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Minutes of the July, 2019 Heralds Meeting

Minutes Page Main Herald's Web Page

Latest LoAR Info Submissions to Laurel from this Meeting Returns from this Meeting

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MINUTES OF THE HERALDS MEETING – July 21, 2019
(11:12 am to 2:07 pm)

ATTENDEES:

Alizan De la Fontaine, Vesper; Edith of Swanesdale, Matins; Krysta of Starfall, Clerk of the College; Gwenhwyfaer ferch Gwilym, Baldric; Hannah Storyteller, PaL; Faun Woods, Cornet; Domamir Vlatko syn, PEaL; Hirsch von Henford, Golem; Kean de Lacy, Brachet.

In remote attendance: Na'arah bat Avraham, Pinnacle Pursuivant; Angus Duncan Cameron, PEaL; Sigríðr Siggadóttir, Rivenoak Cornet.

COLLEGE OF HERALDS MEETINGS
Heralds' Meetings for 2019: September 15, and November 17. Meetings usually begin at 11:00 AM and will be held at Green Crown's home unless otherwise noted. Meetings for 2020: January 5 (at Twelfth Night), March 8, May 17, July 26 (THIS IS A CHANGE), September 20, and November 15.

The DEADLINES for submission forms and documentation are: 2019: September 4, and November 6. 2020 Deadlines: December 18, 2019 for the January meeting, February 26, July 6, July 15 (THIS IS A CHANGE), September 9, and November 4. Submission forms must be complete, and received either via EMAIL or hardcopy by the deadline date at midnight to be considered at the next meeting (which is about 11 days later, except December due to holidays and the roadshow meeting prep time needed). If the forms are EMAILED, then payment must arrive by the meeting day. WALK-IN submissions will only be considered if there is time, but in most cases will be delayed until the next meeting so that each submission can be reviewed fully.

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REPORTS

Vesper (Alizan):

1. Notes from the Known World Heralds and Scribes Symposium
1. From the Vesper Meeting:
1. The College has a new Precedents Project - Online database of College decisions that need review to determine which should official precedents.
• Working on 2010 and subsequent years.
• May involve re-wording decisions from Laurel for clarity
• Looking for volunteers; Gwenhwyfaer has already volunteered. Suggest Hannah, Aasa, and Raev as well.
2. OSCAR 2.0 is in development.
3. E-Payments
• Laurel is managing it.
• Payments that go through Laurel first.
• Money then filters down to the Kingdom.
4. Laurel is working to discourage and eliminate subsidiary badges for offices. There are a few exceptions within the Marshallate; but no other offices should use or submit subsidiary badges.
5. Per Laurel and Wreath: no tabard should have the heralds badge on the sleeves. The only thing that should be on a tabard is the arms of the person represented. Baldrics and simple tabards for field and/or town cry may bear the badge alone.
6. The Beyond Europe Project: the College is looking for documentation/resources for names outside of central Europe. Send links/resources to Laurel.
2. From the Submissions Meeting:
1. Wreath is now also known as Pending for Redraw Man. He is now re-drawing artwork that would normally be returned for redraw. He will then return it to the submissions deputies for approval by the submitter.
1. Wreath estimates this will reduce the turnaround time from 2 months to 1 month.
2. Wreath requests that Kingdoms keep notes regarding approval/disapproval of his re-draws.
3. Submissions deputies and Kingdoms are not required to retain / document any verbal communications, but must retain any written (including electronic) communications.
2. Kingdoms are reminded to PLEASE summarize documentation.
3. Change to Lingua Societatis
1. We can now use language that is used within a given region.
2. The first set of comments re. Lingua Societatis will be on the June LOAR.
4. Name and device changes:
1. Revisions to a name submission (not a registered name) do not require new forms unless the original is withdrawn: they only require commentary.
2. Revisions to new armoury do require new forms but Kingdoms should include the old forms and mark them as "PRIVATE".
5. The College is setting up a new Facebook group for submissions heralds, which will not be available for the general populace. This is to separate submissions discussions from the general SCA Heraldry group.
6. Commenters are reminded to please be civil on OSCAR
1. Do NOT respond to inflammatory comments/strings.
2. Ignore anything inflammatory and/or just plain wrong.
3. Submissions deputies have the ability to remove people from OSCAR at any time.
7. Out-of-Kingdom commenters are asked to please wait one (1) week before commenting, to allow/encourage in-Kingdom commentary.
8. Submissions meetings are now available on Slack: contact Pelican or Wreath for permission to join.
2. From Vesper
1. Please remember we are all teachers within the Kingdom CoH. If you see or hear something to which you can add clarifying information -- for example, explaining what an LOI is as I did on Facebook -- feel free to speak up. We have many heralds that have never done anything beyond consultation or a duty shout, but who might be more inclined to expand their horizons if they understand there's more involved.
2. I am still in need of a company or individual who can scan all the old LoIs. If you have any leads, please let me know. I'd REALLY like to get them out of my back room!

