Adrian Imperial College of Arms - LoRR February/March/April/May 2000

Unto the members of the Imperial College of Arms does Sir Nigel the Byzantine, Fleur-de-Lis King of Arms and Baronet, send Greetings and Salutations!

Yes, I couldn't put it off any longer. I received my accolade as a Knight Minister on 8 April 2000, amid much hulabaloo and High Court ceremonials. I was deeply honoured by all of the nice things everyone said about me, and I hope I will be able to live up to them.

Under advisement from Tyger, our policy of requiring a petition to register Estate armory has been rescinded. The Estate Holder's mundane signature on the form is sufficient.

The newly updated Armorial is up and running! It is divided into sections to make browsing easier: The Imperium, the Regions, the People, and the Mundane World. It also includes the Backlist so that the complete files are now available on line. Please check the Armorial over for any errors.

You may have noticed some dust around the website recently. In an effort to make it more user-friendly and easy to navigate, I will be changing things around here, without notice. If you have any suggestions for improving the site, please let me know.

Due to recent rulings whose punishments involved the College of Arms, the following must be announced:

By order of the Court of TerreNeuve, Dame Dorothea Kildarn is not permitted to display any of her registered armory until 16 April 2001.

By order of the Court of Umbria, Sir Philippe, formerly known as Sir Iain Mackintosh of Ravens Roost, has all of his registered armory stricken and must present them again under the new rules after his term of sentence is over. Since this ruling is as of this writing being appealed to the Imperium, his armory will remain in the Armorial until such time as the College is directed by the Imperial Crown to carry out the sentence.

By order of His Imperial Majesty, Sir Phelan Kell is not permitted to display his arms at Imperial events until further notice.

Please join me in congratulating Dame Maud de Clayton, formerly Portcullis Queen of Arms, in her promotion to Beltazure. You may always contact her when you have any questions or comments and I am unavailable. Her contact information is on the Contacts page.

Please congratulate Dame Allora McDonnon, formerly Griffin Queen of Arms, on her successful run for the Crown of TerreNeuve! The people of TerreNeuve are gaining an able administrator, and the College is losing one. We can only hope she'll still be interested in Heraldry once she steps off her Throne.

I would like to apologize to Kelda Ruddcatha for mistakenly identifying her as a minor in the previous LoRR. I was confusing her with someone else. Please forgive my memory lapse.

An Heraldic Fictionary by Spits Godschalk

Bezant	......	person married to a bezuncle.
Couchant	......	seated on a couch.
Counter-ermine	......	animal-rights activism.
Courant	......	recent.
Dancetty	......	skipetty-to-the-left (kick, kick).
Enarched	......	stopped at McDonalds on the way to the event.
Escarbuncle	......	expensive French dish of roasted barnacles.
Foil	......	thin sheet of aluminum or tin.
Formy	......	plea of the indolent (e.g. Please do this formy!).
Fretted	......	high strung.
Gout	......	not bad.
Humetty	......	sung without the words.
Lozenge	......	a cough drop, for soothing the throat.
Maunch	......	to snack.

Bezant	......	an Or colored roundel (represents a coin)
Couchant	......	laying down with head up
Counter-ermine	......	sable with argent ermine spots; also known as ermines
Courant	......	running at speed
Dancetty	......	applies only to a two-sided ordinary (such as a pale or fess) which zig-zags or dances across the field
Enarched	......	of an ordinary or line of division - bowed upward as if an arch.
Escarbuncle	......	an 8-spoked star with a fleur-de-lis at each point.
Foil	......	a leaf. (usually seen in trefoil, quatrefoil, and cinquefoil - three, four, and five leaves, respectively)
Formy	......	used of crosses - same as patty.
Fretted	......	interlacing bendlets and bendlets sinister.
Gout	......	a drop.
Humetty	......	used of crosses - couped along the edge of the shield.
Lozenge	......	a "diamond" shape (same as the diamond in your pack of playing cards)
Maunch	......	an heraldic charge that represents a sleeve, cut off along side of body and with a long cuff; looks like the letter "M"

Thanks to Baron Modar Nezanich for this amusing tidbit (and for the definitions, too!).

