An Armory Endgame

Today wasn't an unusual day, in fact it was a relatively dull day. But, it was also an important day.

Per bend sinister vairy argent and vert,
and argent, a bend sinister raguly on the lower edge
purpure between a bird volant bendwise sable
and a trefoil vert.

After some very long conversations, more IM chats than I care to recall, and more than a few e-mails, I finally began the submission's process for Lady Deraga Tot's arms tonight.

The practical truth of the mater is that I will be handing them over with a check to the northern regional herald at Wiesenfuer Yule Revel in a few weeks, but the point is that we are nearing the end game.

When I took on the role of herald for Deraga, I did it for so many reasons that I can't even list them all. Some of it was personal pride, some of it was pride in the college. Some of it was sympathy, I just didn't think it was right to ask someone to jump through as many hoops as she was being asked to. Some of it was ire, raw and furious; the whole submission process was a mess, and one that, frankly, the "official" end of the college made for itself. Part of me wanted a chance to fix what was wrong, but also take some part of the college to task and say "would you look at this mess!".

Some of it was age... and I know that sounds odd, but its true. A younger me would have railed and yelled and been completely supportive of an unhappy friend, and at the same time completely unproductive in my bluntness. I've been sitting on the edges of heraldic conversations long enough to pick up the names and the words that are needed to have a conversation. I've been watching the book heralds do their thing long enough to know who knows their stuff, who doesn't, and who I need to avoid altogether.

Some of it was distraction; my own life was looking too dramatic just then. I needed something to set my energy on what wasn't me, wasn't about me, didn't involve me. I needed to do something that would bring the best out in me, and in my case, helping others is always a good option for that

I've done as much as I can, and dare to do on this. I have spoken with heralds in six kingdoms, three continents. On top of solid policy, I have also gotten an earful from all sides as the process moves on.

I think just about every other commentary I have gotten about the arms as they developed started with "you need to tell your client..."

To which I really wanted to say "How about I give her her e-mail, and you can find out why that is such a bad idea first hand."

I didn't actually say it, mind you, but Lord it was tempting.

A lot of people seem to have a very specific idea of what heraldry should look like. That's fine, and I'm no exception, but I dare say that I am careful not to substitute my opinions for actual policy.

Sigh...

But as to what I did do... I didn't pick pointless fights, I checked the facts against the literature, and most important of all, I built up a network of friends that would allow me to not only get answers, but learn more as the process went on. If I had to do this again... I would already have the network needed to get answers that I don't have on hand.

So...

I guess I am now officially a book herald.

lets see, I think that calls for a change.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God save the King!"

pulls out the quill...

scribble, scribble, scribble...

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Freelance consulting book herald
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God save the King!"

Done.