1 April 2000, A.S. XXXIV

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Unto Their Royal Highnesses Aaron and Alissandra; Lady Isabel d'Avron, Aten Principal Herald; The Heralds in the Atenveldt College of Heralds, and to All Whom These Presents Come,

Greetings from Marta as tu Mika-Mysliwy, Brickbat Herald!

This is the APRIL 1999 internal Atenveldt Letter of Intent. It precedes the external LoI that will contain the following submissions, asking questions of submitters and local heralds who have worked with them; if these questions are not addressed, the submission may be returned by the Atenveldt College of Heralds. You are encouraged to comment upon these submissions, even if you are new in your office and fear that you might not have enough "experience" to offer your opinion. Please have commentary to me by 25 April. I accept electronic commentary: brickbat@nexiliscom.com.

Commentary: Yes, I've been receiving it! Thank you! Lady Wentliana made some good observations and offered interesting comments, even though she reminds me that she's new to this! Lord Kedivor was particularly ruthless this month, finding errors on the 1 March 2000 Atenveldt LoI, which I will correct in the upcoming LoI (grrrr-but thanks anyway!). I hope to hear from all of you-even if you have a "funny" or "weird" feeling about a submission, let me know (the emblazon might not be drawn to your concept of heraldry)-you might be seeing something that us old-timers have missed. Even if you are not exactly on the mark, asking questions is how everyone learns.

I hope reading the comments with the submissions below gives you some insight into what criteria for name and armorial design the College of Arms uses. Please consider the following submissions (conflict check if you are able) for the May Atenveldt LoI.:

Eowyn Erthton (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Erminois, in pale to natural panthers passant contourney, a bordure rayonny sable.

Eowine is found as an Anglo-Saxon given name in W.G. Searle's Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, p. 233. Eowyn is found as elements of English, Welsh, French and Irish names in the S.C.A. Armorial. Erthton is a coined locative. Erth-, "earth," is found in the byname Erthnote, "earth nut, chestnut," (p. 85, Middle English Nicknames I. Compounds, Jan Jonsjo). -ton, "township," is most common as a second element in English place names (pp. 4-6, The Origin of English Place-Names, P.H. Reaney).

Golda ferch Deiniol (Tir Ysgithr): NEW BADGE

Azure, goutty d'eau, a demi-sun issuant from base Or.

The name was registered December 1999.

Nathair Airgid, Shire of (Globe AZ): DEVICE RESUBMISISON from Laruel, 8/95

Per satire gules and sable, a pithon erect, in base a laurel wreath argent.

The name was registered August 1992.

The previous submission, Per saltire gules and sable, a bird-winged pithon erect, its tail environed of a laurel wreath argent., was returned for an inaccurate depiction of a laurel wreath, violating RfS. VII.7.a., "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance." This redrawing has solved this problem.

The following submissions appear in the 1 April 2000 Atenveldt Letter of Intent (unless mentioned otherwise, emblazons were included in 1 March 2000 Atenveldt Internal LoI); the accompanying remarks were generated by comments that I received by members of the CoH:

Angelica Blauschild: DEVICE RESUBMISSION (Azure, a pair of wings argent conjoined by a Hungerford knot Or, pendant from the knot a needle and a quill pen argent, a bordure ermine.)

This exceeds the "Rule of Eight" for simple, cohesive armory (argent, azure, Or, ermine (or sable), wings, knot, bordure, needle, pen); however, the needle and pen are so small as to be negligible (to my way of thinking), so I am sending this on.

Angelina Della Costa: NEW NAME and DEVICE (Argent (no wait!) Or, two red-headed mermaids proper sustaining in chief a heart gules.)