As always, please feel free to contact either Nigel, Maud, or Aerindane with any comments, questions, or concerns you may have.

Registrations and Returns

If you have any questions about anything on the LoRR, please feel free to ask. Also, if you disagree with any of my rulings, please feel free to comment. I am not infallible.

Ayla MacGuiness (Device) - Per pale sable and gules, a rose slipped and leaved argent.

Clear of Isabeau de Ravenne (Badge: TerreNeuve, Unk 1993) Sable, a rose argent. 1 CD for change of at least half the field (XI.C.1), 2nd CD for addition of foliage (see precedent below).

PRECEDENT: Addition or subtraction of foliage to a flower, plant, or tree counts as a significant difference under XI.C.9: Addition of Charges on Charges. This may be used to create a CD between "a rose" and "a rose slipped and leaved". This only allows for 1 CD whether this is between "a rose gules" and "a rose gules slipped and leaved vert"; only 1 CD may be obtained this way. This may also be used for 1 CD between "a tree" and "a tree blasted", as well as for 1 CD between "a tree" and "a tree eradicated".

Clear of Dorothea Kildarn (Device: TerreNeuve, Jan 1988) Gules, a sword inverted bendwise argent hilted or, overall a heart argent. 1 CD for removal of the heart (XI.C.2.), 2nd CD for position of the sword (XI.C.8.). The tincture of the hilt does not count for difference as it is not significant enough.

Dragon's Talon, House (Estate) - Purpure, two dragons combattant argent and in chief on a plate a cross couped vert.

Clear of Logan du Draconis (Device: Sangrael, Dec 1995) Sable, two dragons combattant argent. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of the charge in chief (XI.C.2.).

Clear of House Celtic Voyage (Estate: Aragon, Jul 1998) Azure, a griffin contourny or between two dragons combattant argent. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for complete change of type of central charge from griffin to plate (XI.C.5.).

The rose is not blazoned as being at honour point because this is the default position for a single charge in chief, although blazoning it that way would not produce an incorrect blazon: Gules, a chevron and at honour point a rose argent.

Clear of Gregoire d'Avallon (Device: Esperance, Aug 1998) Azure, a chevron argent. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of the rose (XI.C.2.). It is interesting to note that this individual is the squire of the presenter. :)

Clear of James of March le Coirnoir (Badge: TerreNeuve, Nov 1994) Per chevron azure and sable, a chevron argent voided sable. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of the rose (XI.C.2.). There is a 3rd CD (even though we don't count that high): for the difference between a voided and unvoided chevron (XI.C.9.). This counts as adding a chevron sable on top of the chevron argent, even though the term used is voided. I include it here for educative purposes since this particular Rule is rarely invoked.

Clear of Robert Jehan Alexandre Chrysostom Antoine Michel de St-Albain Annecy von Hapsburg (Badge: Esperance, Nov 1994) Gules, a chevron or. 1 CD for changing tincture of the primary charge (XI.C.4.), 2nd CD for addition of the rose (XI.C.2.).

Clear of Barony of Dinn Righ (Estate: York, Mar 1995) Gules, a chevron between a mullet of eight points, an oak leaf, and a tower, all argent. 1 CD for change of number of secondary charges from 3 to 1 (XI.C.6.), and 2nd CD for change of type of secondary from mullet to rose (XI.C.5.). The posture of the three charges in this device has the mullet in canton, the oak leaf in sinister canton, and the tower in base. Reducing this number removes the two later charges, leaving only the mullet in canton. Moving the mullet from canton to honour point does not count as significant enough under XI.C.7. because the difference is only slight, but changing it into a rose counts under XI.C.5.

Clear of Owen Tudor (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Gules, a chevron between three tilting helms argent. Clear under XI.C.6. and XI.C.5. as given in the previous entry.

