Atlantean Heraldry

Overview

This article includes not only base Atlantean Heraldry but also permitted use of Fur on Cloaks, (The Atlantean Act of Apparel - an established Sumptuary Law long established by the Court) and Falconry (Falconry Law).

Qualities of Atlantean Heraldry

As the person earns commendations and achievements - their heraldic options open up more. The Rules for Display allow for the Holder of the Escutcheon to decide what he or she displays at any given time - unless otherwise specified. It is therefore common for an individual to have several armorial bearings available to them - each being used in particular situations, often to expressly impress one or another local group.

Non-Weapon Proficiencies

Heraldry allows for the recognising of an armorial bearing - not only in terms of whose it is, but also from the symbols used it allows the Heraldry Skill user to determine something of the nature of the accomplishments and rank being shown. From the Falcon (if present) and the fur lining of gloves, reins, and cloaks or capes the observer can identify the potential level and social standing of the wearer before they are ever met.

Symbols of Atlantean Heraldry

This article primarily lists the meanings of the symbols found in heraldry and on coats of arms. It notes when each charge is earned and if any benefits to ability or rights are gained from each charge.


The following symbols have been excerpted from W. Cecil Wade's "The Symbolisms of Heraldry or A Treatise on the Meanings and Derivations of Armorial Bearings". Published in London in 1898.

Civilian Falconry & Falconry Birds Permitted

This is based on non-adventuring civilians gaining birds for falconry. In addition, any alternates gained through adventuring are accepted as signs of honorable achievement and are permitted under the Statutes of Falconry and Hawking. If a civilian rank is gained that allows for a higher form of falcon to be gained then it will supersede the earlier bird.

Furs of Nobility

The signs of rank are many in knighthood - this includes the use of the correct fur lining to cloaks and robes of the Knight that match his rank in his order or at court. They must adhere to the correct ranks that are acceptable for current standing in society. The type of fur used in the lining and trim of cloaks is also a sign of rank for the knight and for courtiers, more detail is included in the Furrier Guild information, but in general:
Vair was the fur used as the lining for military cloaks in ancient times.

The Knight is presented with his improved vestments as he gains each rank.

Unlike the falconry element - the changing of rank accessories is mandatory for the Knight/Cavalier.

Noble and Knight Rank Signs Table

Level	Level/Rank Title	Level/Rank Cloak trim Furs and Spurs Permitted	Rank Falconry Permitted
0	Horseman (Page)	Lambskin Trim/Coat Lining	Hobby Falcon
0	Lancer	Rabbit Trim/Coat Lining	Banded Kestrel
1	Armiger	-	-
2	Scutifer	-	-
3	Eques	-	-
4	Esquire (Squire)	Foynes Fur Trim/Coat Lining Silver Spurs : Shield Symbol Option and worn on Sabatons	Lanner Falcon
5	Knight Errant	Vair Trim/Coat Lining	-
6	Knight Bachelor	Potent (Vair) Trim/Coat Lining	Blood Hawk
7	Cavalier	Pean Black/White Spot Trim Gold Spurs on Sabatons	Imperial Eagle
8	Banneret	Minevair Trim/Coat Lining Mithril Spurs on Sabatons	-
9	Chevalier	Pure Minevair Trim/Coat Lining	-
10	Knight	Gold (Adamantite) Spurs to be worn on Sabatons	Saker Falcon
11	Grand Knight	Erminois Trim/Coat Lining	-
12	Knight Commander	Winter Wolf Trim/Coat Lining	Pseudo Dragon
	CIVILIAN/NON-ORDER	ACT OF APPAREL AUTHORISED FUR	LAWS OF OWNERSHIP
	Noble Woman	-	Merlin (Small Falcon)
	Knave/Rogue (9th +)	Panther(GuildMast.) /Giant Rat (Black)	Raven Hawk (Night Hawk)
	Cleric (<9th level)	Beaver or Marten Furs	Male Sparrowhawk
	Cleric (9th +)	Sable	Female Sparrowhawk
	Wizard (8th +)	Owlbear Fur	Find Familiar
	Fighter	Bear (Brown/White or Black)	Female Goshawk
	Baronet - above all knights	Nobility of the Robe	Male Goshawk
	Baron	-	Peregrine Falcon (m)
	Viscount	Marten (Brown Fur)	-
	Count	-	-
	Marquis	Beaver	-
	Earl	-	Peregrine Falcon (f)
	Duke	-	Peregrine Falcon (f)
	Prince	Genette Fur	Peregrine Falcon (f)
	King	Ermine	Gyrfalcon
	Emperor (High King)	-	Golden Eagle