Mermaids, like other humans and humanoid monsters, are affronty by default, so that they naturally assume this posture. The original blazon had them maintaining the heart, which assumed it was a small tertiary charge. However, if this was the case, the submission would be in conflict with Ane-Marie Varre of Helsingor (Azure, a mermaid and a merman affronty proper, their adjacent arms elevated and crossed.). There is 1CD between the field tinctures used, but nothing for the heart (also nothing for the change of hair color from blond to red or for the gender change of one of the figures). The blazon has been redrawn, hopefully making the heart large enough that it can now be considered a sustained charge, of equal visual weight with the mermaids (i.e., your eye is as easily drawn to the heart as to the mermaids), which would provide the second CD to clear the conflict with Ane-Marie. Compare the emblazon I've included in this month's report to the emblazon found in the 1 March report. But wait! While looking for something completely unrelated, I noticed a CoA ruling made several years ago, that a "proper" mermaid could not be placed upon an argent, field, because in period, it was just as likely (or more likely) for a proper mermaid to have argent skin as opposed to Caucasian/pink skin-hence, a contrast violation! I asked the Laurel Queen about this ruling, and barring evidence that demonstrates period examples of proper mermaids on argent fields (I was unable to find any), she would not overturn the ruling. The submitter has agreed to make the field Or, which eliminates this problem. This should be clear of the Shire of Sea March, Or, chapé ployé gules, a blond merman erect affronty holding his tail in his sinister hand proper, tailed argent, a blonde mermaid erect affronty holding her tail in her dexter hand proper, tailed argent, and a laurel wreath vert., for 1 CD of the tincture of the merfolk (half of the tinctures are different, green tails vs. white tails), 1 CD for the addition of the field treatment (chape' ploye'), and probably a third CD for the addition of a sustained primary charge vs. a primary charge (the laurel wreath) in base.

Caitlin O'Sirideain (Granite Mountain): DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Kingdom, 3/00 (Or, ermined vert, a fret and on a chief vert, two trefoils Or.)

The original device, Or, a fret and on a chief vert, two trefoils Or., was in conflict with Fionnach nic Shearlais, Or, fretty, on a chief vert a stag courant argent. She has allowed the field to be modified to clear the conflict.

Edward von Griffonberg: NEW NAME and DEVICE (Sable, a hangman's noose argent.)

Golda ferch Deiniol (Tir Ysgithr): DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, 12/99

Per chevron vert and Or, two suns in glory Or.

The original submission was returned for conflict with Valeria Valkenaer, Per pale gules and sable, in chief two suns Or. Valeria has graciously provided a letter of permission for Golda's armory to conflict with hers.

Joseph Walter McFadden (Sundragon): NEW BADGE (Or, a pall sable between three trefoils vert, stems to center, a bordure sable.)

The pall and bordure need to be "fed" a bit; this was done on his forms and he will be advised to do so in future depictions.

Julian Faith McCabe (Tir Ysgithr): DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Kingdom, 3/99 (Per saltire azure and vert, a two unicorn's heads erased respectant Or.)

Her original submission, with a single head, was returned last month for conflict. Adding the second head resolves the conflict.

Kormákr Kálsvísa (Tir Ysgithr): NAME and DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, 12/99 (Per bend sinister bevilled azure and gules, a horse's head contourny couped argent changed with a mullet of four points sable and a sword bendwise sinister proper.)

His previous name submission Komask Undan of the Silver Stallion, was returned for lack of documentation for the given name elements. The name is Old Norse. Kormákr is the hero of Kormáks Saga, who probably lived soon after the middle of the 10^th C. (Old Norse Court Poetry, Roberta Frank, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1978, p. 45). It is also found as a given name in Geirr Bassi, p. 13. The byname, Kálsvísa, is found in Skáldskaparmál, the name of a legendary horse (Scaldic Poetry, E.O.G. Turille-Petre, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1976, p. xlii); the same source comments on the definition of a kenning, a device used in scaldic poetry and diction, as an implication that "in the basic word, the person or thing to which the poet alludes must be called something which it is not, although it must in some way resemble it." (Pp. xiv-xv). Kormákr is not claiming to be a horse, mythical or otherwise, but shares some traits of that beast, namely strength and swiftness.

