Crests of the Turamzzyrian Empire
Crests of the Turamzzyrian Empire is an Official GemStone IV Document, and it is protected from editing.
The Crests of the Turamzzyrian Empire
"The crests of the provinces of the Empire are many and varied. Some are tied to mythic lore and others to events in history. By my quill I have sought to record honestly what I learned from the tomes and from visitors and here now, pass it on to you." -Culoney of Hendor
Western Empire
Duchy of Selanthia
Crest: A crimson sunburst on a field of gold
Info: An exact reverse of the present Turamzzyrian crest, which represents the crest of the ruling Imperial family. So long have the Anodheles ruled Selanthia, that their family crest has become the crest of the dukedom. Any Anodheles Emperor or Empress, as heads of the Anodheles family, also retains the title Duke or Duchess of Selanthia, and as a result, the Selanthian crest is often placed alongside the Imperial crest at official functions. A separate crest exists for Tamzyrr, a gold diamond on a field of black, which was created by the Overlord Simlorn Anodheles and was used by his daughter, Selantha, to denote Tamzyrrian troops during the conquest of Kedshold and Gor'nustre. In modern times, the crest has fallen out of use, though the supporters of Empress Mynal'lyanna used the crest to represent Imperial strength and expansion, as well as the dominance of humans over other races.
County of Torre
Crest: A white stork on a field of light blue
Info: The present crest of the County Torre is traceable back to a royal decree by Gardiel of Torre, the first king of the Kingdom of Torre. In the decree which established the crest, the stork was officially selected because it was the symbol of the port city of Fairport, where many of the long-legged birds dwell, and signified the dominance of the new capital over the region. The field of blue, the decree explained, was selected to reflect the fallen Kingdom of Elanith and its capital of River's Rest, once the center of culture and arts prior to the collapse of the Kannalan Empire. The colors of Elanith were blue and buff. Thus, the Kingdom of Torre was intended to be seen as the direct descendant of the once fabled Elanith. After the kingdom was annexed by the Turamzzyrian Empire, the county was permitted to retain the former crest of its kingdom.
Barony of Oire
Crest: A golden sheaf of grain encircled by a grape vine on a field of silver.
Info: Little has been recorded of the barony of Oire other than the passing seasons, demarcated by the agricultural cycle of harvest and planting. As such, the people of Oire hold Imaera high within their prayers and daily lives, and to her they have given the honor of representing them on their crest. As well to her, they give thanks for her blessings upon the many fields of grapes that are used in the production of the famed Oirean wines. So proud and protective of their wines, the relatively peaceful barony nearly went to war against the far stronger County of Seareach when a Seareachee merchant attempted to smuggle out a cutting from one of the most prized grape vines to establish a wine industry to the north. This plan ended in an astonished Seareach border patrol turning over the merchant to a small army of Oirean militia that had chased down and surrounded the merchant not far into Seareachee territory.
Southern Empire
Duchy of Aldora
Crest: A gold ram's head facing left within a crown on a field of two horizontal black and white lines.
Info: The importance of wool to Aldora's existence is one that cannot be underestimated, and the fine weaving of the region has made Aldora a household name across the empire. Thus, the Aldorans adopted a great level of appreciation for their woolly charges. The crest was modified not long after the Chandrennin family fell from power in Tamzyrr to reflect the family's history as rulers of the empire and their goal to regain that prestige. The most recent modification was made by the father of Duke Bannon Chandrennin to change the field to the colors of the Order of Voln, reflecting the important position the order holds in the southern province due to its assistance against the Horned Cabal.
Earldom of Estoria
Crest: A white horse clenching a black rose in its teeth on a field of blue
Info: In all of far-reaching memory, Estoria has chosen to represent itself with a white horse of legend, which runs across the waves before every storm. No name has ever been attributed to the horse, that since the settlement of Estoria, many have claimed to have seen, other than the title, "Niima's Mare," which is often employed as an oath of surprise or shock: "By Niima's Mare!" The black rose was added by General Vaycero following his success in the First Elven War.
Earldom of Chastonia
Crest: A golden hawk head facing right on a field of Kestrel blue.
Info: Since the rise of the Kestrels, the hawk has been the family's chosen symbol. It is not a coincidence that they share a color with the current ruling Anodheles family, as both have shared the privilege of ruling the empire. Instead of the crimson of Tamzyrr, the Kestrels created a unique blue through deeply guarded magical means. Upon the grant of land to the Kestrels by Emperor Trydall Anodheles, any old symbols of Toullaire and the Swale were swept aside for the Kestrel Hawk. The rare item, a survivor of days before the disaster of Toullaire, may retain the old crest of the region: a simple golden chalice on a field of dark green.