Seawolf (Domamir): He will be starting prep work for Coronet and will be soliciting volunteers for field/court heraldry. He is working with Their Excellencies Anton and Ciar to get the wording of the Beacon of the Mists ceremony to add to the book since it is in Principality law and has been given twice now. He will reach out to Her Grace Eilis (after Oerthan Coronet) to find out the procedure for updating the Mists ceremony book. He would also like to commend Sir Kean on a project he took on for Their Royal Highnesses. They have challenged Their court and guard to get their names and devices registered during Their reign and Sir Kean is helping shepherd them like the boss he is.

Sable Swan (Caoilinn/Moira): The Reign of Seth and Gwen has mostly successfully come to an end. Caoilinn audited the court reports and found three missing, all from local events. Ongoing meetings have been scheduled with Seth and Gwen to fix these reports. Caoilinn's suggestion for future Court reports is to have the court herald take a picture of the finished Court Report and forward a copy to Sable Swan or Their Highnesses.

Moira stepped up as Sable Swan Herald at Investiture and the Regnum was updated the next day. Investiture Court reports have been completed.

Stellanordica (Rodrigo/Bianca): Report from Rodrigo: Stellanordica sends a recap of his Principality to Vesper, including specifics for each local group. The same weekend as this Meeting, Rodrigo is stepping down as Stellanordica during Oerthan Coronet, with Viscountess Bianca Rose Byrne stepping into the position. Many thanks to Rodrigo for his service to the College.

Local group heralds are encouraging heraldic submissions as well as participating in voice heraldry activities. Baronial Heralds are as follows: Eskalya - Syr Verica of Lighthaven, Winter's Gate - Khevron Oktavii Tikhikovich Vorotnikov, stepping in as Sheva is moving out of Kingdom, Selveirgard - Ástriðr þórudóttir.

A list of Ceremonies' Book changes has been submitted to Vesper and he can submit them to Golem Herald as well. He only sent them to Vesper asking for approval guidance. He apologizes for not sending them to Golem as well as Vesper, it was late at night when he compiled them.

"Thanks for teaching and tolerating me over the last few years as Stellanordica. I feel we have a lot of awesome heralds in Oertha and I'm glad to have worked beside them and under some impressive Kingdom level heralds as well. We have several heralds in training in the Principality and I hope they come to fruition in the future."

Exchequer (Domamir): The College remains solvent. He needs to get in touch with HG Flieg if/when he returns from his travels to get the bank statements in anticipation of the Q2 reports. His other project between now and next meeting will be contacting Kingdom Exchequer to coordinate with the two of them and Vesper to get the signatures updated for the account.

Matins (Edith): Deputy (Hannah): Submissions continue to arrive and follow the process towards registration.

With Vesper's gracious permission, she accepted submissions at June Crown in Oertha. From this event, Matins brought back to the College 14 submissions from 9 clients. More have followed since, and there are still several pending that were worked on but not completed at the event.

Many thanks to Morwenna of Tintagel, who has written the official Letters of response to submitters for items published in LoARs for some time now. Morwenna is putting down her pen, as she is returning to school and must reallocate her time. The service she has provided to the College has helped us function and kept our clients well-informed for many years, and will be missed.

Clerk of the College (Krysta): Ceremony Book to "good enough" stage; more ceremonies likely on the way. Still Proofreading LoARs. Is there any other support needed from her?