Clear of Thomas Bligthe (Device: Aragon, Dec 1999) Gules, a chevron argent between two anchors and a griffin passant or. Clear under XI.C.6. and XI.C.5. as given above, with the additional CD under XI.C.4.

No conflicts found. The registrant wishes to keep his previously registered arms as a badge.

A rose en soleil is essentially a sun with a rose overall, and so is counted for conflict that way.

Clear of Isabeau de Ravenne (Badge: TerreNeuve, Unk 1993) Sable, a rose argent. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for the addition of the en soleil (XI.C.2.) as it counts as the addition of a sun.

Clear of the very famous badge of Edward IV, King of England (Badge: Mundane, Dec 1998) (Fieldless) A rose en soleil argent. 1 CD for fieldlessness (XI.C.1.a.), 2nd CD for changing the tincture of the en soleil (XI.C.4) since this counts as changing the tincture of the underlying sun.

Clear of Aragon, Kingdom of (Estate: Aragon, Jul 1998) Gules, in pale a crown and a sun in splendor or. 1 CD for removal of the crown (which is of equal visual weight to the sun) (XI.C.2.), 2nd CD for the rose overall (XI.C.3.).

Embattled Hope Sovereign of Arms (Kingdom of Esperance) (Badge) - Purpure, three fleurs-de-lis within a bordure embattled or.

Clear of the Emperor of Adria's Presence Banner (Badge: Adria, Mar 1991) Gules, three fleurs-de-lis or. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd for addition of the bordure (XI.C.2.).

Clear of France Modern (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd for addition of the bordure (XI.C.2.).

No conflicts found. Fleur-de-Lis would suggest that the fleurs be drawn as in the Arms of Esperance, that is, as Fleurs-de-Sion.

Lara Winchester (Device) - Per pale sable and gules, an ostrich feather argent.

Feathers are by default palewise. Ostrich feathers seem to be the Period default for feathers, but it is best to specify whether it is the curled ostrich feather or a more-or-less generic style (the "eagle's feather"). No difference is counted among varieties of feather, including quill pens.

Clear of Antoinette Du Bonet (Badge: Pembroke, May 1994) Sable, a peacock feather proper. 1 CD for changing at least half the tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for changing the tincture of the primary charge from "proper" (which Fleur-de-Lis assumes would be its Period default: vert with an orb azure at its tip) to argent (XI.C.4).

Clear of Isabeau de Ravenne (Badge: TerreNeuve, Jul 1993) Gules, a raven's feather bendwise sinister sable fimbriated argent. 1 CD for changing at least half the tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for changing the tincture of the primary (XI.C.4). Changing its position from does not count for sufficient difference under XI.C.8.

No conflicts found. Since the registrant did not specify a Game name, we are registering it under her mundane name as given.

Meadb Hawkins Drakonja (Badge) - Purpure, a salamander passant enflamed erminois within a bordure or.

This counts as Simple Armory under XI.B.3. Salamanders are by default passant reguardant. Erminois is counted for conflict as if it was the tincture Or (I.C.).

Clear of Kingdom of Esperance (Estate: Esperance, Oct 1995) Purpure, a Fleur-de-Sion within a bordure embattled or. Since this is simple armory, only the primary charge needs to be looked at. Since, under XI.B., only the type of the primary needs to be significantly changed, and the change from a fleur-de-lis to a Monster is clearly significant, this armory is clear. Salamanders are considered to be "Monsters" in Heraldry, and are therefore counted for conflict against Dragons, but are also counted for conflict against lizards and other reptiles.

Clear of Kingdom of Esperance, Embattled Lion Herald (Badge: Esperance, Nov 1999) Purpure, a lion crowned or within a bordure embattled or. For the reasons given in the previous entry. There is clearly a difference between a lion (Beast:Cat) and a salamander (Beast:Reptile or Monster:Dragon), so this is clear under XI.B.

