Volume 30, Issue 4 AUGUST 2018/ AS LIII

Herald’s Guild

NEWSLETTER OF THE BA RONY OF SHATTERED CRYSTAL P a g e 1 T h e S h a r d s C u r i a C a l l Their Crystalline Excellencies Seneschal Daimyō Kurro Ookami Baronessa Petrona De Manciano Lady Ástríðr Árnarðóttír [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (618)-910-7130

Pursuivant (a.k.a. Herald) Exchequer Master Avery Austringer I N S I D E Lady Cellah niTighearnaigh [email protected] T H I S [email protected]

Chatelain ISSUE: Deputy Chatelain and Gold Key Master Avery Austringer Vacant [email protected] Acknowledge- Demo Coordinator 2 Knight’s Marshal Mistress Alphia Biraz-Pars ments Baron Gavin MacFergus (see Equestrian Marshal) [email protected]

Deputy Knight Marshal Archery Marshal Master Avery Austringer Missives 3 Master Bubba Godgodson [email protected]

Equestrian Marshal Rapier Marshal Mistress Alphia Biras-Parz Lord Bartelmeu le Wis [email protected] Officer Heraldry 3 [email protected]

Thrown Weapons Marshal Youth Marshal Vacant Lady Brigid MacCauley Heraldry Design [email protected] 5 Minister of Arts & Sciences Tips Chronicler Lady Muirgheal O’Seannaig Tiarna Cináed Ulric, Amhranai tan Briongloid [email protected] [email protected] (618)-803-0395 Call to Arms 8 Web Minister Minister of Youth “Dafydd ap Llewellyn” Baroness Caroline de Mercier [email protected] [email protected] Regional 9 Armorial Master William Calendar 17 Blackfox Award Winner, Best Special Edition, A.S. LI (51) Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 2 Verba Legis

This is the August 2018 issue of The Shards, a publication of the Barony of Shattered Crystal of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Inc.). The Shards is edited by and available from Jona- than Thorn, 6120 Leo Dr. Belleville, Il. 62223. It is not a corporate publication of SCA, Inc., and does not delineate SCA, Inc. policies. Copyright © 2018 Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. For information on reprinting photographs, articles, or artwork from this publication, please contact the Chronicler, who will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contribu-

Acknowledgements

Cover art title design and picture, as well as shield line drawing page 2, the Coronet Logo for Their Excellencies’ missive, the coat of arms display design, and all re-workings of Kingdom, Baronial, and Shire coat of arms on the front cover and in the “Regional Armory” article, have been done by Cináed Ul- ric, however the designs and copyright of the devices belong to their respective listed groups and the SCA, Inc., and are only printed here to serve as an educational tool, in the spirit of helping to identify Liege, family, and friends. All badge designs proposed in Her Excellency’s article “A Call to [Badge of] Arms”, are created by the persons as listed in the article. Officer badge art is provided by the Middle Kingdom’s Midrealm Image Library, who’s statement is: “Feel free to download any of these images for use in your own pages. ...” Horizontal and Vertical dividers throughout the newsletter and framing the front page picture are from the web page Goode Cookery, and their page on Medieval Woodcuts Clip Art collection from the 15- 16th centuries. Their permission-use statement is: “Those who wish to reduce or alter these images for their own use are welcome to do so.” Page of royal devices on page seven comes from Armorial Wijnbergen c. 1291 and is in the public domain. All articles are written by the folks underneath the article’s title or end. All Creative Work, Photography, and Model release forms for every article, photo, or artistic graphic are on file with the Chronicler. P a g e 3 T h e S h a r d s

M i s s i v e s

and might in many venues. We month before we must prove our shall uphold the might and glory mettle at Baroness Wars, August of the Midrealm at the 'Crucible 24-27, 2018 at the Shire of at the Crossroads'. This chal- Swordcliffe. Heavy, Cut & Thrust lenge is to occur September 21- tourneys abound, Dirty Dozen Baron and 23 just over the border in the Largess and Heart of the Mid- Baroness Kingdom of Calontir. We seek lands competitions, Bardic com- combatants of all types: heavy, petition, court, hosting of break- cut & thrust, archers, equestri- fast on Saturday morning. Many My Lords and Ladies of ans, and artisans. Those willing things to do, and many prepara- the Barony, to assist, attend to the informa- tions needed before hand. We I seek your aid. As you tion on the following page or the need as many hands to the fore may know, We hold firm on the page of web listed at the bottom. as we can muster. southwestern border of these Please march to join us Draco Invictus! lands, holding back the tide pur- and display the might of the pure. We have been challenged!! Dragon in full strength! Baronessa Petrona Challenged to feats of strength Also remember that the