Green Crown (Eilis): All reports for courts at June Crown have been received and approved. Reports for all other events are coming in on a regular basis, and Their Majesties' needs for Court Heralds are being met. She will be at Pennsic and then will be back in the Mists for several months.

Baldric (Gwenhwyfaer): She is starting to work on several classes, including name pronunciation and how to interact with local Royalty and prep for courts. Does the College want to hold a separate Heralds Collegium? No additional report at this time.

Brachet (Kean): He is doing commentary. He would like to pick up two deputies to train and share the commentary load with.

Green Cloak (Ari Ella): Is waiting on reports from her June Crown Heralds.

Green Trumpet (vacant): Deputy Support: Juliana of Sunset Shire: New Senior Staff position. This position will oversee Town Cry (formerly called Duty Shout) and Heralds Point (information). If interested in this position, please contact Vesper.

The duties of this position include: for Kingdom events: staff and manage information point out of Heralds Point, staff and manage town cries. Store, transport, and arrange set-up & pack-down of Heralds Point to all Kingdom events, specifically: Crown Tourneys (March, June, October), Beltane & Purgatorio Corontations, West-An-Tir War, Great Western War in coordination with Green Cloak.

Green Banner (Astrið): Consultation table activities since the May Heralds' Meeting:

Cynagua Spring Coronet: Gwenhwyfaer ferch Gwilym graciously took over the consultation table for this event, since that's a site she mostly can't get to.

Matins and Green Banner took the consultation table to June Crown in Oertha. Since Matins was present and was willing to take submissions at this event, they got a LOT of people hoping to submit or just getting advice. Except for periods when they were required to be closed, they worked all day and early evening Saturday and a couple of hours on Sunday morning.

Duke Frederick and Mistress Aasa stopped by to help out, as did several Oerthan heralds. Baron Khevron Oktavii Tikhikovich Vorotnikov, OP, had other obligations during the tourney, but brought his educational materials to the consultation table. Although she knows she missed a lot that was happening on the periphery of the pavilion, Astrið did note several of the populace perusing those materials. Viscount Rodrigo de Reinosa, Stellanordica Herald, provided the pavilion used and a large water barrel. Lady Ástriðr þórudóttir, Wolfhound Herald, also spent a lot of time at table. As well, she graciously undertook to be the delivery point for the folding chairs and table that Astrið had sent to Oertha for use running the table. If Astrið overlooked anyone who helped, please excuse her. They were VERY busy.

Golem (Hirsch): During the last couple of months: Court Reports are coming in, mostly pretty timely. Royalty are doing a good job of checking the work and adding corrections -- all seems to be good there. The Kingdom Ceremony Book, after close to 10 years, has been updated and the updates are online. (One thing he's pleased with: navigation in the PDFs -- on the Table of Contents, click the title of a ceremony and you jump to it, click the footer and you go back to the Table of Contents, and cross-references "page xxx" if you click the page number will take you to that page.) Modified the roster database code a little, as there are some issues with some of the roster letters not going out in a 'batch' mailing. Problem is that testing it would have meant sending out lots of emails and we didn't wish to spam the College of Heralds. That's about it. Overall things seem to be working.

Jared has received regular backups from Hirsch. And he is regularly doing downloads as needed.

Rivenoak (Sigríðr Siggadóttir): Siggi has just taken over as Herald for Rivenoak.

Aasa: She is working on a new project: medieval names from Scandinavia (as opposed to Old Norse/Viking era names).

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ANNOUNCEMENTS / Other Business

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Facebook Page: The West Kingdom Heralds' have their own page on Facebook, announcements, help with consultation, and more are often done there:

      https://www.facebook.com/groups/302970543102065/

MAILING LIST: The West Kingdom College of Heralds has a mailing list for internal communication. NOTE that we are only using this for announcements and we may eventually phase it out. Any herald is welcome to join by request. To join the list, please subscribe at wkheralds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

There are also individual mailing lists on Yahoo for the Principalities, but the traffic has gone to announcements only, and again these may be phased out in preference to the Facebook page noted above. Details can be found at the bottom of this page: I Need to Contact a Kingdom or Principality Herald

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES: Many interesting heraldic links can be found through the SCA Heraldry web page at http://www.sca.org/heraldry, including the Laurel home page, the on-line Armorial and Ordinary (with search capabilities) and The Academy of St. Gabriel (an onomastic and heraldic consultation service). The West Kingdom Heraldry site and the West Kingdom Awards List can be accessed through the West Kingdom site, http://www.westkingdom.org. Heraldic queries may also be addressed to Vesper at herald@westkingdom.org -- answers may take a few days.