Clear of Nigel the Byzantine (Badge: TerreNeuve, Mar 1999) Purpure bezanty, a bordure or. As above, this is clear under XI.B. because of the change of primary from semy of roundels to salamander.

Clear of Embattled Hope Sovereign of Arms (Badge: Esperance, Apr 2000) - Purpure, three fleurs-de-lis within a bordure embattled or, for the same reasons given above.

Clear of Christina Tartaglione (Device: Chesapeake, Apr 1999) Purpure, a butterfly or marked sable. 1 CD for changing type of primary (XI.C.5.), 2nd CD for addition of the bordure (XI.C.2.).

Clear of Empire of Adria, Ministry of Arts and Sciences (Badge:Adria, Jul 1999) Purpure, an oil lamp or. 1 CD for changing type of primary (XI.C.5.), 2nd CD for addition of the bordure (XI.C.2.).

Clear of Temjur Jhitan (Device: York, Oct 1996) Sable, an Oriental dragon passant reguardant within a bordure gules. 1 CD for changing the tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for changing the tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.). This is included just for the example, since there is a 3rd CD of changing the tincture of the bordure (also XI.C.4.). There is no difference counted for the posture, as change in position of the head is not considered significant.

William Trotter (Device Resub) - Per fess wavy sable and barry wavy argent and azure, a wyvern statant or within a bordure or semy-de-lis gules.

His previous presentation, Per fess wavy gules and barry wavy argent and azure, a wyvern statant or within a bordure or semy-de-lis gules, was returned for conflict under XI.C.5.

Donna Sable (for HMS Hydra) (Badge) - Argent, a hydra (five-headed dragon) passant sable.

This is being registered as a personal badge against the day that the HMS Hydra, an Imperially chartered vessel, becomes an Estate in its own right (it may, it may not). Since there is no heraldic default for a "hydra", this is being blazoned as a five-headed dragon.

Clear of Dominick d'Orcha Dracon (Device: Dragon's Mist, Dec 1997) Gules, a dragon sable. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of posture from rampant (default for dragons) to passant (XI.C.8.).

Clear of Crystos de Mon de Coirnoir (Device: Pembroke, Apr 1991) Argent, a dragon passant gules. 1 CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.). 2nd CD for addition of the heads under the following precedent:

PRECEDENT: Multiple heads are counted for conflict as if they are charges on charges per XI.C.9. This only applies to counting difference between one head and more than one head. No difference may be counted between numbers of heads greater than one under XI.C.6.

Sangrael, Archduchy of (Flag) (Badge) - Per bend sinister purpure and vert, a bend argent.

Fleur-de-Lis would like to take this opportunity to encourage Geographic Chartered Subdivisions to create their own flags for use as badges by their Populace.

Please note that the bend sinister in no way implies bastardy. This belief, while a feature of romantic novels, has no basis in actual practice.

Clear of House Harte (Badge: Chesapeake, Mar 1999) Gules, a bend sinister argent and overall a heart azure. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for removal of the charge overall (XI.C.3.).

Likewise, clear of Memnoch Harte (Badge: Chesapeake, Mar 1999) Azure, a bend sinister argent and overall a heart gules. Same reasons as given in the previous entry.

In the same manner, clear of Heather Hyppalita O'Shea (Device: TerreNeuve, Mar 1999) Gules, a bend sinister argent, overall a horse’s head couped contourny sable. Same reasons as before.

Clear of Stefan Belski (for Bela Belski) (Badge: TerreNeuve, Unk 1993) Sable, a bend sinister or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.).

Clear of Canton of Aquitaine (Estate: Esperance, Jul 1998) Vert, a bend sinister between a key palewise, wards to sinister base and a goblet argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for removal of the secondary charges (XI.C.2.).

Sangrael, Archduchy of (for Brewer's Guild) (Badge Resub) - Per chevron purpure and vert, a chevron rompu and in chief two goblets argent.

Their previous presentation, Per chevron purpure and vert, a chevron rompu and in chief in fess a cup and a tankard argent, was returned for style under the "sword-and-dagger" ruling. This clears that problem. No conflicts found.