County of Allace
Crest: A white seagull with widespread wings facing to the left above a mountain peak on a field of dark blue
Info: Due to the great love that many of the people of Ubl hold for animal companions, it is unsurprising that one of their native birds was chosen to represent them and the county as a whole. Local legend holds that a seagull led a fisherman lost at sea in the midst of a tempest to the safety of a harbor, which later became the port of Ubl. The field of dark blue represents the sea, from which many of the county's residents draw their trade and support their families. The mountain peak is a recent addition following the Battle of Skyreach in 5020, an event considered a benchmark in Allace's modern history.
Eastern Empire
Earldom of Honneland
Crest: Crossed purple lances on a field of silver
Info: Such is the importance of chivalry and tourney that it is unsurprising to find two lances on the earldom's crest. Second only to the Great Tourney of Tamzyrr is the Feat at Rallick's Field, a general tourney testing all the skills of knighthood annually hosted by the city's defenders, the Silver Shields. The first tourney reportedly occurred in 4769, when Emperor Rallick Anodheles the Valiant paused at Immuron to call upon the earldom's knights for service in the Second Elven War. In order to select officers for command of such a force, the Emperor allegedly held an impromptu tournament to discern the most skilled knight. Since that era, a special banner with Honneland's crest flies from a tower built to view the field, with the colors of the banner changed to reflect those of the winning house or order from that year's competition. In the earldom, of greater honors there are few.
County of Trauntor
Crest: Two Black Towers on a Field of Dark Green
Info: The crest of Trauntor was inevitably decided the moment the last stone was set in place, finishing the imposing fortress at Barrett's Gorge. Such was the pride of the Empire of a victory over an elven foe, once erstwhile slave masters, that the towers became a symbol of human achievement and advancement throughout the Empire. Likewise, most Nalfein elves dismiss the crest as a silly human invention of unoriginality. Often, the crest is present in the courts and parties of those espousing human superiority over elves.
Barony of Bourth
Crest: Three black yew trees on a field of white ringed by five hawk feathers.
Info: The Caulfields originally built their wealth and power on the wood of the barony and pay tribute to this resource, as well the mysterious Wyrdeep Forest, with the placement of trees upon the barony's crest. While black and white were the original colors of the crest, these colors had been replaced with red and white until fairly recently, when Aurmont Chandrennin Anodheles was made emperor. The young Emperor's favorable disposition toward Voln led the baron to return the original colors to the crest.
Barony of Highmount
Crest: A white bear in manacles facing left on a field of red.
Info: The present crest of the Barony of Highmount dates back to the second conquest of its eastern lands over the T'Kirem giantmen tribe, the prior inhabitants of the area. The bear being a symbol of that tribe and a symbol of strength, the crest was designed to represent the victory of the empire, to honor its fallen and subjugated foe, and the blood spilt in the process. Since the success corresponded with the recapture of the fortress-city of Kragsfell, the crest when seen on a flag is often referred to as the "Kragsfell Banner."
Barony of Dragach
Crest: A red bighorn ram facing right before white mountains on a green field
Info: Nearly synonymous with Dragach is the bighorn ram, the beast that gave Krinklehorn its name and fearlessly roams the peaks of the Dragonspine that envelops the barony. Often the banner decorated with the crest is trimmed in tartan, while a black banner variant is hoisted on the occasion of the death of a member of the McGarry ruling clan. Traditionally, once a year Dragach sent a bighorn ram to the court of Tamzyrr as a symbol of loyalty, where a McGarry clansmen slaughtered the creature and ritually presented its severed head as a gift. In recent times however, some McGarry barons have opted to save the ram and present a pair of golden ram horns instead.
Northern Empire
Earldom South Hendor
Crest: A majestic silver oak tree on a field of blue
Info: Since the fall of Hendor and its rebirth as part of the Empire, the former kingdom has established itself as the center of learning. Thus, it is not surprising to find the Tree of Knowledge, a tree that once grew in the garden of the kings of Hendor and was lost when the Witch winter descended upon the realm, at the heart of the crest. It is unknown why it was named as much, be it a favored place for young princes to be tutored or if something far more magical was involved. Those wishing to remind others of Hendor's once independent status will ring the tree with a golden crown.