BRACHET MEETINGS

Contact brachet@heralds.westkingdom.org for external commenting participation. A central Cynagua external commenting meeting may begin soon, so watch this space!

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EXCERPTS FROM THE LOARS

The cover letters, acceptances and returns for the past can be found at http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/. If you are interested in responding to some of the calls for commentary put out by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms, please be sure to visit the site.

March 2019 LoAR (printed May 29, 2019) (West - December 2018 LOI)

Cover Letter

From Wreath: Appendix J, Part 1 - Expansion

This month, we were asked to consider a device with three non-ordinary charge groups directly on the field. The arrangement of these charges was not attested in Appendix J of SENA, which requires all armory with three or more charge groups directly on the field to be documented. This would be grounds for return.

However, according to those involved in assembling Appendix J, the list of attested charge arrangements was done quickly at Pennsic's Herald's Point as the draft of SENA was being assembled. It was never intended to be a definitive list, and there are certainly patterns in period armory that are not covered by it.

We therefore ask for the College's help in expanding Appendix J to include other arrangements of three or more charge groups directly on the field. Of particular need are attested arrangements of charges where held charges are classified and considered as their own secondary charge group.

From Wreath: Appendix J, Part 2 - Maintenance and Sustenance

The August 2015 ruling, "Eliminating the Unsustainable `maintained/sustained' definitions" that caused maintained charges to be worth a DC also effectively brought them into the discussion on charge group theory as covered by Appendix J. However, maintained charges functioning as their own secondary charge group have been an issue never truly addressed within the context of Appendix J, Section E.

Part of this was out of kindness to submitters: Appendix J was written when maintained charges did not count for difference, so none of the attested patterns mention them. Any submitter who wanted to register armory with three non-ordinary charge groups directly on the field (e.g. Argent, a lion maintaining a spear, in chief three mullets sable) would have had to document the pattern in order to successfully register the armory, so very few consulting heralds were even aware that this was an issue.

That said, the call for documentation of arrangements to add to Appendix J specifically included a request for consideration of held charges in period armory as separate charge groups. As these specific patterns are added, the grace period for submitting armory with undocumented patterns of maintained and sustained charge groups will come to a close. Armory appearing on an external LoI published on or after January 1, 2020 that has three or more charge groups, including maintained secondary charges, will need to either have the pattern attested in SENA Appendix J or provide documentation.

From Wreath: Tomoe Revisited

This month we were asked to consider designs featuring three tomoe in annulo. In the January 2016 registration of the device of Samukawa Mantarou Yukimura, it was ruled: "This is the defining instance of the tomoe in Society heraldry. The tomoe is a comma-shaped period Japanese charge, generally used in threes rotating around a central axis. It cannot be used outside of the context of an Individually Attested Pattern."

The ruling above is not without merit; the only context we have in period mon for three tomoe in annulo, or mitsutomoe, is alone on the field. The inclusion of any other charge would be a deviation from documented practice. And if allowed as a step from period practice, there will certainly be times where the motif would be used with a design entirely unjustifiable by the available documentation, including armory that is decidedly European, perhaps even obnoxiously incongruous with anything we know about cultures and contact (e.g. the combination of a mitsutomoe with a Thor's hammer).

However, tomoe are attested armorial charges in period, and the specific arrangement of the tomoe into an annular swirl akin to a triskelion is an attested -- indeed, defining -- arrangement for these charges. While we fervently hope that submitters don't actively abuse loopholes placed into SENA for the benefit of non-European or non-heraldic cultures, we cannot in good conscience allow this restriction to remain.

Therefore, the previous precedent is overturned. Tomoe, specifically mitsutomoe, are accepted as a step from period practice. Functionally, mitsutomoe are a single charge for purposes of conflict-checking and unity of orientation/arrangement purposes.