O f f i c e r

H e r a l d r y Did you know that most offices of the SCA have their own heraldry/ badge design to help one identify them when one needs to find them? Some of them are: top left to right—heralds, silent heralds (interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing), and sene- schal. Middle: l t r—chatelaine, knights marshal, and fencing marshal. And bottom: l t r— Minister of Arts & Sciences, Mister of Youth, and Excheq- uer or “treasurer.” Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 4

Greetings to the Baronages of Calontir:

We would like to extend an invitation to you all to participate in a grand tournament this year at Crucible at the Crossroads (historically known as Gryphon's Fest), to take place September 21-23, 2018 in Warrington, Mo. (1 hour WNW of St. Louis). To Their Excellencies of each barony, we humbly request your support for the plan for this event. More will be explained below.

Plan This will be a high pageantry event in which the attendees will be divided into 4 main "teams" that will compete in a variety of events in a Grand Tournament for the rights to a fictional crossroads of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom will be divided into 4 groups, or teams, with leadership appointed for each team. These leaders will be the Champions selected by the Baronage to represent their team. It is recom- mended that the Baronage choose a peer that is well-respected and charismatic; this could help drive in- volvement from your groups and lead your team to glory. If you would like assistance choosing a leader, please reach out to the Event Stewards. Shires and Cantons will pledge to the Barony of their choice. Members of the Barony of Three Rivers will be divided among the four teams. The following is our pro- posed division of teams, though the final division may be different depending on your input:  Lonely Tower and Mag Mor  Coeur d'Ennui  Forgotten Sea and Vatavia  Shattered Crystal (from the Middle Kingdom)

The event will feature rattan, cut & thrust, archery, equestrian, and a variety of A&S events in which the populace can compete throughout the day at their leisure but each will culminate in a tourna- ment. There will be a final culminating game event in which the teams choose representatives to navi- gate and obstacle laden race that is interactive. After the main participants have finished the competi- tion, the course will be opened to the populace.

Please contact the Event Stewards or Their Excellencies of Three Rivers with questions, input, or to appoint your Team Leadership (if you agree to participate in this plan). For the teams that would be headed by two Baronies, you may either appoint leadership from both Baronies or (if you wish) just from one of the Baronies.

YIS,

Yseult de Michel ([email protected] 573-427-7743) Yngvarr Bjarnakarl ([email protected]) Event Stewards

https://sites.google.com/view/crucible-at-the-crossroads2018 P a g e 5 T h e S h a r d s