Thatuna, Shire of (Estate) Per chevron azure and vert, two axes argent and a garb or.

Clear of Grosvenor (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Azure, a garb or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of the charges in chief (XI.C.2.). Incidentally, this is the coat of arms of the defendant in the famous 14th Century case Scrope v. Grosvenor, upon which the concept of checking conflict is based. Click here for details.

Aeryck Nilsson of Clan Zetter (Device) Quarterly purpure and sable, a dragon argent.

Clear of Villianous Bariteau (Device: TerreNeuve, July 1996) Per pale gules and azure, a dragon contourny maintaining a fracted sword argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for significant change of posture of the dragon (XI.C.8.). No difference is counted for maintained charges.

Clear of Sven Iceman (Device: Chesapeake, Apr 1999) Azure, a dragon sejant erect argent maintaining a torteau. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for significant change of posture of the dragon (XI.C.8.). No difference is counted for maintained charges.

Clear of Katarina le Coirnoir (Device: Pembroke, Nov 1994) Per fess double enarched argent and sable, a dragon or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.).

Clear of Cullen Crombie of the Berwickshire Gordons (Device: York, Dec 1999) Per pale vert and sable, in dexter a dragon rampant contourny argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for significant change of posture of the dragon (XI.C.8.).

Aleska Andraitiene ap aur Derwen (Device) Quarterly azure and sable, a cup or between three increscents argent.

Clear of the Imperial Order of the Table Round (Badge: Adria, Mar 1991) Argent, a cup or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of secondaries (XI.C.2.).

All types of deer are counted against each other for conflict: Stag, Hart, Buck, Doe, Hind, Fawn, Reindeer, and Elk (Moose).

Clear of Nigel the Byzantine (Badge: TerreNeuve, Nov 1999) (Fieldless) An elk statant sable. 1 CD for fieldlessness (XI.C.1.a.), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.). No difference is counted between trippant and statant, as these are not significantly different from each other. That's twice in one letter that Fleur-de-Lis' personal armory has come up for conflict... must be a heraldic plot! :)

Ruth Freebourne (Device) Per chevron sable and vert, in chief in fess two fish naiant and in base a rose argent.

The device is blazoned this way because in tyhe emblazon, the two fish are very clearly as far to chief as they can get, not in the standard placements of a normal two-and-one that would be seen with a per chevron division. This would not count as a CD from the standard placements, however.

Clear of Isabeau de Ravenne (Badge: TerreNeuve, Unk 1993) Sable, a rose argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of at least half the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of the charges in chief (XI.C.2.).

Clear of the King of York's Presence Banner (Badge: York, Mar 1995) Sable, a rose argent between three fleurs-de-lis or. 1 CD for change of tincture of at least half the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for the cumulative changes to the secondaries: tincture (Or to Argent) (XI.C.4.). type (fleurs-de-lis to fish) (XI.C.5.), and number (three to two) (XI.C.6.). Any one of these would be sufficient for the 2nd CD, so pick your favourite.

Clear of Hawthorn de Talleyrand (Device: York, Oct 1996) Vert, a tree eradicated argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.).

Clear of House Hofcu (Estate: Chesapeake, Apr 1999) Argent, a tree eradicated sable. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.).

Clear of Canton of Crimson Oak (Estate: TerreNeuve, Apr 1995) Gules, an oak tree sable.1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the primary (XI.C.4.).

Clear of Kyra Evaine (Device: Chesapeake, Apr 1999) Vert, a tree blasted or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for the difference between blasted and not blasted (XI.C.9, per the precedent under Ayla MacGuiness above).

Congratulations to Thatuna, which has a 100% pass rate with their first set of presentations!

Fredrick von Burg (Device) - Azure, a cross couped argent between in saltire four crescents, horns outward or, the whole between in saltire four doves volant, heads to center argent.

