What is Your Character's Heraldry?

The horseman advanced, unperturbed by the bulwarks of cut logs and spikes. The bowmen on the ramparts were sniggering and making bets about who would be able to land the first arrow. A breeze blew through the trees then, snapping the banner that hung just below the rider's lance tip. The laughter died as the cloth unfurled, revealing a black and red boar snorting blood.

"Oh shit," Gadran muttered when he saw the personal sigil of Gutter Rance, the Tusk Lord.

"Raise the red flag," Marran shouted.

"You think he'll parley?" Gadran asked.

"Long as no one puts a shaft in him," Marran said. "That happens, it's just gonna make him mad."

You come for the king, best not miss.

Heraldry, and Your Characters

 

When most of us think of heraldry in our games, we tend to think of the big, flashy, obvious examples. If there's a lord they'll have their signet ring, and likely their coat of arms on a cape or tabard. Servants of a particular household will also bear the house's crest as a sign of allegiance. If there's a fortress or an outpost, then the flag it flies identifies who holds the area to those who are riding in from the wilds.

More often than not we think of heraldry as something that exists in the world around us, but which isn't something that applies to our characters (unless the character is themselves a noble, which is why I covered it in 5 Tips For Playing Noble Characters). However, something a lot of us forget is that heraldry's main purpose is to make someone's identity and allegiances visible at a glance, as well as at a distance... and that is not something that's limited just to knights and dukes.

The Black Hands send their regards.

While a member of a knightly order may bear their crest on their shield, that's no different than a member of a mercenary company wearing their regimental colors. A gang tagging a wall to mark their turf serves the same purpose as the baron planting her flag atop a conquered city; it lets everybody that sees it know who runs this city.

Most of our characters have some kind of heraldry they display, whether it be their personal symbol or that of an organization or cause they fight for. And of course the bigger your Small Legend is, the more likely people are to recognize that heraldry... along with the stories attached to it.

Meaning, Associations, and Symbolism

 

In addition to quickly identifying who you are, heraldry also has its own meanings and interpretations for those who can understand what they're looking at. For instance, the banner of the hill lord Faring Frost has a rampant cockatrice upon the helm. The symbol is traditionally used to reflect the house's refusal to back down, and the statement that all enemies they gaze upon shall be destroyed. The gang known as the Black Bloods tie a dark sash around their waist, letting everyone who sees it know who they fight for, and that unlike other outfits they aren't worried about getting bloodstains on their dark garb.

Some meanings are simpler than others.

Whether it's a personal totem, a family crest, or a symbol given only to members of certain societies or organizations, heraldry should give some hint as to the qualities of the person wearing it. Some things to consider are:

- Rank: Is the symbol worn on the shoulder used to designate a servant, while place of honor over the heart is a member of a family, or a champion?

 

- Qualities: Is the raven a harbinger of death, or a symbol of a learned wizard? Does it have religious overtones, suggesting one walks with a certain god?

 

- Relationship: Minor variations in heraldry could symbolize that one is from a related branch of a family, school, or other organization. A roaring bear with golden fur might be the symbol of the royal family of the northern hills, while a black bear with golden teeth is the heraldry of the king's cousin.

 

- Duties: A warrior bearing a black shield with a wolf on it might be recognized as a standard guard of the city of Dark Home. One whose symbol is a red-bladed sword behind the wolf is an elite member of the Blood Guard attached to the royal household.

All of these decisions, and many more, should play into the symbolism of any heraldry associated with your character. Whether they're a representative of an organization like a church, an army, or a knightly order, or they've simply adopted a symbol of their own in order for friends and enemies alike to more easily recognize them, you can go as deep as you please.

Also, for those who are looking for additional inspiration, I'd suggest checking out some of the following:

 

- Letters From The Flaming Crab: Inspired By Heraldry: This unusual collection has feats and background features for Pathfinder players who possess certain heraldry. Granting you totemic powers, these feats really do merge the symbolic with the extraordinary and the magical!

- A Baker's Dozen of Noble Families: With histories, colors, and heraldry picked out and explained, these deep dives into 13 noble families can get you in the proper headspace for making your own, assuming none of these examples work for your needs.

- 100 Fantasy Battle Cries (And Their Histories): Another aspect of your character that can easily allude to a deeper history. And if you have a crest, some of these battle cries could work quite well as a motto!

- 100 Knightly Orders: From the noble to the savage, these orders can provide all kinds of ideas for adding heraldry to your character. For those looking for something that's a little more street savvy, I'd recommend checking out 100 Gangs For Your Urban Campaigns as well!

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