December 2024 – Techniques of Digital Heraldry

Proposed Session for vKWHSS: “Heraldic IT Systems”

I’ve submitted a proposal for a class session at January’s virtual Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium covering the information systems built by and for the College of Arms and the SCA heraldic community.

Heraldic IT Systems: A Roadmap for Geeks, and How You Can Get Involved

Decades ago the College of Arms ran on paper letters and reference books, but nowadays websites and databases are critical to our operations. This session will review these essential systems, both official Laurel resources and those run by individual heralds, from the perspective of technology: servers, software, interfaces, and more. We’ll talk about current development plans, the gaps that remain to be addressed in the future, and how new folks with technical skills can find a way to get involved and contribute to the College’s digital future.

(Non-technical folks are welcome to attend, but this session will assume some prior familiarity with the worlds of web development, databases, programming, or server operations.)

I hope this session helps to spread information about the infrastructure our community relies on, and maybe draws in a few new folks who can contribute to maintaining it and building the next generation of tools.

Heraldic Alternatives for the Ranged Weapons Peerage

After this summer’s initial presentation of a proposed name, regalia, and badge for the recently-approved peerage for ranged weapons mastery, the College of Arms has responded to feedback from the Board of Directors and members of the community by opening commentary on a number of alternative suggestions.

Members of the heraldic commentary community may provide feedback via the relevant Laurel Letters of Intent, dated August 15, November 30, and December 10. Folks who do not have OSCAR accounts may send their feedback to laurel@heraldry.sca.org by early January.

Candidate Names

Order of Esperance
Order of Prudence
Order of Resolve
Order of Valiance
Order of the Air
Order of the Banderole
Order of the Leopard
Order of the Mark

Candidate Regalia

A garter ermine
A white loop of cord at the shoulder
Two white vambraces or bracers

Candidate Badges

Badges for the Champions of Østgarðr

I’ve recently completed the design of a set of badges requested by the Vicereines of Østgarðr for use by their provincial champions.

The designs incorporate the green and white field used for provincial regalia along with symbols associated with the various areas of endeavor: armored combat, fencing, archery, thrown weapons, youth combat, arts and sciences, and bardic performance.

The initial designs I started with featured crossed arrows and axes, but those turned out to have conflicts with previously-registered armory, and in the end I like the distinction we ended up with of having single charges for the fields in which folks demonstrate their excellence individually rather than head-to-head.

It’s anticipated that these will be displayed along with the populace emblem as part of baldric-style sashes worn by the champions in court and other formal events.

Traceable Art at the Coming of the Frost

The arrival of frigid weather here in Østgarðr seems like a good opportunity to spend some time huddled around the warm glow of my computer screen, summarizing the updates to the Traceable Heraldic Art over the course of the last six months. Thanks to the generosity of the heraldic and scribal community — and to the plethora of eye-catching period illustrations being shared on various Discord servers — there have been 265 images added to the collection since June, including 35 brand-new headings for varieties of plants and animals and artifacts that are depicted here for the first time.

Significant portions of the new art were provided by Máel Brigte and Waḫriia̯ of St Christina the Astonishing, both of whom were new to the project but started off with a bang, sending a mix of original illustrations and items carefully traced from period exemplars. Also contributing art for the first time in this batch were Fenneke Jans, Hamelin L’Archier, Maggie Wryght, and Tibor the Indecisive; I can’t wait to see what you draw next!