This device was presented several years ago, but there was no record found in either Dame Dorothea's files or the HMR or Ancient armorials. Since the grace period for grandfatherings is long past, Sir Fredrick has had to present them as if new. Fortunately, he has not run into any problems here.

Clear of Switzerland (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Gules, a cross couped argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for addition of secondaries (each dove-and-crescent set is counted as a single unit).

Hanzel von Brandenburg (Device) - Per pale vert and purpure, a phoenix argent issuant from flames of fire proper.

Phoenices are 1 CD away from eagles displayed of the same tincture, since a phoenix is essentially a demi-eagle issuant from flames. This is a significant change as per XI.C.5, but not a substantial change under XI.B.

Clear of Poland (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Gules, an eagle displayed argent crowned or. 1 CD for difference of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for difference between an eagle and a phoenix (see precedent above).

Clear of Galadon Pendragon de Glendorren (Device: Esperance, Apr 1996) Sable, a double-headed eagle argent. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd CD for change of type from eagle to phoenix (XI.C.5.)

Hanzel von Brandenburg (Badge) - Vert, a phoenix's head couped argent incensed proper.

Blazoned on the form as Vert, an eagle's head proper, crouped, breathing flames of fire, it is blazoned here as a phoenix's head for the sake of continuity with his registered arms, above. Phoenices have no proper tincturation, and eagles are properly tinctured Or, not Argent.

Clear of Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Argent, three chevronels gules. This is clear under XI.B.1. because of the complete difference of type from diminutive ordinaries to charges.

Clear of Hay, Earl of Error, High Constable of Scotland (Device: Mundane, Dec 1998) Argent, three escutcheons gules. This is clear under XI.B.1. because of the complete difference of type from subordinaries to charges.

Clear of House du Lac (Estate: York, Dec 1999) Per bend sinister gules and sable, a dexter hand couped bearing a sword argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.). In the emblazon, the sword is the most prominent feature, which reduces the hand to the level of a tertiary. This visual test (under XI.D.3.) creates a 2nd CD for complete change of type under XI.B.

Rising Star, March of the (Estate) - Sable, in chief a mullet or and on a point pointed argent a two-towered castle vert.

Aifa Rowan (Device) - Argent, a pellet charged with a wolf's mask argent, all within a bordure embattled sable.

Clear of Hrothgar Ragnarsson (Device: Aragon, Nov 1999) Argent, on a cross sable a wolf's head caboshed argent. 1 CD for change of type of primary from cross to roundel (XI.C.5.), 2nd for addition of the bordure (XI.C.2.).

Conall O'Cearnaigh (Device) - Vert, a hawk volant within a bordure embattled or.

Congratulations to Valley of Kings who also has a 100% pass rate on their very first set of presentations!

Fidnemed, House (Estate) Per chevron sable and argent, two mullets and a tree eradicated, all counterchanged.

No conflicts found. This is being registered as a "House" because nothing was specified. Please specify what kind of Estate the arms are for on the form.

Josephine Durand (Device) Gules, an owl argent within a wreath of oak leaves or.

Hedgehog, HMS (House) (Estate) - Sable, a hedgehog sejant erect (?) maintaining a belaying pin and on a chief argent a length of chain sable.

The hedgehog is not in a recognizable posture and as such was difficult to blazon. In our Period existed the concept of the creature being known by its posture: a bird displayed is almost invariably an eagle, an owl is recognizable only when close guardant, etc. Hedgehogs, as small spiny ground-dwelling creatures, are (to the best of Fleur-de-Lis' knowledge) always depicted in Period armory as statant, probably since they are rather dome-shaped with short legs, and any other posture would still tend to produce a dome-shaped mass. (It is interesting to note that hedgehogs are often depicted in Period armory as being stuck all over with grapes, although this fact is not always specifically blazoned.) Fleur-de-Lis would suggest that the hedgehog be drawn simply as statant.

Also, given its short legs, drawing a hedgehog maintaining anything is difficult at best. The belaying pin in the emblazon given looks for all the world like a dagger. Evidence of belaying pins in Period armory is required before such a charge could be registered in its own right.

