by Tucker "Sir Temorse" Noyes
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| The Ashenmark heraldry |
1. What does this
heraldry currently represent?
This heraldry is the current national heraldry of Ashenmark.
2. Please describe
your heraldry for us.
The heraldry contains three symbols (the sword, the shield,
and the flame) as well as three colors (red, gold, and black), although each
symbol can use different colors in different depictions of the heraldry.
3. Give us some
background. How did your heraldry come to be? Who or what created it?
The colorless version of this heraldry originally belonged
to the nation of Elemirre. However when the lands of Elemirre were gifted
during the formation of the nation of Ashenmark, color was added and it became
the official heraldry of Ashenmark.
4. Why was this
heraldry chosen to represent you? What is the symbolism behind it? What was the
inspiration behind the design?
The heraldry was chosen as a sign of respect for
Elemirre. However once it became the heraldry of Ashenmark, the symbology
took on new meaning for its new nation. Each of the symbols in heraldry
represent a part of the Ashenmark leadership, and each color an aspect of
Ashenmark, particularly at its founding.
The shield is representative of the Knight Commander of the
Knights of Ashenmark, whom, in addition to their duties as Knight Commander,
serves as a military leader and is tasked with the defense of the nation and
its people. The sword is representative of the Champion of Ashenmark, a
title claimed yearly through strength of arms in a gruelingly long trial by
combat. Finally the flame is representative of the Highlord of Ashenmark,
the leader of the nation whose responsibilities including guiding the nation to
success and glory.
The colors also have their own
meaning. Red was chosen for battle, as the nation was founded on militant
principles. Gold was chosen for youth, as the founding members of
the nation were all young, and the nation continues to consist mostly of
younger members. And finally black, which as Kahlenar would put it, is
for mystery. The black was chosen more specifically for the
unknown. When Ashenmark was formed it was, as stated before, five fairly
young adventurers whose futures, along with the nation's, were uncertain.
I have always found this fitting as the Northern Light blade gifted to
Ashenmark was dubbed Tale Untold.
5. How long has the
heraldry been in the game? Has it changed at any time since it was first
created?
The original symbol was created back in the days of
Elemirre, but the new incarnation debuted at Feast of Chimeron six years
ago.
The heraldry at Feast of Chimeron included three feathers
hung from the bottom of the shield as an homage to many of the founding members'
roots in the Blue Falcons, although sometimes the middle feather was
substituted for an oak leaf, representative of the Oaken Guard for which
Kahlenar finds his roots, as well as being a symbol associated with Twenaria.
The heraldry was also modified for
the Knights of Ashenmark, with much of the symbology being the same.
6. What do you hope
seeing this heraldry means to the rest of the Realms?
So a nation grows and gains new members as does its goals
and direction. As a group the convictions and traits we hope to epitomize
change with every person who retires and when every new person joins us. The
heraldry should exemplify what the nation as a whole hopes to be, and as such,
what that is exactly is different now than it was five years ago, and will
likely be different in another five years. So I suppose that my only hope
is that the heraldry means to the rest of the Realms what it means to those who
currently make up the nation.
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| Heraldry of the Knights of Ashenmark |