Some Heraldry Design Tips

There are a lot of little Gabriel or the group "SCA Her- color green, Celtic harp, green rules one needs to follow when aldry Chat" on Facebook. clovers; Bardic - harp, musical creating a device, what will, in B. Do look at a guide, like notes, theater mask; personal the SCA, become one's coat of the following, to get an under- tastes - cats, color blue. How- arms. Here now is a compiled standing of the things that make ever, if he added everything that list from some folks who either up heraldry: http:// can make the design too are or were heralds from around heraldicart.org/volume-r/ crowded and overly complicated the "Known World" of their top to continually recreate. Other do's and don'ts when creating 2. Remember the first, primary similar suggestions to this are: one's heraldry. The following rule of heraldry: No metal on A. Don't add too folks are those who helped con- metal and no color on color. many charges. Choose a few tribute to this list: Gunhilda One's metals are Silver & Gold charges one really likes, and Bjorndottar, Ed Claytor, Alan Cou- (note that regardless if one then narrow it down to three - ture, Jenn Crewell, Angela Gal- wants "white or yellow" they will four tops - that one would con- lant, Amy Hanson, Krissy Hous- always be counted as a metal.) sider the charge they want on ton, Lizzi Klassen, Snacha Les- and one's colors are red, green, their device. Instead of using all trange, Genevieve de Lioncourt, blue (more correctly indigo - the of the charges, what many call Patrona de Manciano, Linda darker blues not the turquoise or the "Slot Machine Look", try re- Miku, Robin Mitchell, Paedric baby shades), purple, and black. peating one of your favorite OMullan, Rannveig, Alexandre The reason for the rule is con- charges instead. It works just Saint Pierre, Jennifer Smith, trast. Heraldry is meant to help like the slot machine: lemon- Elana Rhiannon Stark, Lisa identify a person at a distance. Cherry-ORANGE! - no winnings, Theriot, Barbara Turner, Salli If one chooses a gold horse on a but lemon-lemon-lemon wins. Weston, and Lyn Whitewolfe. silver background or a blue fish Same with the colors. Think of on a black background all one your top three - four and then 1. Remember you have an offi- will see from a distance is a narrow that down to two. cer to help you in creating your shiny shield or a large block of B. Be careful when device that will become your color. using "national emblems" in your coat of arms. Seek them out, design. In period the fleur - de - lis listen to their advice, speak with 3. Don't symbolically resume was actually used more in Italian their connections. your device. What this means is heraldry in period, than it was in A. Speaking of connec- one shouldn't try to demonstrate the areas that became France. tions, there are various ways to their persona's life bio by includ- Remember things did change connect with heralds or a group ing charges that represent every over time and may not be what of heralds on-line such as con- part of it. For example, Cinaed is we think them to be. For exam- tacting the SCA's College of St, an Irish highland Bard. He could ple the original, actual color for include symbols for Ireland - Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 6

Ireland and St. Patrick was blue, or layout, out of one's own And even then, please avoid that not green. imagination and then attempt to tick box. Laurel or other heralds C. One of the rea- squeeze it into the rules. This may find a more accurate spell- sons why one doesn't want to hardly ever works. ing or option for one and we will begin with overly complicated or C. Be willing to think out- always try to consult with one charge full designs is honors. side the box. There are lots of before we arbitrarily change it. Sometimes one's local majesties period charges that have either But if one ticks that nasty box, will award one the ability to place never been registered in the SCA we have no choice but to make a specific charge on one's device before, or have been very rarely suggestions for resubmission as an honor/award, however the registered. Try a charge that isn't and send it on back to have one device must still pass the rules overused. (e.g. dragons, uni- make the changes his/herself. of heraldry. If one has a far too corns, crosses...) complicated, charge filled de- 6. Once all the problems are sign, one may not be able to add 5. Be flexible. The design one worked out don't submit one's the honor given charge to one's wants may not be acceptable choice of device design right device. due to either accidentally break- away. Draw up the device and ing heraldic rules or it conflicts stick it on one's refrigerator, or 4. Always check with one's local (looks to close) to another's al- someplace one can look at it on and kingdom heralds about what ready registered arms. Remem- a daily basis to be sure it's what charges (items: animal, tree, ber our group is 52 years old one wants. What might look wheel, etc.) are legal. Some with Kingdoms around the globe. good today could be improved or things automatically aren't be- That's a lot of people to go up changed or made better with a cause they're too modern. Also against in designs. A minor new idea tomorrow. If after a one will need to check on how change in color, position of time period it still says, "yep animals can or cannot be dis- charge, etc, may be necessary to that's what I want", then submit played (on hind legs, sitting, avoid conflict. Consider what it. It might even be a good idea holding something, etc.) It varies ‘Plan B’ might be, and don’t to draw up a couple of device between types of animals and paint it on everything and your designs and posting them both areas and periods of culture. dog until after it’s registered! up around the house to see A. When deciding (Then go crazy!) which one one likes better. charges and colors, choose A. Please try to avoid the one's top two to three for a start Box of Death! aka the box that 7. Forms of submission are set. and then choose one's favorite. says "The college is NOT allowed If one fills one out digitally, put in That way if one's favorite is re- to make any changes on one's one's information and that's it. jected for some reason, one al- behalf." If one MUST have it ex- Do not alter the design of the ready has a backup choice to fall actly as one wants it, then one paperwork and make sure one's back upon. does the research and present it design artwork fits inside the B. We've just told on the in FULL DOCUMENTATION specific boundaries. Do not primary thing to do on charges (research that shows this name change the shield/badge shape. with rule 4. 4B please, do not or this charge was shown and Do not print them smaller than just create some fanciful crea- proven to be used in this histori- full size. Do not tape, staple, ture or object, or line of division cal document). glue, or mutilate the forms! P a g e 7 T h e S h a r d s

