Heraldry of the Order

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 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 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 six major fields: the chief (top), the chief dexter (wearer's right), the chief sinister (wearer's left), the dexter base, the sinister base, and the base.