Colors and Metals

Sable or black - Constancy, sometimes grief./ Hades, Hephaestus, or Hecate Linked


Azure or blue - Loyalty and truth./Poseidon, Artemis (Once in a Blue Moon) or Zeus Linked

Purpure, purple - Royal majesty, sovereignty and justice. / Zeus and Royalty

Gules or red - Military fortitude and magnanimity./Ares Linked

Vert or green - Hope, joy and sometimes loyalty in love. / Demeter, Dionysus, or Aphrodite Linked

Tenne or tawney - Worthy ambition.Tyche Linked

Or, yellow or gold - Generosity/Apollo Linked


Argent, white or silver - Peace and sincerity/ Artemis Linked



Sanguine or Murray - Not hasty in battle, and yet a victor./ Athena Linked

Heraldic Lines

A heraldic line is earned based on the main element that the character serves on, no matter what god they serve (if any).

Nebulee or Nebuly - The air or clouds.

The Undee - the Wavy Line - is sea or water.


Engrailed and Invected - Earth or land.


Indented - Fire.


Dancette - Water.


Ragulee or Raguly - Difficulties which have been encountered.


Embattled - Fire or the walls of a fortress or town.

Ordinaries

The Ordinaries are earned through quests and noted achievements. The Knight achieving them may select particular quest types to ensure which benefit they gain. In Atlantis several Coats of Arms can be achieved over time before one is settled on by the character as they progress in ability.


Bar - For "one who sets the bar of conscience, religion and honor against angry passions. (Achievement having protected a temple or performed a quest task for a religion.)




Battune Sinister - Marks a royal descent that is barred by illegitimacy from succession to the throne.

Bend - Defense or protection. (Recognised Protection or Defense Quest of the Realm)



Bordure or Border - Frequently adopted as a "difference" between relatives bearing the same arms.

Canton - Bearing of honor. (Service to the royal family.)

When borne charged, it often contains some special symbols granted by the sovereign in reward for the performance of eminent service.

Chief - Dominion and authority. Achievement - gain control of a demesne, town, city or castle. (+1 Charisma)


Cross - Chevron - Protection (Actively Protect a city, town or castle in a siege)


Fess - Military belt or girdle of honor. (Successfully loot a magical girdle or belt from battle.)

Flasques - Given by a king for virtue and learning, and especially for service in embassage.

Gyron - Unity.


Orle or Tressure - Preservation or protection.

Pale - Military strength and fortitude. (Successful gaining of Level 8)


Palet - Same as Pale.(Successful achieving of Steed)


Pile - Same as Pale.


Quarter - Bearing of honor. Similar to the Canton. (Recognised Service to the Kingdom)


Voiders - Given to gentlewomen who have deserved highly. (Available only to Female Knights or Paladins)

Common Charges

Animal Charges

Alerion - Signifies one who having been maimed and lamed in war, was thus prevented from fully asserting his power.

Ant - Symbolizes a man of great labor, wisdom and providence.

Bear - Ferocity in the protection of kindred. (Protection of family or order members)

Beaver - Industry and perseverance.

Bee - Well-governed industry.

Boar - A fierce combatant when at bay, and ceases fighting only with its life, and therefore may be properly applied as the armorial bearing of a warrior.

Bull or Ox - Valor and magnanimity.