A. It asks for marker to use that, ask why, be open to draw out design. Do not use suggestions, research, change it crayon! Do not use colored pen- around, look at it for a while, live cil! Do not use digitally created with it, don't get upset or dis- image unless one knows how to couraged or angry. Learn, ask, make sure color and size are ad- try, be happy with it. It is meant hered to. to represent you, your personal- B. Follow instructions ity, interests, background, per- and send the correct number of sona, origins, beliefs, in other copies (one line drawing, one words - you. colored drawing) A. If one does get dis- C. Be sure one has either couraged, remember there are a registered name or name sub- many a herald who can help and mission at the same time. The assist one with the phrase, "we College does not register devices can't do that, but we can do this, without a name. Even if one's which will be similar/close to name doesn't pass, they will what you want." save hold a device submission under that incorrect name until 10. Be Patient. The process such time as one gets his/her takes 8-9 months if everything name passed. goes right. D. Ignoring the above could mean one's device winds 11. Don't get discouraged if up being rejected even though it one's 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd de- is following all of the heraldic sign gets rejected. Make rules and doesn't conflict with changes or try a new design until anyone. it gets approved.

8. Double check that you're writ- 12. Do not get one's device de- ing the PAYMENT to the correct sign as a tattoo before it is office/agency. Your local College passed. ;) doesn't necessarily have a bank account. Your payment likely To the right is a page needs to be written to the from the Armorial Wijnbergen c. branch accepting but then 1921 to show some basic exam- MAILED WITH your submission to ples of heraldry—even though all the College to keep the paper/ of the arms are the arms of payment trail clear. Kings including Aragon, Bohe- mia, Castile & Leon, Denmark, 9. Although we do have rules to England, France, Ireland, Jerusa- follow, Don't let anybody discour- lem, Mann, Norway, and Sicily. age one. If they say one can't Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 8 A Call to [Badge of] Arms Baronessa Patrona De Manciano

Greetings,

As this is the Heraldry edition, I have a few heraldic thoughts: One of my personal goals has been to get the Awards of the Barony registered both in name and badge. We have a handful of designs for various award badges, in particular, we do not have a great design for the Crystal Shard. I would ask each of you to think about what you think would be a good heraldic emblem for this award. If you are able, please sketch it out. If art is not your strong suit, ask Master Avery or a Scribe to assist in illustrat- ing your concept. I would like to work to submit 2-3 Awards each quarter. I think it proper that the Shard be one of the first. Please submit something soon. Here’s where is gets ugly. I have some heraldic experience, and thus know not all of our Awards are going to pass the College of Heralds as they currently are named. We are going to do initial submis- sions with the established names or super close (one may need a spelling change). If they run into prob- lems passing, we will work first with the Coronet who created the Award to attempt a suitable renaming. I believe in transparency, so I just wanted to prepare everyone. It is my hope that only minor changes will be required by the College. Next… Think our baronial shade fly is pretty cool? So do we. So do a lot of other folks in the king- dom. Want to get your own shield/ device added to it? Submit Arms for registration and you too could be shown on it. Please see our Pursuivant for assistance.

Your Pursuivant Emeritus, Baronessa Petrona [Editor’s note: To help folks with creating ideas, following shall be posted some ideas from Master Avery Austringer and Tiarna Cináed Ulric. One does not have to follow these designs, nor does one have to be literal in their artistic interpretation. If one likes one of the following ideas, please let the Baroness know, or be sure to put forward your ideas to her. A listing of baronial awards is in this month’s special edition of The Shards being posted a couple weeks later.]