The previous device submission was returned for not depicting the bevilled line of division as described in the Cover Letter to the August 1992 LoAR, nor were period examples of fields such as per bend bevilled generally accompanied by other charges. While the submitter has redrawn his proposed device in accordance with an acceptable depiction of a per bend sinister bevilled line of division, we ask that the College of Arms consider changing period precedent in the case of this particular line of division, to allow the use of this complex line of division with additional charges. It would be nearly impossible to register something as simple as an uncharged field with only a complex line of division, and in the case of the submission here, no charges obscure the unusual line of division. This is perhaps not the best example of armorial design, with dissimilar primary charges and an abundant use of tinctures, but the line of division is clear and the Rule of Eight is not exceeded.

Li Ming Fa: NEW NAME

Malkolm Tay (Tir Ysgithr): DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, 2/00 (Azure, a chevron argent ermined vert, a man-catcher issuant from base Or.)

The device was returned for redrawing so that the head of the weapon cleared the argent chevron.

Otto Blauschild: DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, 1/98 (Azure, a fret argent, a bordure ermine.)

Phelan O'Coileain: NEW NAME and DEVICE (Azure, a horseshoe within a bordure Or.)

By mundane and S.C.A. convention, the default horseshoe is open to base; hence, this one is inverted.

Rhys MacArthur: NEW NAME and DEVICE (Per bend azure and vert, a compass star argent and a bear rampant to sinister Or.)

Richard of the Oak Shield: NEW NAME and DEVICE (Per chevron inverted gules and argent, an oak tree couped and a bull's head cabossed counterchanged.)

Kedivor correctly noted that the original blazon was wrong; the charges are NOT both gules, but rather counterchanged.

Vincent Cadowen of Blackthorn (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME

The name is English; Vincent is found in Honor Rolls 1273 (Withycombe, p. 289) and a Lewis Cadowen is mentioned in the Agincourt Honor Roll (http://www.familychronicle.com). Blackthorn is a coined locative, as one who dwells by/near the blackthorn, similar to documented place names such as Blackberry, Blackfordby and Blackwater (P.H. Reaney, The Origin of English Place-Names, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1960, p. 252).

The following submissions were returned or held by the Atenveldt College of Heralds, March 2000:

Hwyn yr Hydd (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME and DEVICE

(still being HELD pending receipt of name documentation)

Isabeau della Farfalla: NEW BADGE

Argent, a butterfly azure surmounted by a dagger inverted proper.

The name was registered June 1995.

Although I cannot locate the precedent, I have a nagging feeling that the College of Arms has prohibited the "butterfly"-winging of any charge, aside from butterflies; in period armory, the vast majority of winged creatures had eagle (feathered) wings, and a lesser number had bat/dragon wings. Also because the dagger from any distance looks as much like a butterfly's body as it does a dagger (several people commented at really having to look closely to distinguish the dagger), this is in conflict with Constance von Messer, Argent, a butterfly azure marked proper. The designs are virtually identical.

(RETURNED for conflict and style problem)

Meghan Kendra Locksley (Atenveldt): NEW NAME CHANGE

The submitter's current name, Meghan Kendra of Blackwood, was registered February 1984. The name change drops the locative and replaces it with her father's byname (he is Ioseph of Locksley). However, there is an epithet added (an dhe Gaidhealtaechel?) which I am not certain is meant to be part of the name change. Additionally, the submission was made upon a very old Atenveldt submission form; the old forms have not been used since December 1998.

(HELD for name clarification)

The following submissions were registered by the S.C.A. College of Arms at its February 2000 meeting (lookit all these registrations!):

Adrienne de la Montagne. Badge. (Fieldless) A sewing needle bendwise sinister argent doubly-threaded vert and purpure piercing a bead sable.

