sedai trust and the chain that limits their lifespan.
The Oath Rod is the cornerstone of Aes Sedai credibility — every full sister swears three oaths on it: to speak no word that is not true, to make no weapon for men to kill men, and to never use the Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn or in defense of her life. These oaths make Aes Sedai trusted (they literally cannot lie) but also limit them (they can't fight effectively except against the Shadow). The rod was originally a criminal restraint in the Age of Legends — called a binder — used to compel oath-breaking criminals. Its current use as a trust mechanism is an ironic repurposing. It also cuts a channeler's lifespan roughly in half, which most Aes Sedai don't know.
A smooth white rod about a foot long, warm to the touch. When a channeler speaks an oath while holding it and channeling, the oath becomes physically binding — she cannot violate it. The binding feels like a tightening across the skin.
Also known as: the Oath Rod, the Rod of Binding