Tiarna Cináed Ulric ideas for The Crystal Shard—the middle inspired by some of Master Avery’s designs. P a g e 9 T h e S h a r d s

Regional Armorial

For those who are new to our Barony, the SCA, or those who aren’t yet very well traveled, pre- sented here is a showcase of some of the heraldry one will see in our local area, and the region of the kingdom we belong to. Try and make one’s self acquainted with the images so one can tell what group is hosting something, or if x group one has made friends from is camping together at an event, or if they are present at a formal court. One can also use these as examples to help springboard ideas for creating one’s own heraldry.

To the left is the heraldry for the Middle Kingdom, and of course whomever is the current King. When one sees it as it ap- pears right, with the laurel wreath replaced by a wreath of roses, it becomes the heraldry for the Mid- dle Kingdom’s Queen. If one sees either of these patterns but with a bar with bars extending down, then they represent the Prince & the Princes of the Mid- dle Kingdom.

At the left, bottom, is the heraldry for the Midlands. The Midlands is the region, primarily made up of modern Illinois, which our Barony resides in within the Middle Kingdom. It currently contains the following groups:

At the right, this is the coat of arms for the Barony of Ayreton, which contains the areas of modern Chicago and its sub- burbs., which contains the can- tons of Foxvale, Grey Gargoyles, Rokkhealden, Tree-Girt-Sea, and Vanished Wood. Cantons are smaller groups that are supported by a Barony. One will need to look up the various cantons’ de- vices or coat of arms on line. Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 1 0

To the left is the Shire of Baile Na Scolairi which serves the modern area of Bloomington/ Normal & McLeanCounty Area. They’re known for their “Armored Easter Egg Hunt” event. To the right is the Shire of Blackhawk located in the modern area of Rockford.

To the left, middle, is the device for the incipient (not yet approved) Barony of Caer Gwynt which covers the East Central area of Illinois including Cham- paign-Urbana, Charleston, Effing- ham, Danville, and the surround- ing areas. If one has heard of the groups of Wurm Wald and St. Carol on the Moor, this group now incorporates them. On the right middle is the Barony of Carraig Ban’s device and they cover the city of Dekalb and its surrounding area.

Bottom left is the coat of arms for the Shire of Dark River which serves the modern Quad Cities and their surrounding areas, while on the bottom right is the arms of the Barony of Illiton which covers the city of Peoria, its surrounding areas, and con- tains the Canton of Lochmorrow. P a g e 1 1 T h e S h a r d s

Top left is the design of the Shire of Raven Lake whose lands encompass the counties of Lake and McHenry. Top right represents the arms of the Shire of Rúnviðar- staðr which covers JoDaviees and Stephenson Counties.

Middle left displays the colors of the Shire of Swordcliff whose lands are within the Springfield area. While to the right is the coat of arms of our good, good, neighbors, the Barony of Three Rivers, who are not in the Mid- lands, nor the Middle Kingdom, but are located within….

The bottom left, the her- aldry of the Kingdom of Calontir. Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 1 2 Parts of Heraldic Achievement Cináed Ulric

Crest Supporter Torse Order Badges Mantling Helm Escutcheon Compartment Motto P a g e 1 3 T h e S h a r d s

Heraldry was originally born out of the battlefields of war and used to help identify who was friend or foe, for everyone looks the same in a great suit of metal armor. It has grown into something that be- comes a marker, a person's logo if one will, that can be used not only to identify who they are when on the field, but also to show if one is attending an event, mark personal items as one's own, save and show one's place at a feast table, or used to help decorate one's clothing, home, or Barony. Over time people wished for this to show not only who they were, but all they and their family had earned or stood for, and thus those beautiful scrolls of a shield with a helmet, flowing fabric, motto scrolls, and other items was born. We've come to enjoy them, perhaps wish we had them. (Because technically part of the family or no, unless you're the first born, currently living head of the family, the device you see listed with your sur- name, isn't yours.) The previous page shows a person’s full heraldic achievement, Cináed Ulric's to be exact. Now, fret not nor worry. When one goes to design one's device/coat of arms, one doesn’t have to design all of this straight away, later, or even ever. The main part one is concerned with is the shield and the design upon it, and that is truly all one has to consider within the S.C.A. But for those who'd like to know what a full (heraldic) achievement is that s/he has seen displayed, especially if s/he wishes to knock one out for decorative purposes, then The description of the parts are as follows…