Alis ni Malone. Name and device. Purpure, two fire arrows inverted crossed in saltire argent enflamed proper on a chief rayonny argent three pairs of knitting needles crossed in saltire purpure.[Submitted as Ailesh nic Rose ni Malone, the submitter requested and authentic 11th century Irish name meaning "Ailesh, daughter of Rose of the clan Malone." We cannot make this name authentic for 11th century Ireland for several reasons. First, there is no documentation that Ailesh is an Irish name at all. The closest Irish name, Alis, is a borrowing of the Norman-French Aliz and did not appear in Ireland until after the 11th century. Similarly, Rose is English, and its Irish form, Róis, did not appear in Ireland until after the 11th century. Furthermore, there is no evidence that metronymics were used in Ireland; the only examples found involved genealogies of royalty whose claim to royalty involved descent through the female line. The 11th century form of "of the clan Malone" is ingen uí Máeléoin, but it does not match the rest of the name. The best we could do is form a late period Irish name, Alis inghean uí Mhaoileoin, or a late period Anglo-Irish name, Alis ni Malone. We chose the latter as being the closest to the submitted name.]

Ailionora of Tir Ysgithr. Holding name and device (See RETURNS for name). Per chevron embattled gules and azure, two horse heads couped and a heart ensigned with a cross Or.

Alexandra de la Mer Verte. Device. Argent, a fess vert between three crosses bottony fitchy gules and a griffin segreant maintaining a sword vert.

Amazonia Longa. Name change from holding name Erin of Atenveldt.

Anita de Challis. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Annelise von Aachen. Name and device. Per chevron gules and purpure, a chevron dovetailed between two lit Arabian lamps spouts to center and a dove migrant argent.

Damaris Saint Cloud. Device. Or, a sinister dragon's wing vert and a gore gules.

Dietrich Kurneck von Hammerstein. Device. Quarterly argent and checky gules and Or, in bend three dragons segreant each maintaining a war hammer sable.

Dughall Mach Eoghainn Mach Laomuinn Mach Fhearchair. Device. Vert, on a pale Or three thistles purpure.

Emrys Dragon. Device. Gyronny Or and purpure, a dragon segreant and a bordure argent.

Francesca Valentina d'Ivrea. Device. Argent, a violet purpure slipped and leaved vert, a chief embattled gules.

'Inan of Aurochsford. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Argent, a saguaro cactus and in base three lozenges two and one sable. [The saguaro cactus is an acceptable (if improbable) charge because the Spanish were in the desert southwest United States by the 1520s. Submitted under the name 'Inan Nihlah.]

Isabelle d'Avallon. Name and device. Azure, three natural dolphins naiant in annulo, a chief wavy argent.

James the Just. Name change from holding name James of Atenveldt.

Jordan Wolfram. Name and device. Per pale argent and sable, a standing balance counterchanged in chief two pairs of eyes, the dexter pair sable irised argent, the sinister argent irised sable.

Karen Olivet. Device. Per bend sinister sable and Or, a spiral trumpet and an ostrich plume bendwise sinister counterchanged.

Karen Olivet. Badge. Or, a spiral trumpet fretted with an ostrich plume bendwise sinister sable.

Katherine Lamond. Device. Per saltire argent and gules, three whales contourny one and two, the one in chief sable and those in fess argent.

Malkolm Tay. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Owen Blakshepe. Badge. (Fieldless) A ram statant sable. Nice badge!

Rhiannon Llygad Flaidd. Name and device. Per chevron gules and vert, a chevron throughout argent between two roses slipped and leaved and a wolf's head erased Or. Rhiannon is SCA compatible.

Rülich Sturmveder. Device. Gules, on a cross conjoined with a saltire argent a sun sable.

Rülich Sturmveder. Household name House Black Lance.

Rülich Sturmveder. Acceptance of transfer of badge from Tighearain Blackwater. Argent, two tilting lances crossed in saltire, a chief indented sable. This badge is to be associated with House Black Lance.Serena O'Neill. Device. Per saltire purpure and vert, on a lozenge argent ermined vert a dove migrant purpure.