Similar motifs, such as two tomoe in annulo (futatsutomoe) or four tomoe in annulo (yotsutomoe) will need to be documented to period mon in order to be used in Society armory, as will the use of a single tomoe. The number and arrangement of the tomoe in mitsutomoe are inherent in the design, in the same way flaunches are defined by their number and arrangement.

From Wreath: Revisiting Charged Tierces

This month we were asked to consider whether an augmentation of arms may use SENA A3A3 to violate the long-standing prohibition on charged tierces. While I saw no harm in this allowance, it did cause me to visit the original ruling to ensure that I wasn't missing an unexpected reason for the rule in the first place. When I was but a vert pursuivant, I believed the reasoning behind the rule to be that charged tierces were too close to marshalling. Bruce Batonvert's Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry supports this interpretation, noting "since a charged tierce has the additional problem of looking like impaled armory, tierces may no longer be charged in Society armory."

However, the ruling dates from the February 1991 Cover Letter, where the reason listed was merely "what is becoming overwhelming support for the idea." Discussion prompted by that letter also considered "whether uncharged tierces should be included in this ban (and whether we could or should expand it to un/charged gores, gussets, etc.)."

Tierces, according to Batonvert, are difficult to document. "We have no unarguable examples of the tierce in period armory; it is found in modern flags, and therefore permitted in Society heraldry. However, because the use of a tierce creates an unbalanced design, the use of a tierce with other charges is a step from period practice, pending documentation." Gores are found as hypothetical charges in period armorial tracts, and gussets are attested charges in Scots heraldry.

We ask the College for input on whether we should revisit this ruling. Is there a reason consistent with the principles of SENA to continue the ban on charged tierces, gores, and gussets? Has more current research provided evidence of tierces in period? If not, is there a reason to continue their use at all?

From Wreath: Non-Tergiant Reptiles and Amphibians

This month we were asked to consider a tortoise rampant and three tortoises statant in annulo. Tortoises are tergiant by default, and one of the few quadrupeds (along with other reptiles and amphibians) which are currently allowed in that posture. The shell of the tortoise, however, limits the length of its legs, making it more difficult to identify when in the other quadrupedal postures. Several commenters noted that the tortoise rampant was particularly difficult to identify, and one noted that heraldic tortoises are tergiant, period.

This discussion could not have come at a more opportune time. In drafting my long-anticipated omnibus ruling on Unity of Posture, Orientation, and Arrangement, I've been trying to work out an easy and sensible way to categorize animate charges to determine which should be compared and which shouldn't. Generally, this has been easy by applying the principle of "if it can be compared, it must be compared:" the categories of fish, serpents, and birds each have postures which are incomparable with one another, or with quadrupeds. Most quadrupeds fit neatly into their own category, but the aforementioned quadrupedal reptiles and amphibians present a challenge.

On one hand, a charge group with a lion passant and a tortoise rampant would be returned for a clear violation of the Unity of Posture rules; both charges can be in the same posture under current Society practice, so they must be in the same posture. On the other hand, a lion cannot be tergiant so a lion rampant and a tortoise tergiant might not be comparable.

Lizards and their monstrous cousins salamanders are statant by default. Examples of lizards and salamanders appear in standard quadrupedal postures, such as the statant salamander badge of Francis I of France and the rampant lizards as supporters and crest of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. There are also examples of lizards in tergiant postures in late Italian and German armory. Frogs are found both tergiant and sejant in period arms. Tortoises are attested charges in tergiant postures in period armory.

We ask for the College's assistance in answering the following questions:

1. Are there examples in period armory of tortoises in postures other than tergiant?

2. Are there other examples of quadrupedal reptiles and amphibians in postures not listed above?

3. Absent explicit attestation, are tortoises in standard quadrupedal postures such as rampant, couchant, or sejant recognizable and identifiable enough that they should be allowed in SCA armory? If so, what guidance should we provide submitters to ensure that the postures are clearly and unambiguously depicted?