 Escutcheon or Shield: This is the middle and base one builds a full achievement upon. It carries the design that is known as one’s “device” until such time as it is registered properly and then it becomes one’s coat of arms.  Helm (helmet - of appropriate variety): If one decides to go on and create a full heraldic achievement, in heraldry various types of helms are used to distinguish what kind of rank a person held in society. In real life they are numerous depending upon which area’s system one is using: United Kingdom, France, Germanic, etc. S.C.A. rules are varied between kingdoms, and some simplified the process. In the Middle Kingdom, “anyone who has a registered device is entitled to display it with a steel helm … The helm may be displayed either affronty or in profile, whichever better displays the crest. (1)”. In this particular case, this Lord has chosen profile, and with helm closed as in most mundane, real, he- raldic rules not being of any kind of nobility—except being a Lord, if SCA titles were to carry over—his helm would be required to be sideways and with the visor down. In the Middle Kingdom Vis-Count/ess through Duke/Duchess & Peers may ornament—ornament—their helm with gold. (only Their Majesties would be entirely of gold.)  Mantling: In medieval times of great tournaments of pageantry, the mantling was a cloth worn over the helmet to help protect a fighter from his helmet becoming too hot while out in the sun, either to the touch or on the inside. The mantling usually consists of the two primary colors of the device/coat of arms, the primary on the outside, secondary on the inside.  Torse: On top of the mantling one usually sees something that looks like a twisted or braided section of the same cloth. That is exactly what it is and it was the first part of a two part system to help secure the mantling to a knight’s helmet. However sometimes these braids of cloth are missing, or more correctly replaced by something such as a “Cap of Maintenance” or “Laurel Wreath” due to honors they have received. There is also coronets or crowns of appropriate variety. Just like the helms, vari- ous coronets are designed to show various ranks in society: Baron/ess, Vi-count/ess, Count/ess, Duke/Duchess, Prince/ess, King or Queen. Note the following, there are different styles for different areas, just like the helms, but more importantly, there is a different style per/for the S.C.A. and they vary a little between kingdoms. Also these items are specific to various honors and ranks. If one does Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 1 4

NOT have the honor/title, one does NOT get to use that special coronet, and certainly not a crown (only used by Their Majesties—everything else is a coronet.). Thus local examples would be, Tiarna (Irish Gaelic for Lord) Cinaed will only have the torse holding his mantling. Master Zardrick (Bubba) Vansson, a Peer of the Order of the Pelican, could have a Cap of Maintenance holding his mantling down, while his wife, Alphia Biraz-pars as a Peer of the Order of the Laurel, could have a Laurel Wreath holding hers down. (Although per other Middle Kingdom rules, if they wanted, as both court baron/esses they could have a baronial coronet hold the mantling down and surround their arms (shield) with either a wreath of feathers charged with goutes of blood, or a wreath of laurel leaves, re- spectfully.  Crest: Is pretty much anything a person would like it to be, (save things like dragons, as prescribed by the Middle Kingdom Handbook), but usually is one of their supporters, part of a supporter, or one of the charges on their device/coat of arms’ design. The crest was the second part of what held the mantling down, originally being a plume of feathers, or a sculpture made of metal, leather, etc. secur- ing the fabric down via post/spike much like a finial on a tent pole does with a tent eyelet. Now that we have all that, someone apparently decided, “Well…. That certainly can’t stand on it’s own now. It’d fall over. So we need something to hold or support it.” And thus the rest of an achieve- ment is…  Compartment: Basically this a base of some kind, usually just ground covered in green grass, which the bottom point of a shield can rest. There are some other compartments made of things like clover or rocks, it depends upon where one comes from or does as to what may be fitting, and of course what was used in period. Check with one’s Pursuivant to see what kind may be appropriate for you.  Supporters: Obviously, even in soft ground, the shield, helm, mantling, and all that schtuff, isn’t going to stand very well, so it needs supporters. Supporters are objects: humanistic, animal, or arboreal, that help the shield stand upright. Some families have one, some two, some none. In the Middle Kingdom we are allowed only one, unless the privilege to have two is granted.  Motto: A motto is not something everyone has possessed. It is usually a small phrase that summarizes the motivation or inspiration of a family or an individual. Middle Kingdom protocol doesn’t address the usage of these, thus Cináed goes ahead and places one where it should be: on a scroll on the very bottom.