Secondly, the hedgehog is a more-or-less brown animal, and placing an animal tinctured so on a Colour field violates RfHR I. Blazoning a charge as "proper" does not obviate the need to conform to the Rule of Tincture.

Please note that since this is a House and therefore an Estate Minor, the length of black chain is acceptable and appropriate as a charge.

These concerns have been addressed with the members of the House, and a new presentation is in the works.

Jasmine Drakonja (Device) - Purpure, a cat couchant guardant within a bordure wavy or.

Clear of Kingdom of Esperance (Estate: Esperance, Oct 1995) Purpure, a Fleur-de-Sion within a bordure embattled or. No difference is counted between the various lines of division (including Plain Line). Since this is simple armory, only the primary charge needs to be looked at. Since, under XI.B., only the type of the primary needs to be significantly changed, and the change from a fleur-de-lis to a Beast is clearly significant, this armory is clear.

However, CONFLICT with Kingdom of Esperance, Embattled Lion Herald (Badge: Esperance, Nov 1999) Purpure, a lion crowned or within a bordure embattled or. There is no change of type from one variety of Cat to another, therefore this is not clear under XI.B. and must be returned. There is only 1 CD between rampant (default for lions) and couchant under XI.C.8.

Easiest fix is to change one of the tinctures. A change in tincture of the field, the bordure, OR the cat would be sufficient for clearance.

Sangrael, Archduchy of (Archery Order) (Badge) - Per bend sinister purpure and vert, a bow proper stringed and nocked with an arrow argent headed and fletched or.

This is being returned for violation of the Rule of Tincture (RfHR I.). A "bow proper" is brown, and therefore may not be placed on a Colour field.

Clear of the Order of the Royal Star (Badge: Adria, Apr 1987) Argent, a mullet or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (XI.C.1.), 2nd for change of tincture of the primary charge (XI.C.4.). There is no difference counted between mullets of four, five, or six points.

CONFLICT with Thingold Ericson de Coirnoir (Badge: Pembroke, Dec 1994) Azure, a mullet of seven points argent. Only 1 CD for the change from seven to four points. This is considered a significant change (see precedent below) but not the substantial change that would make it clear under XI.B.

PRECEDENT: Mullets and estoiles of greater than six points are 1 CD away from mullets and estoiles of four or five points. Mullets and estoiles of four, five, and six points conflict with each other. Mullets and estoiles of greater than six points conflict with each other and with suns.

The County wishes to release its previously registered arms, Azure, a mullet of four points argent, overall a dragon's head couped contourny vert.

Free Amazons, Domain of the (Estate) - Gules, five daggers inverted argent interlaced as follows: two bendwise, two bendwise sinister, and one palewise.

This is being returned for style under III.A. The arrangement of the daggers appears to be taken directly off of a Tarot card (the Seven of Swords), and was difficult enough for Fleur-de-Lis to blazon that he is still not sure if it adequately captures the arrangement. Furthermore, each dagger is depicted slightly differently, which falls afoul of the "sword-and-dagger" ruling from December 1999 that all charges of a given type must be drawn identically.

Fleur-de-Lis has spoken with the leaders of the Domain, and they are working on an improved design.

Jade Moon, Barony of (Estate) - Sable, on a fess argent, a roundel between an increscent and a decrescent vert.

This is being returned for style under III.A. The motif of a roundel between an increscent and a decrescent, while very common in modern Paganism, is not a heraldic style.

This is not being returned for excessive religious symbology under IX.A.2. because it is plainly not excessive. However, it would be a good idea to keep in mind that, in our Period, anyone publicly expressing Pagan beliefs was in danger of being executed or worse.

Fleur-de-Lis also questions the use of "Jade" as it implies an Oriental rather than a Western European mindset.

Best fix would be to choose another symbol of Paganism that falls within heraldic guidelines. One way would be to use a moon in her plenitude, which would satisfy the "moon" imagery while still being heraldically acceptable.