From Pelican: Considering Offensiveness

This month we considered a question of whether the name Jose Taberna de Torquemada should be considered offensive because the locative byname de Torquemada was also used by a particularly infamous historical figure, Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada. In the past, we have limited questions of offensiveness to the meaning of name elements or, occasionally, the sound of the name elements. We have registered without comment the surnames of infamous historical figures, for example: Báthory (Elizabeth Báthory, the "Blood Countess," serial killer and inspiration for innumerable mediocre vampire movies); Eichmann (Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust); Heydrich (Nazi leader Reinhard Heydrich, the "Butcher of Prague," organizer of Kristallnacht, and another main architect of the Holocaust).

Based on some of the commentary on the de Torquemada question, we wish to open up a wider commentary on whether we should expand the concept of offensiveness in SENA to include name elements with unsavory historical associations. Bearing in mind that few historical figures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance are likely to meet modern standards of conduct, there seemed to be a consensus among commenters that some surnames (and possibly given names) are too closely associated with unquestionably awful people. The most frequently cited example was whether we would permit a submitter to register the surname Hitler. (Yes, it is period. No, don't submit it to make a point.) We ask Palimpsest to open a Rules Letter on the possible expansion of the concept of offensiveness without waiting for a test case.

From Palimpsest: Alternate Titles

The December 6, 2018 Palimpsest letter proposed the release of six alternate titles in Arabic, Qadi, Qadiya, Maulan, Maulana, Naquib, and Naquiba, based on research by Basil Lions Heart. We are approving the removal of all six of these titles from the alternative titles list. We thank Lions Heart for his thoughtful research into medieval Arabic language and culture.

West Acceptances - March LoAR

West, Kingdom of the. Heraldic title Green Banner Pursuivant.

Submitted as Green Banner_, a timely correction by Kingdom added the necessary designator Pursuivant.

West, Kingdom of the. Heraldic title Green Trumpet Pursuivant.

Submitted as Green Trumpet_, a timely correction by Kingdom added the necessary designator Pursuivant.

April 2019 LoAR (printed June 24, 2019) (West - January 2019 LOI)

Cover Letter

From Wreath: Results of Call for Documentation on Single Items Above a Chevron or Per Chevron Line of Division

In the November 2018 Cover Letter, we asked submitters to provide examples of single charges positioned directly above a chevron or per chevron line of division, or beneath a chevron inverted or per chevron inverted line of division. Thank you to Gunnvor Orle, Amanda Crux Australis, and Sabine Berard for providing a sizable cross-section of samples across several armorial traditions.

The examples provided show four main patterns featuring a charge directly above a chevron.

• The secondary charge as the only other charge on the field, with the chevron shifted down to give the charge in chief space to breathe and be recognized.
• The secondary charge as one of three above the chevron, with none below; in such examples, the charges are always in fess in chief when the shield is flat on top, and arranged one and two when the shield has a round top (e.g. late-period Italian rolls of arms).
• The secondary charge as part of a larger set of equally-sized (and almost always identical) secondary charges, usually semy.
• The secondary charge as a brisure, or mark of cadency. These examples have a chevron between three identical secondary charges, with the brisure distinct from the main secondary charge group by type, tincture, and/or size. It is only in these rare occasions that we see a secondary charge above a chevron depicted substantially smaller than a secondary charge below the same chevron.

Based on this documentation, we ask consulting heralds to discourage submitters from using the pattern of [Tincture] a chevron between [two dissimilar charges], and warn submitters that a wide and inexplicable disparity in size between a charge in chief and a charge in base in such a pattern may be grounds for return.

From Wreath: Expansion of SENA A2B4b to Include Fantastical Flora and Fauna

In the November 2018 LoAR, we asked commenters whether SENA A2B4b, which allows natural flora and fauna not indigenous to Europe to be used with a step from period practice (in keeping with a few examples we have of 16th century badges featuring New World fauna, namely turkeys) to expand to include fantastical flora and fauna from non-European cultures. A spirited discussion ensued, and I would like to thank Etienne Sea Stag, Sneferu Golden Pillar, Basil Lions Heart, Mathghamhain Elmet, Muirenn Blue Tyger, Jeanne Marie Noir Licorne, and Alisoun Metron Ariston for their input. I would like to call particular attention to Mistress Solveig Þrándardóttir, who not only provided an exceptional framework for expansion of SCA armory to be more inclusive of cultures outside of the Anglo-Norman hegemony, but also provided a much better phrasing of the rule than I had initially drafted.