Now there are many rules and regulations when creating one's device and heraldic achievement in the real world, so too for the S.C.A. To begin designing one's own device seek the advice of our local Pur- suivant, Avery Austringer, or our Baroness, Petrona de Manciano is excellent with this as well, as she was our Pursuivant just before being invested as our Baroness. However if one wants to know about taking that device to the next level, here are the rules for the Middle Kingdom as described by its Protocol Hand- book.

"...gentlefolk with registered devices who wish to display them in a full Achievement are strongly encouraged to do so according to the following forms:"

 Anyone who has a registered device is entitled to display it with a steel helm, torse, personal crest, mantling, compartment, and one supporter.  Helms may be displayed either affronty or in profile, whichever better displays the crest. Only the P a g e 1 5 T h e S h a r d s

Royal Peers (i.e., Dukes, Duchesses, Counts, Countesses, Viscounts, Viscountesses) and Peers may ornament their helms with gold.  Restriction on Mantling: It is customary to use one's livery colors, i.e., the principal metal and color from one's arms, for the two sides of the mantling. However, the use of crimson (gules/red) mantling lined with ermine [a fur] is restricted to the Royal Family.  Notes on Torses: It is customary (but not compulsory) to use one's livery colors for the torse. Mean- while, all nobility may wear upon their helm the appropriate coronet of rank, no one else may place one there. Masters and Mistresses of the Order of the Laurel may replace or ensign the torse with a chaplet of laurel leaves. Masters and Mistresses of the Order of the Pelican may replace the torse with a chapeau of any tincture. Ladies and Lords of the Rose may replace the torse with a chaplet of roses. Again only those who are members of those orders are allowed to do so.  Crests can be anything of a person's choosing, with the exception of a dragon in whole or part. Except, holders of Grant of Arms who have served the Middle Kingdom as a Great Officer of State are entitled, at the Crown's discretion, to bear a Dragon Crest.  Concerning supporters: Only nobility - Baron/ess through Duke/Duches, Peers, Holders of Grants of Arms, and Great Officers of State are allowed to have a second supporter. None of these supporters may be a dragon, except those who are entitled to by other rules within Middle Kingdom protocol. Also, the badge(s) of any armigerous orders or awards to which the armiger is entitled may be dis- played by the supporter. In most cases the supporter will wear them around its neck.  All Peers may surround their arms with the appropriate symbol(s) of their orders: for Knight, a gold chain; for Masters and Mistresses of Arms, a white baldric (after the fashion of the Scottish strap and buckle); for Masters and Mistresses of the Order of the Laurel, a laurel wreath; and for Masters and Mistresses of the Order of the Pelican, a wreath of feathers charged with goutes of blood; Ladies or Lords of the Order of the Rose, a chaplet of roses.  Great Officers of State may display the appropriate Badge of Office pendant from a riband around their arms (or from a Knight's chain, etc., as appropriate).  A Landed Baron and Baroness may display the Arms of his or her Barony on a banner maintained by one of the supporters.

HERALDIC LANGUAGE

Did you know that heraldry has its own language? It’s called blazon and is specifically used to describe one’s coat of arms or achievement. For example the front cover has the Barony’s achievement which we would describe as: “On a blue shield a set of nine silver diamonds in dia- mond pattern the middle diamond surrounded by a silver laurel wreath with a silver helmet, blue and silver mantel held by a cap of maintenance within a baronial coronet with a crest of a silver diamond all on a mound of grass and supported by a seahorse on its right and a white doe with a fox tail covered in blue stars on its left. In blazon form it becomes hard to read and understand, but somewhat simplified: Azure, a lozenge within a laurel wreath within eight lozenges in mascle argent, supported dexter by a sea- horse and sinster a pantheon, upon a mount vert, with a steel helm closed visor facing dexter, with manteling and torse [the won’t mention it but assume all will know it’s the primary shield colors], and crest lozenge. And don’t worry the heralds will help one blazon their device. Volume 30, Issue 4 P a g e 1 6

