Heraldry of the Order

Heraldry in the Order of the Beleaguered Shield is a matter of great concern to the Order. Sumptuary laws (sumptuariae leges) are rather rigidly enforced, and punishments for wearing without authorization the robes or tabards of the order are harsh: those in the Order and pretending to higher class or rank can be publically scourged or even divested of rank, whereas subjects of the Order who do the same can be set in stocks, placed into serfdom or slavery, or even exiled from Dwarden altogether, depending upon the severity of the violation and the social class of the violator.

Heraldry in the Order is overall overseen by the Grand Draper. Both the second-most senior paladins of a commandery (or higher) and seneschals are responsible for overseeing that the sumptuary laws are properly enforced, and are ultimately answerable to the Grand Draper himself.

The Escutcheon

The escutcheon of the Order of the Beleaguered Shield is arguably the most prized achievement attainable within the Order, for it represents the bearer of such an insignia as an actual member and agent of the Order, instead of simply an inferior servant of it. In the shape of a thin kite shield, it is symbolic of the actual shield blessed by St. Yathamian and given to St. Ladron during the dawn of Mandadorianism in Dwarden, the so-called Diaconate or Beleaguered Shield. Embroidered onto robes, tabards and even plate armor, the escutcheon is always of a specific and mandated color emblematic of its bearer's class, whereas the robes or tabard is emblematic of its bearer's order. For example, serjeants who have taken the Kargal Oath wear a red tabard and silver escutcheon, with the red indicating their class of serjeantry, and with the silver escutcheon representing their superior position over inferior serjeants who in bearing a copper escutcheon have not yet taken the Oath.

Although there are exceptions, the escutcheon generally rises in status from black, to copper, to silver and then to gold. The gold escutcheon is the most coveted, for it may only be born by paladins and full priests.

The escutcheon itself is, almost without exception, embroidered in its color as an outline over the color of the clothing upon which it has been sewn, with the internal charges (the symbols therein) and other devices being of the same color.

The escutcheon is divided into seven major fields: the chief (above the escutcheon), the middle chief (the middle top), the chief dexter (wearer's right), the chief sinister (wearer's left), the dexter base, the sinister base, and the base.

At the center of the shield is always a small boss bearing the Danian trefoil, in colors the same as the rest of the escutcheon.

Chief

For monastics and paladins, the Danian trefoil is worn above the escutcheon. Others do not bear the trefoil in the chief, as they have not been granted holy powers.

Palatine Trefoil

For paladins, the trefoil is colored in the traditional Dwarden style, with the black or iron colored halo being atop the silver and gold halos.

Knights of the Iron Halo: Paladins of this exalted order surround their trefoil with a black or iron colored circle and a wreath of gold.

Clerical Trefoils

For the monastic brothers-militant, the trefoil is one of an ascending list of colors: black, copper, silver, gold and purple.

Bishop: A purple trefoil, often with a flourish if they are senior bishops.

Priests: A gold trefoil.

Monseigneurs: Senior priests of great distinction, command arch-deacons of independent monasteries, bishops of special commands, cardinals of the various degrees, and other unique senior clerics of the Order bear wreaths of their escutcheon's color and of a size and flourish fitting of their rank.

Deacons: A silver trefoil.

Subdeacons: A copper trefoil.

Monks under Formal Vows: A black trefoil.