Camel - Docility, patience and indefatigable perseverance.

Cat or Cat-A-Mountain - Liberty, vigilance, forecast and courage.

Centaur - For those who have been eminent in the field.

Cock - Courage, always ready for battle, ready to fight to the death. (Earned through Mortal Combat to the Death Survival)

Chimera - was normally given as a symbol of one who used all his shrewdness, against a feudal baron - can be applied to those who use shrewdness and planning against a lethal monster of greater hit dice to win success.

Cockatrice - Terror to all beholders./ Slayer of a Cockatrice.

Crow - Signifies a settled habitation and a quiet life.

Dog - see Talbot

Dolphin - Charity and a kind affection towards children. Bards can earn this IF they complete the Dolphin Quests associated with the afterlife.

Dove - Loving constancy and peace.

Dragon - A most valiant defender of treasure./Slayer of a Dragon

Double Eagle and Eagle - Signifies a man of action, ever more occupied in high and weighty affairs, and one of lofty spirit, ingenious, speedy in apprehension and judicious in matters of ambiguity.


Elephant - Courage and strength. (Available to those with 19 strength or higher. or who perform BB/LG 3 times in a row successfully).

Falcon - One eager or hot in the pursuit of an object much desired. (COMPLETION OF QUEST INVOLVING OBTAINING ANY TREASURED OR MISSING ITEM)

Falcons Bells - One who feared not to signal his approach in either peace or war.

Fox - One who will use all that he may posses of sagacity, wit or wisdom in his own defense.

Gannet - To subsist by the wings of his virtue and merit, having little land to rest upon.


Goat - Emblem of that martial man who wins a victory by the employment rather of policy than valor. (Victory achieved through use of rules of combat or law rather than pure combat).

Goose and Duck - A man of many resources. (Accumulation of at least 1,000,000 in Gold Value)


Grasshopper - Wisdom and nobility.

Greyhound - Courage, vigilance and loyal fidelity
The Greyhound (Or Windhound) is the fastest of dog breeds and appears on the shields of those who have completed Speed Quests - quests that have a time limit and are completed within that time period.)

Griffin - Sets forth the property of a valorous soldier whose magnanimity is such that he will dare all dangers, and even death itself, rather than become captive. (Secured the release of a valued hostage or kidnap victim - saved a damsel in distress.)

Hares and Rabbits - One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life. (Often given to Monks)

Harpy - Ferocity under provocation. (Enters combat due to taunting and succeeds)

Hawk - One eager or hot in the pursuit of an object much desired. (PURSUIVANT TITLE VERSION of Falcon)

Hawks Bells - One who feared not to signal his approach in either peace or war.

Hedgehog - Provident provider.

Heraldic Tiger - Same as Tiger.

Horse - Readiness for all employments for king and country.

House Snail - Deliberation and perseverance.

Hydra - The conquest of a very powerful enemy.


Lamb - Gentleness and patience under suffering. (Successfully Withdraws from Combat with no losses when under duress and facing certain defeat through negotiation and without surrendering weapons)


Leopard - Valiant and hardy warrior. (Available to those with 19 constitution or higher. or who have been taken to 1 or minus hp and still survived).

Lion - Deathless courage. (Remains in battle and slays cause of fear whilst others are affected by it)

Mastiff.
The Mastiff is a greater dog that brings courage to those who are lost. It is earned through the saving of others, the rallying of those saved, and the leading of them to victory.

Medusa Head - Survived Petrification attempt or being revivified after being turned to stone./ Protected by Athena.

Mermaid - Eloquence. Successfully negotiating under conditions of war or extreme danger.

Owl - One who is vigilant and of acute wit.


Panther - As a lion may be said to signify a brave man, so may a panther a beautiful woman, which, though fierce, is very tender and loving to her young, and will defend it with the hazard of her life. (Same as Lion except for Female Knight, or Paladin)/Also available if ANY Knight does a service for Dionysus.