Guild Halls

Business Meetings Held on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Schnucks in Collinsville, IL at 501 Beltline Rd, Collinsville, IL 62234

Arts & Sciences (classes, free nights, & projects) Held on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesdays of the month starting around 6-6:30 as folks arrive. At the Marine UCC Church 111 N. Center Street, Marine, IL. 62061

Argent Scriptorium (scribal & Illumination) TBA

ARMORER’S GUILD/FIGHTER PRACTICE Held on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesdays of the month starting around 6-6:30 as folks arrive. At the Marine UCC Church 111 N. Center Street, Marine, IL. 62061

CRYSTAL ACADEMY—FENCING/RAPIER Held on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesdays of the month starting around 6-6:30 as folks arrive. At the Marine UCC Church 111 N. Center Street, Marine, IL. 62061

CRYSTAL COOKS TBA

CRYSTAL DANCE TROUPE Dance practices are sometimes held during the A&S Tuesday times or on their own on the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month around 7:00 p.m. at the LoveJoy United Presbyterian Church, 2550 Rock Hill Rd, Wood River, IL 62095

SHATTERED SOUNDS Bardic/Music Study on the First A&S Tuesdays of the month alternating between Story Telling, Songs, and Instrumental.

THREAD THURSDAYS Held most Thursdays at the home of Carrys of Caer Rhudd 6 - 9 p.m. Any textile interest is welcome. Please contact her regarding directions. (314) 651-3459

Always check Baronial email, website, or Facebook page for additions and changes to the schedules. August Baronial Pennsic Pity Party is 1 2 3 4 August 3-5 at Camp DuBois PENNSIC WAR 5 6 No Dance 7 A&S, Ar- 8 9 10 11 Practice mored & Rapier Practice 7 p.m.

12 13 14 A&S, Ar- 15 16 Thread 17 18 mored & Rapier Thursdays 6:00 Practice 6 p.m. p.m. Fghtr Prac- tice 7 19 20 Dance Prac- 21 A&S, Ar- 22 23 Thread 24 25 tice 7:00 p.m. mored & Rapier Thursdays 6:00 Practice 7 p.m. p.m.Fghtr Prac- BARONESS WARS tice 7 26 27 28 Business Mtg 29 30 Thread 31 Collinsville, IL Thursdays 6:00 7:00 p.m. p.m. Fghtr Prac- tice 7 September

1 Trny of Arts Bny of Flame Louisville, KY 2 3 No Dance 4A&S, Armored 5 6 Thread Thurs- 7 8Hunt4WhiteSt Practice & Rapier Prac- days 6:00 Bny Roaring W tice 6 p.m. p.m.Fghtr Prac- Oakland Twsp, tice 7 MI

9 10 11 A&S, Ar- 12 13 Thread 14 15Pots&Pens mored & Rapier Thursdays 6:00 Shr Greyhope Practice 6 p.m. p.m.Fghtr Prac- Hamlet, IN tice 7 16 17 Dance Prac- 18 A&S, Ar- 19 20 Thread 21 22 Run4Your- tice 7:00 p.m mored & Rapier Thursdays 6:00 Life Ctn Practice 7 p.m. p.m.Fghtr Prac- Brackendelve tice 7 Detroit, Mi 23 24 25 Business Mtg 26 27 Thread 28 29 F.Coronation 30 Collinsville, IL Thursdays 6:00 7:00 p.m. p.m.Fghtr Prac- tice 7 Baronial and Kingdom events are listed before others, followed by the closest to our Barony. For events outside of this scope, please see the Midrealm Kingdom Calendar at http:// www.midrealm.org/calendar/ or check the advertisements in your latest kingdom newsletter, The Pale. For all side “guild” meetings: dance, weaving, etc. Please be sure to check email & facebook