Given substantial support for this change among the College and massive proliferation of fantastical creatures in 16th century heraldry (notably, but by no means exclusive to, Tudor badge adoption), SENA A2B4b will be modified to include fantastical flora and fauna from outside Europe, subject to the same documentation expectations and blazonability currently required of their natural counterparts. Please see Palimpsest's revision of the rule in the following section.

This rule change was proposed and accepted amidst a growing expectation by Society members to expand the scope of the SCA to be less Eurocentric. While the rule assists submitters with non-European personas and cultural interests to include charges that represent their passions, it is hardly a magic bullet. In coming months, discussion will continue on how best to serve submitters who want armory that accurately represents cultures and practices outside of the Anglo-Norman system of heraldry as heritable property. I expect there to be an even livelier debate on that subject than there was on this one.

Commentary on the submission that prompted this rule change request asked whether this modification of SENA A2B4b reverses my previous ruling on August 2017 that barred Asian dragons from registration under Core Heraldry rules. This decision was, perhaps, one of the least popular of my tenure thus far, and one that should have prompted discussion about the limitations of SENA A2B4 back then. I am happy to say that with the adoption of this revision to SENA, Asian dragons are once again registerable under Core Rules as a step from period practice. The previous long-standing restriction on the number of toes per foot that Chinese dragons may have without presuming upon the King of Korea or the Emperor of China are still in effect.

From Palimpsest: Change to SENA A2B4b

From the Palimpsest letter dated January 24, 2019

Final wording for the rule change:

b. Non-European Plants and Animals: Plants and animals from outside Europe which were known to Europeans in period are registerable but a step from period practice. This includes plants and animals from the New World, Africa, and Asia. The few such animals used as period charges or crests are registerable as period charges, without a step from period practice. However, there are not enough of them to allow a general pattern for the use of any non-European animals and plants. Plants and animals which cannot be documented to be known to Europeans before 1600 (from the interior of Africa, northern Asia, or parts of the United States Americas that were not systematically explored by Europeans before 1600, for example) will not be registered. While grey period citations will be considered, the great expansion of knowledge Europeans gained about the rest of the world between 1600 and 1650 means that the burden of proof of pre-1600 knowledge here is slightly higher.

Attested depictions of fantastical plants or animals from outside Europe are also registerable with a step from period practice under this rule, if they can be shown to be known to Europeans before 1600 and have a standard enough depiction to be identifiable. However, their postures and orientations must be describable in standard blazon in order to be registered.

West Acceptances - April LoAR

Cassiopeia Livius. Name and device. Sable, a dragonfly and in chief two mullets of four points Or.

José Ramirez de Coronado. Name and device. Vert, a heron contourny argent, a chief Or.

Although Spanish names use accents inconsistently in period, the submitter may be interested to know that the second element can also be spelled Ramírez. If the submitter prefers the accented form, he may make a request for reconsideration.

Nice Spanish name from the late 15th century onwards!

Marcus Livius Varus. Name and device. Sable, on a bend wavy gules fimbriated three talbots passant to sinister palewise argent.

Nice Roman name for 4th century B.C.E. through the 2nd century C.E.!

Shimon Levi ben Yitzchak haKohen. Device change. Argent, a wolf sejant sable and a gore azure.

There is a step from period practice for the use of a gore with additional charges.

The submitter's previous device, Argent, a pawprint and an orle sable, is retained as a badge.

West Returns - April LoAR

Rew Payne. Device. Argent, a raven striking contourny sable maintaining a heart gules, on a chief sable a plate between an increscent and a decrescent argent.

In the October 2018 return of the previous version of this device, it was ruled:

This (armory) is returned for violation of SENA A2C1, which states that "While depictions that are somewhat more naturalistic than the flat stylized depictions of heraldic charges will be registered, animals and plants may not be drawn in trian aspect (with perspective)." In this submission, the raven is drawn in trian aspect, with the angle of its sinister wing showing an angled dive inconsistent with registerable depictions.

Upon resubmission, the artist should include internal detailing to aid in identification of the raven.

