To the kingdom of Lochac, warmest greetings from Karl Faustus von Aachen, Crux Australis.

A new month brings with it many things. Mailing list reminders. Assorted bills. Irritating school children pinching and punching each other. But best of all, the news of heraldic registrations! Here’s the good news from the Laurel King of Arms and his hardworking little elves and pixies:

Gabriel van Dorne. Name.
Grace La Barre. Name.
Gunther Boese. Name.
Isobel aus Chevaux. Name and device. Per chevron Or and sable, two horses rampant and a lion counterchanged.
Katheryne Catanache. Device. Per pale vert and sable, three quatrefoils argent. (Nice!)
Millicent Prior. Device. Argent, a quatrefoil knot and a base purpure.
Sophia van Dorne. Name and device. Per pale gules and azure, in pale a sun and a lion dormant argent.

There were also a couple of reblazonings, which is what happens when heralds in the course of their daily business discover typos and misspellings. In case you wonder who might have received the benefit of this constant quest toward self-improvement, you can look to Catigern Goch and Gregorius Þorvalds son. Both had errors in their registrations, through no fault of their own, but now they don’t.

Rocket Herald, who as I mentioned last month is looking for a replacement (HINT! HINT!) will send out the relevant information to everyone.

Now, I must be brief, because I’m sure there are more things to go into Pegasus and onto the Lochac Announce and Blazons mailing lists than just my meanderings, but I must impart important news. I’m writing this on the evening of the investiture of William and Katherine as the seventh Baron and Baroness River Haven, and although I am sitting here in the canton of Lightwood at the slightly chillier end of the kingdom, and not in that fair and frolicksome barony, I am reasonably sure that by now His Excellency will have acted as my proxy in awarding a very special promotion to one of our great heralds.

You may not be aware of it, because we don’t make a fuss, but the College of Heralds has a ranking system. When you first show an interest in heraldry, another herald may tap you on the shoulder and intone the solemn words of the ancient Ceremony Of Induction: “Right-o, chum, you stood still long enough to be noticed, so you’re now a Macer. Well done!” The rank of Macer is basically “apprentice herald”. With some expenditure of time and effort, a Macer may progress to become a Pursuivant, or even a Herald (with a capital H, no less). And in exactly one case in all of Lochac’s history, we also have the rank of Herald Extraordinary, for a herald who has not merely expended some time and effort but has in fact demonstrated over many many years their dedication to all aspects of heraldry, serving the kingdom and the College in everything they do. Previously, the only one of these was the mighty and feared Þorfinn Hrolfsson, but tonight we recognised and promoted Master Giles Leabrook to that rank as well.

Master Giles is known as the Sexiest Voice In Lochac. He served as Crux Australis back in a time when that was a considerably tougher job than it is now. He has done endless, magnificent work in all aspects of heraldry. He taught me style and conflict-checking, and very nearly humility as well. He is, in short, Extraordinary, which is why he’s now been recognised as such officially.

So three suave and mellifluous cheers for the Extraordinary Master Giles!

And if you know of a herald who you think deserves similar recognition, please let me know. This job is well-supplied with perks, and promoting heralds to the rank they deserve might just be my favourite of them. So help me do that!

In service,

: Karl Crux :