Peacock - Beauty and pride of carriage.

Pegasus - Exceeding activity and energy of mind whereby one may mount to honor.


Pelican - Devoted and self-sacrificing charity.

Phoenix - Resurrection./Resurrection Spell Cast on Them.

Ram - Authority. Perconally manned a battering ram in a siege that successfully breaks through a gate.

Raven - One who, having derived little from his ancestors, has through Providence become the architect of his own fortunes or one of an enduring constancy of nature. (Achieving Cavalier/Knight Class status (Level 7) having started from level 0.)


Rhinoceros - Great ferocity when aroused.

Sphinx - Omniscience and secrecy.(Successfully completed a secret quest or secured the secrecy of something)

Spider - Wisdom, labor and providence in all affairs.


Stag, Hart, Buck and Deer - Policy, Peace and Harmony.

Squirrel - Sylvan retirement being the delight of its bearer. (Must dwell in a wooded location often earned by Rangers and Druids)


Stork - Filial duty, emblem of a grateful man.


Swan - A lover of poetry and harmony. (Bardic based Charge/ Won by a Non-Bard succeeding in a poetry, speech, or singing competition - can be achieved by a Herald when announcing their champion)


Swallow - One who is prompt and ready in the dispatch of his business. (Must have a Dex of at least 17)






Talbot - Loyalty and Vigilance
The Talbot is a small hunting dog. A type of Beagle/Dachshund, and is a charge earned through tracking and trailing of a quarry over a continuous period. Successful tracking of a target until caught or killed where 5 checks at least are needed in order to catch them is required before the Talbot Charge can be earned.


Tiger - Great fierceness and valor when enraged to combat; one whose resentment will be dangerous if aroused. (Has slain at least 1 of each type of Knightly Primary Enemies)

Tortoise - Invulnerability to attack. (AC -6 or better)


Unicorn - Extreme courage.

Wolf - Denotes valiant captains that do in the end gain their attempts after long sieges and hard enterprises. One whom it is dangerous to assail or thwart. (Successful Siege)

Items and Symbol Charges

Amulet or Finger Ring - Fidelity.


Anchor - Succor in extremity and saving of a ship from being lost

Angels, Cherubs and Seraphs - Dignity, glory and honor./ Have successfully aided an Angelic Solar)

Arm - A laborious and industrious person.



Arrows and Arrowheads - Martial readiness.

Axe -- Execution of military duty.

Beacons or Cressets - One who is watchful for the commonwealth or who gave the signal in time of danger.


Billets - Their first bearer was a man who obtained credence, knowledge and faith in his words and deeds, and who was secret in his affairs.

Blackamoor Head - Deeds of prowess in the Crusades.

Bridge - Signifies a governor or magistrate. (Has acted as a Judge in at least three cases in different regions)


Buckles - Victorious fidelity in authority.

Cannon, Mortars, Cannon Balls and Grenades - Well bestowed on those who have dared their terrors in sieges and battles.

Catharine Wheel - Emblem of one who is prepared to undergo great trials and torture at the hands of their enemy yet survived.

Celestial Crown - Heavenly reward.


Chains - A reward for acceptable or weighty service.

Chaplets and Wreaths - Granted for special service.

Clarion or Rest - Same as Trumpet.

Cornucopia - Bounty of Nature’s gifts.


Crescent - Signifies one who has been enlightened and honored by the gracious aspect of his sovereign.

Pastoral Crosier - The emblem of a shepherd’s watchfulness over his flock, and denotes episcopal jurisdiction and authority. (Given to Clerics above 9th level - symbol of their God)

Crown - Royal or seigniorial authority.


Cubes, squares or dice - Constancy, wisdom, verity probity, and equity. (Given to Rogues who have served as scouts and in open combat performing services for their Lords).

Cushions - Marks of authority.


Estoiles - Emblems of God’s goodness or of some eminence above the ruder sort of men. (Noble Action aiding a community - one star per action up to three in all)

Escarbuncle - Supremacy.