While the submitter did address the artistic notes, the posture of the raven remains unchanged. The angle of the body and wings are exactly the same, and commenters generally agreed that the bird is still in trian aspect.

Generally, there are only three positions for a pair of wings on a winged creature: displayed (expanding out from either side of the body), addorsed (expanding back-to-back on one side of the body), or close (tucked up next to the body). If a bird is rising or striking, the wings will almost always be addorsed, with one wing almost entirely obscured by the other.

Upon resubmission, please make the wings of this bird properly addorsed.

Rew Payne. Badge. (Fieldless) A raven striking to sinister sable maintaining a heart gules.

In the October 2018 return of the previous version of this device, it was ruled:

This (armory) is returned for violation of SENA A2C1, which states that "While depictions that are somewhat more naturalistic than the flat stylized depictions of heraldic charges will be registered, animals and plants may not be drawn in trian aspect (with perspective)." In this submission, the raven is drawn in trian aspect, with the angle of its sinister wing showing an angled dive inconsistent with registerable depictions.

Upon resubmission, the artist should include internal detailing to aid in identification of the raven.

While the submitter did address the artistic notes, the posture of the raven remains unchanged. The angle of the body and wings are exactly the same, and commenters generally agreed that the bird is still in trian aspect.

Generally, there are only three positions for a pair of wings on a winged creature: displayed (expanding out from either side of the body), addorsed (expanding back-to-back on one side of the body), or close (tucked up next to the body). If a bird is rising or striking, the wings will almost always be addorsed, with one wing almost entirely obscured by the other.

Upon resubmission, please make the wings of this bird properly addorsed.

May 2019 LoAR (printed July 22, 2019) (No West Kingdom LOI)

Cover Letter

From Laurel: Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium 2019

What a great time in Calontir! We want to take the opportunity to thank our hosts, the Barony of Coeur d'Ennui and the Canton of Axed Root, as well as Her Highness of Calontir. There were so many classes that we didn't have a lunch break scheduled in. There was a party with throwing axes and the usual mob in restaurants. Special thanks to the event stewards: Alexandra Vazquez de Granada and Zaneta Baseggio. They did a great job.

From Laurel: Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium 2020

We announced last year that Known World 2020 would be in Lochac. Here's an update. The 2020 Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium will be held July 8-10 (yes, that's during the week -- but who's just going to Lochac for the weekend) in Melbourne, Australia. We look forward to seeing you in Lochac! A call for bids for Known World 2021 will go out around the end of the year.

From Pelican: Attesting to Legal Relationships for Existing Registration Allowance

There has been some confusion about how to attest to the existence of a legal relationship between submitters in order to take advantage of the Existing Registration Allowance. Do not use the form letter in which one submitter allows the other to claim a relationship. That is for permission to have a relationship conflict; it does not provide evidence of the legal relationship necessary for the Existing Registration Allowance. Instead, please use the following form.

"I, [legal name of submitter 1], known in the SCA as [SCA name 1], hereby attest that I am the legal [parent, spouse, grandparent, sibling, etc.] of [legal name of submitter 2].

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statement is true and correct."

It should then be signed and dated by submitter 1 with their legal name. The "penalty of perjury" language makes the attestation a binding legal document in the United States so that we do not have to view birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc. If there is equivalent language in Lochac or Drachenwald, I would appreciate hearing from someone with expertise in that area.

From Pelican: Packet Documents and You

Documents uploaded by Kingdoms with name submissions are visible to commenters by clicking the DOCS link in the header on the Letters of Intent. The only documents not generally visible are those marked private, which are visible to Laurel, Wreath, Pelican and their staffs. We do not return names for failure to include documentation in the packet unless we have no other choice -- in other words, unless there is no other way to document the name and no way to find the documentation elsewhere. Commenters are asked to assist Kingdoms when possible by providing links or images of documentation that is not on the no-photocopy list. Remember also that documentation on the no-photocopy list is not better, just very common and easy to find.

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In Service,
Edith of Swanesdale, PaL,
Matins Herald

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SUBMISSONS – July (2019)

ITEMS SENT TO LAUREL

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Minutes Page
Main Herald's Web Page