Michael Sinestro (Device) - Quarterly 1, Gules, two basket-hilted shortswords in saltire iron, 2, Sable, a sinister hand appaumy argent, 3, Argent, a quill pen bendwise sinister purpure, and 4, Vert, in bend sinister a mask of tragedy and a mask of comedy argent detailed gules, overall at fess point an anchor brun�tre.

The first is that this armory violates the prohibition of registration of arms that appear to be marshalled armory (VI.A.). Marshalling is used to show one's parentage, not one's activities.

The second is the overall complexity: there are seven tinctures and five types of charge, for a grand total of twelve, WAY above the limit imposed by III.E.2.

The third is the use of nonstandard tinctures, in violation of the precedent set in July 1999 (codified in RfHR I.I.). In the emblazon, the basket-hilted shortswords are very clearly a greyish color, while the other representations of Argent are left plain white, which is why it is blazoned iron (dark grey) above. The anchor is very clearly a brownish color (probably to indicate that it is rusty), and hence is blazoned brun�tre for lack of something better.

The fourth is the arrangement of the charges, which violattes III.F. Despite the blazoning of the anchor at fess point as "overall" (which is imprecise given the emblazon), the quill in the third quarter actually overlays the anchor, which is itself so small as to appear to be a brisure of cadency, not a charge in its own right.

It appears that this gentleman is attempting to put his entire life story on his arms. These arms say that this man is a fighter, left-handed, a writer (or a scribe), a dramatist, and a seaman, but they are a hodgepodge that does not truly symbolize Sir Michael Sinestro the man. A coat of arms is like a logo: it should be simple and clear enough to be instantly recognizable at a distance. Gas station signs on the highway are a good example of how well simple designs work: you can immediately discern at which exit your favourite brand of gasoline will be found! :)

In short, life-story heraldry is not a Period practice and is strongly discouraged.

Best fix is to go with the cant on his name and change his registered badge, Sable, a sinister hand appaumy argent (given above) into his device. If he wishes, he may register each piece as a badge independently, but this would still preclude him from displaying them on one shield.

Despite their being registered by previous administrations, the College of Arms no longer registers mottoes, so this is being returned.

Thunar, Canton of (Estate) - Azure, two lightning flashes in saltire or, overall a stone hammer proper.

The stone hammer is given as "proper", which makes the head and pommel a dark greyish color and the handle brown. Per the July 1999 precedent, unless an item's "proper" tincture is clearly either Argent or Or, it is considered to be a Colour and therefore may not be placed on a Colour field.

Lightning flashes (also known as "shazams") are 20th century in design and as such are prohibited in Adrian armory.

Best fix would be to use Period-design lightning bolts and change the tincture of the stone hammer to completely Argent. Even though this would still not produce the best Period style design, it would at least be barely acceptable under the Rules.

Waldham von Torsvan (Device) - Or, a brown bear statant erect affronty proper upon a mound vert, a demi-canton azure mullety argent.

This is being returned for style under III.1. This has been blazoned here with a "demi-canton" even though no such subordinary actually exists. At best, this is a delf fesswise azure mullety argent in canton (but there is no way to blazon that lying on the edge of the shield). At worst, it is an attempt to mimic the "stars" part of the American Flag. In either case, charged cantons are a form of augmentation granted by the Crown and as such are not permitted to be registered by individuals unless sufficient proof is supplied to show that such augmentation has been granted (such as a copy of the Herald's Report).

Best fix would be to remove the offending "demi-canton" and register these otherwise striking arms.

Caer Morrigu (House) (Estate) Gules, a raven perched upon a branch, all within a bordure sable.

This is being returned for violation of the Rule of Tincture (RfHR I.). Best fix would be to change the tincture of the field to a Metal. Fleur-de-Lis would like to remind all members of the College that it is acceptable to return things at the local level for obvious violations of the Rules for Heraldic Registrations, so long as the return is reported to me and an explanation is given with the violated Rule citation.