Precedents of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme

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NEEDLE


[Per pall inverted arrondi [or schne] a threaded needle inverted bendwise, the needle extending to cover about half the distance possible] As drawn, the needle is completely unidentifiable. It is far too small for the available space; while this normally requires only an admonition to "Draw the charge larger", the flaw is fatal on this field. (Even a correctly-sized needle would be hard pressed to be identified on a field per pall inverted arrondi; the curved lines of the field and thread, and the thinness of the needle, combine to cause confusion rather than clarity.)

If the needle were drawn larger, this might be acceptable; but the submitter would be better advised to choose another field as well. (Hannah Graham, September, 1992, pg. 45)


NESSELBLATT


A <charged> nesselblatt is not equivalent to a <charge> within an indented bordure. This would be more apparent if the armory were displayed on a rectangular banner: the nesselblatt would keep its triangular shape, where the bordure would follow the line of the field. (Mielikki Kantelensoittajatar, October, 1993, pg. 1)


OFFENSIVENESS


[A triskelion of scythes within an annulet] According to Lord Pale (now Lord Dragon), this motif --- essentially a triskelion gammadion within an annulet --- is the logo of the Afrikaaner Weerstandsbeweging, a pro-apartheid white supremacist group in South Africa. The triskelion gammadion has been used by white supremacists before this: it was the ensign of the Nazi SS's "volunteer" division in Belgium, during WWII. ("Hateful Heraldry", Vuong Manh, in the Caerthan Symposium Proceedings) While the Nazis' use of the symbol doesn't necessarily poison it for our use, the fact that modern racists still use it as their logo suggests it has acquired a permanent symbolism, one that's offensive to many people. The triskelion gammadion, and its variants (such as the triskelion gammadion in annulo, or the current submission's triskelion of scythes) must therefore be disallowed, per Rule IX.4. [See also Nov. 92 LoAR, pg. 14] (Geeraert av København, September, 1992, pg. 39)


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[Haus Robbenschlage, intended to mean "seal-beater"] Clubbing baby seals is repugnant; making jokes about clubbing baby seals is merely in poor taste. However, as several commenters noted, this name seems expressly calculated to offend any listeners, which makes it an affront to courtesy. (Translating it into German does not remove the offense, any more than would translating Motherfucker into German.) [name returned for grammatical reasons]. (Maximillian von Halstern, November, 1992, pg. 16)


[Per bend sinister, a sinister gauntlet sustaining a club, and a seal contourny] The design of the badge does not appear to be offensive. Lord Crescent is probably correct in thinking that the submission of Haus Robbenschlage [intended to mean "seal-beater"], earlier on the LOI, sensitized the College to any suggestion of seal-clubbing. But given the constant heraldic use of weapons (maces, swords, axes, etc.) with animals, this design by itself is unremarkable. (Timothy of Arindale, November, 1992, pg. 16)


[Azure, three annulets interlaced one and two argent, overall a Latin cross flory Or veiled purpure.] Several commenters wondered whether the combination of the cross, purple Lenten veil, and Trinity symbol constituted excessive religious symbolism. Such excessive symbolism is disallowed under Rule IX.2. This submission has less symbolism than the example of excessive symbolism given in Rule IX.2, but more than an obviously acceptable example (e.g. a single cross). I don't know whether it should be considered excessive, but the submitter should be prepared to argue his case, should he resubmit with this motif. [device returned for contrast and identifiability problems] (Petruccio Alfonso Maria Cuccieri de Cataluña, January, 1993, pg. 26)


[Or semy of whips sable, a feather bendwise and on a chief gules, a pair of manacles Or] The majority of the commenters found the design offensive, with its overwhelming connotations of bondage and degradation (B&D). While each of the charges may, by itself, be acceptable -- scourges, for instance, were used as martyrs' symbols in period -- the overall effect is excessive. This must be returned, per Rule I.2.

Additionally, many found the semy of whips unidentifiable. Period armory used scourges, with several lashes, to increase recognition; as drawn here, the charges look more like the ends of shepherd's crooks. (Hans the Gentle, July, 1993, pg. 11)

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