Heralrdry, Insignia, Coats of Arms

Anybody out there dabble in heraldry? Here’s a game for you. Below is the description of the Insignia of my imaginary island – Exordia. Anybody know how to interpret this as a picture? A shield borne saltireways by a rapier scabbarded and a musket unloaded, both proper, with a crest argent, and mantle gules. ARMS: Or, on a bend azure, three roses gules, barbed proper, seeded gules, a caduceus vert, an anchor sable in sinister chief. CREST: an herpestes proper, passant. MOTTO: Pax. I hope to get this inked into the last major bit of real estate on my hide. Maybe later this year...?

No takers? Not even a WTF do you mean? Not even a "get that royalist claptrap of our site"? Damn! I'm disappointed!

Well, if anyone could enlighten me as to how to post pictures, I would be happy to.

Ras, WTF are you talking about? What is this imaginary land that you speak of? Describe.

Happy now! I am writing/have written a series of novels (2 so far, 3 in the mill) wherein i can freely express my maverick opinions on New World history, current politics and society, without commiting libel or embarassing my friends. As one brought up on the tomes of James A Michener, i decided to invent a venue for operations. Exordia is in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, due south of Port Au Prince, Haiti, and due west of Castries St Lucia. It was discovered by Emile Columbus on Feb 30, 1505, and Independence day is June 31. Capital: Willsbord Population: 1.3 million (imaginary estimate) Language: English Currency: X$10 = US$1 etc etc etc... i even have maps and things. If you can't post a pic, feel free to email me one... i'd be fascinated!

Lemme see if I can explain it... Saltire... meaning, the shield would be divided in an X type pattern: Line from top left corner to bottom right, and from top right corner to bottom left Except, instead of lines, I take it you'll be using a gun and sword, "proper", meaning their natural colors. The crest would be yellow, with three red roses. Arms: Or, on a blue bend (diagonal stripe), three red roses with thorns in natural colors, red seeds. Caduceus vert is the staff with two serpants entwined around it, in deep green, with a black anchor located at the top right corner of shield. Crest: A snake (?), proper colors, walking(slithering?) Google is my friend.

danjenhaywood - excellent! But my blazoning is not all that. The sword and musket are supposed to be the bearings of the arms, so they are what it's resting on (outside the shield). And - the hard part. Herpestes is a mongoose

Hah cool! I just used some basic google searches to try and piece it together... it was actually really fun to do!! Herpestes is a ... mongoose? Whoa... never saw that comin!

Fun isn't it? I had a spell of google-inspired obsession when i started designing this coat. Now i get a kick out of trying to blazon things in my mind. At an ad agency, there is no shortage of material: Hmmm... that logo is a field azure with letters or, erased gules... maybe i should divide the ad fesswise instead of demitted... etc etc etc... it's like a foreign language without all the unaccustomed declensions. What surprises me is how many people are into heraldry... and how many of them are in the USA! May your day be seme of mullets!

hmmm interesting challenge rasclarke. but hey when that book is done you bet your britches that I daggone sure want to read it. I AM INTRIGUED!!!