Sorcha ní Dhonnghaile. Device. Gules, two martlets respectant, a bordure dovetailed Or.

Temur Arslan. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Tighearain Blackwater. Device. Per bend wavy argent and sable, two crosses formy counterchanged.

Tighearain Blackwater. Badge. Argent, two tilting lances crossed in saltire, a chief indented sable.

Tighearain Blackwater. Transfer of badge to Rülich Sturmveder. Argent, two tilting lances crossed in saltire, a chief indented sable.

William Xanthos. Device. Per bend sinister argent crusily sable and Or crescenty, on a bend sinister sable a sword proper. [Current precedent disallows two different sets of strewn charges directly on the field. In this case, however, the device would be acceptable (if not particularly authentic) if there were three of each type of charge on the field. We see no reason to make a distinction between three and an unnumbered set of strewn charges when there is, as here, a well defined boundary between the two groups of charges, such that either set of charges could be dropped without requiring the other set to fill the field.]

The following submissions were returned by the College of Arms for further work, February 2000:

Ailionora Caointiarn. Name. Ailionora and Caointiarn are both Irish feminine given names. We know of no examples of Irish names consisting of two given names. Nor can we make the second name a metronymic. There is no evidence that metronymics were used in Ireland; the only examples found involved genealogies of royalty whose claim to royalty involved descent through the female line. We recommend that Ailionora choose a name for her father and form a name from that.Her armory was registered under the name Ailionora of Tir Ysgithr.Alexandra de la Mer Verte. Badge. (Fieldless) A griffin segreant maintaining a sword vert. Conflict with the badge for Margaret Holmwood (Étaín Dhomhnullach), A gryphon segreant, its dexter forepaw gauntleted and maintaining a sprig of three holly leaves vert, fructed gules. There is no difference for the maintained charges, thus only a single CD for fieldlessness.

Anita de Challis. Device. Gules, a schnecke issuant from sinister chief argent, on a chief Or, a xonecuilli fesswise gules. The only registrations of a xonecuilli were to John the Idiota in 1978 and again by him in 1982. It is listed in the Pictorial Dictionary as an Aztec artistic motif. We no longer register artistic motifs even from European sources without evidence that they are compatible with heraldry. Therefore we declare that the xonecuilli is no longer registerable barring evidence that it is compatible with medieval heraldic style.

'Inan Nihlah. Name. Both 'Inan and Nihlah are Arabic feminine given names, but there is no evidence that Arabic names were formed of two given names. As they did not use metronymics we could not fix this by making the second name a metronymic. Her armory was registered under the holding name 'Inan of Aurochsford.

Malkolm Tay. Device. Azure, a chevron argent ermined vert surmounted by a man-catcher issuant from base Or. The identifying features of the man-catcher are the joint of the handle and the head and the spikes, both of which are on the low contrast chevron. Therefore this is returned for unidentifiabilty. If the man-catcher is drawn so that the entire head is on the azure field it would be acceptable.

Temur Arslan. Device. Or, in fess two skulls sable, a wolf tooth issuant from chief and another issuant from base gules. We know of no examples of wolf's teeth issuant from anywhere but from dexter or sinister, nor do we have any examples of them being used singly. We must therefore return the device pending documentation of this use of wolf's teeth.

William Flanagan. Badge. (Fieldless) A tree couped gules. Conflict with Anne the Quiet, Per bend sinister embattled argent and gules, a tree eradicated gules, and the badge for the Shire of Copper Tree, Quarterly azure and argent, a crabtree eradicated gules. In both cases there is a CD for fieldlessness, but nothing for the type of tree nor for the difference between eradicated and couped. Against Anne the Quiet there is also not a CD for the change in position on the field.

I remain,

Marta as tu Mika-Mysliwy

c/o Linda Miku

2527 East 3^rd Street

Tucson AZ 85716

brickbat@nexiliscom.com