Earldom North Hendor
Crest: A blue phoenix rising on a field of silver
Info: The Phoenix Banner, as it is often called by Hendorans, replaced an older, earlier crest of a white star against a green field, when the city of Lolle was recaptured by the Imperial army after its fall during the Witch Winter. Selected to represent the rise of Hendor from the ashes of ruin, the colors mirror that of the earldom's mirror, South Hendor. The minority that dreams of an independent Hendor will often fly the old banner at their own risk. Others, much more satisfied with Imperial rule, but still wishing to note Hendor's past, will ring the phoenix with a golden crown.
County of Seareach
Crest: A red eagle before a golden sun on a field of deep blue
Info: The crest of Seareach is presently the result of compromise between the two powerful interests of the western and eastern halves of the province. The sun representing the Sea of Fire to the east, and the blue, the ocean to the west. The previous banner, simply an eagle on a field of white, had caused much consternation as those in the west claimed it was an osprey, while those in the east a desert eagle. Reportedly, tensions flared so greatly over the fowl lineage of this bird that they led to the death of a minor noble who had affronted the dignity of a higher noble too far during a conference held by the Count of Seareach over matters of trade. In the western half of the county, ospreys are commonly kept by the nobility and the higher noble had particularly fond feelings for his feathered friend. In both areas of the county, birds of prey are often associated with divining due to their great sight said to see into the future.
Barony of Jantalar
Crest: A black triskelion on a field of gold and red
Info: The triskelion was adopted early in the history of Jantalar to symbolize the barony's mission to the Empire: to defend, to serve, and to expand the glory of Tamzyrr. The colors reflect the long role the Hochstib family has played in the governance of the barony. Field armies under direct command of the baron or baroness have a white border on their flag, and it is considered the highest honor of a Jantalarian soldier to be buried wrapped in this banner. This has led to the Jantalarian compliment, "Wrapped in the flag" for someone of great honor and achievement.
Barony of Talador
Crest: Formerly - A white square on a field of black
Info: Formally outlawed by Jantalar law, the Talador banner once simply represented the place that mining held in the region with the blackness of earth opened with the white square of a mine. As Talador had been ruled by council, the crest on the flag that flew over Talador often had silver diamonds representing those council members. Resistance against the Jantalar rule have altered the banner by reversing the colors, in part to honor the dead who were killed within the province's mines during the Jantalar take over.
Barony of Mestanir
Crest: A gold crown in a circle of white on a field of red.
Info: Such is the might of the Church of Koar in Mestanir, its banner was adopted by a previous baron several centuries ago. The saying, "The Patriarch's whisper is the Edict of Mestanir," originated from this relationship with the rulers of Mestanir and the Church of Koar. Due to the tacit consent given by the Church for the takeover of the barony by Jantalar, that relationship may well be more strained than usual. However, given the prominence of important pilgrimage sites and the sheer number of church clergy, it is unlikely to remain such for long.
Crest: A single ivory swan facing right on a field of emerald
Info: One Vornavian myth states that after the destruction of Wildwood Island, a ragged band of survivors swam the treacherous currents of the Cairnfang in the depths of night. The fell magics that ravaged the isle were such that the river seemed to turn back upon itself, and each time that they thought they had made it to the other side, they instead found themselves on the shores of the island once again. For six nights and five days, this cycle repeated itself. They grew wild with hunger, and used only the river water to slake their thirst, for they dared not set foot upon the isle for long. On the dawn of the sixth day, one of the survivors, a young servant named Oren Malwind cried out when he saw a white swan in the distant waters. Its feathers glowed like crystal quills in the morning sunlight. At first he believed the bird to be an illusion brought on by hunger and thirst, but others saw the creature too, and they gave one last ragged attempt to escape the isle by following the bird.
It did not lead them astray. The bird kept always just a few spans ahead of the refugees, until they approached a thankfully unfamiliar shore. Without taking flight, the bird waddled up onto the emerald green banks of the Cairnfang and vanished in a wash of golden light. The years passed, and the refugees thrived on the fertile shores of what would be called Solhaven Bay. None among them ever forgot the regal swan that had saved them, least of all young Oren Malwind, who grew to become a leader among the settlers. He shared the tale with his son, and then his grandson, and the tale grew into myth as the Malwind line rose in power over all of Vornavis, never forgetting the messenger that had delivered their progenitor to freedom.
The swan became their crest, framed by the green of the Cairnfang bank that had been Oren's salvation."
Barony of Riverwood
Crest: Two interlocking circles of blue pierced by a red arrow on a field of white
Info: Originally designed by the daughter of one of the Helt nobles for the famed harvest archery competition, the baron liked it so much that he made it his personal crest, replacing a white stag. Some members of the Helt family combine the two on one banner, while others, depending on their position in line of inheritance, will simply display the stag.