Escallop Shell - One who has made long journeys or voyages to far countries, who had borne considerable naval command or who had gained great victories.

Eye - Providence in Government.


Feathers (usually ostrich) - Willing obedience and serenity

Fire - Zeal.

Foot - Same as leg.

Fret - Persuasion

Fusil - Travel and labour.

Fusil of Yarn - Negotiation.

Gold Spur - Dignity of knighthood.

Gauntlet - Signify a man armed for the performance of martial enterprise.(Defeat of a Greater Opponent in Hitdice using just the fists)


Gold Roundles - One who has been found worthy of trust and treasure.



Hand - Faith, sincerity and justice.


Red Hand - Usual mark for a baronet if borne on a small escutcheon.


Harp - Contemplation. (Successful learning of at least three specific musical instruments)

Heart - Charity, sincerity.


Heart Flaming - Ardent affection.


Horns and Antlers - Strength and Fortitude.

Horse Shoe - Good luck.

Hunting Horn - One who is fond of high pursuits. (Successful completion of a Pursuit Quest)

Human Head - Honor. (Successful completion of a Bounty Quest - capturing of a sought after criminal)


Inkhorn - Same as pen.

Leg - Strength, stability and expedition./Crossed Thigh-bones - Mortality.

Lightning - The effecting of some weighty business with great clarity and force./Blessed by Zeus


Lozenge - Honesty and constancy, also held to be a token of noble birth.

Lozenge - Same as Cubes. (Applied to Carders)

Lyre - Same as harp for Apollo and Hermes followers

Millstones - The mutual converse of human society.

Moon - Serene power over mundane actions. (Administration of Lands)/ Artemis Priesthood Awarded for service to Artemis.

Crescent Moon - service to Darkening Power of Moonlight

Half Moon - service to Hekate in some form

Mullet - Denotes some Divine quality bestowed from above.

Pen - Emblematic of the liberal art of writing and of learned employments.

Pillar or Column - Fortitude and constancy.

Portcullis - Effectual protection in emergency. (Saving of a Town from disaster - Guardian Quest) - 1 AC given.

Purse - A frank and liberal steward of the blessings that God has bestowed .

Rocks - Safety, refuge and protection.

Saddles, Stirrups and Spurs - Preparedness for active service.

Scaling Ladder - One who was fearless in attacking.

Sceptre - Justice.


Scythe - Hope of a fruitful harvest of things hoped for.


Shacklebolt - Victory in war.

Shield - A defender.

Ship, Lumphiad or Galley - All such symbols would point to some notable expedition by sea, or service to Poseidon


Shoe/Boot - Same as Leg.

Sickle - Same as Scythe.

Siliphium Plant -
Silphium of Cyrenaica, smoothly cut and printed in gold; in blazon: silphium couped or of Cyrenaica") is the symbol granted to those completing quests in Desert Campaigns.

Silver Spur - An esquire. (Achieving level 4 or above)

Skulls - Mortality.

Snake - Wisdom.Tower or Castle - Grandeur and solidity. Sometimes granted to one who has held one for his king, or who has captured one by force or stratagem.

Spear Heads or Pheons - Dexterity and nimbleness of wit to penetrate and understand matters of highest consequence.

Spear or Lance - Knightly service and devotion to honor.

Sun - Glory and splendor.

Sword - Indicates the bearer to a just and generous pursuit of honor and virtue in warlike deeds.



Trestles and stools - Hospitality.


Trident - Maritime dominion. (Successfully sunk a vessel at sea - service to Poseidon or Royal family)


Trumpet - Ready for the fray.


Trunk of a Tree - An object of veneration.


Water Bougets - Conferred on those who had brought water to an army or besieged place.


White Roundles - Generosity.


Wheel - Fortune. (Tyche Follower)

Wings - Celebrity, sometimes protection or coverture.

Career

Qualifications

Heraldic Sages specialise in advising on Heraldic symbols to use.

Type

Military