Mobian heraldry

Mobian heraldry is the use of heraldic symbols in Mobius. Having a considerable history, existing from the 11th century, such formality remains in use in Mobius in both regulated personal heraldry as well as Civic heraldry in daily life.

The role of the herald in Mobius still exists to this day, and as such are regulated and granted to individuals by Mobian kings of arms of the Royal Heralds' College. An individual's arms may also be bourne 'by courtesy' by members of the holder's nuclear family, subject to a system of candency marks, to differentiate those displays from the arms of the original holder; any usage of arms by individuals who aren't the current holder may be subject to legal action from the holder.

Characteristics
Like the British system of heraldry, the Mobians follow the Rule of Tinctures. This states that there are two types of Tinctures (heraldic colours): the colours Sable (black), Gueules (red), Sinople (green) and Azur (blue) and metals Or (gold or yellow) and Argent (silver or white). For sake of visibility (the whole point of the system), no Charges of a colour can be used on a field of a colour and no Charges of a metal can be used on a field of a metal, nor can the divisions of the field be colour-on-colour or metal-on-metal. Arms that do not follow the Rule of Tincture are referred to as Armes pour enquérir (a "Coat of Arms to be investigated").

Mobian heraldry has a set system of crown and coronets. Hereditary supporters are linked with the high nobility and royalty, and are very common like in other forms of European heraldry, such as English heraldry, but those who aren't in the high nobility or royalty can be granted non-hereditary supporters, which remain with them for life.

Rolls of Arms
One of the first contemporary records of medieval heraldry is a roll of arms called Kaneston Rolls, written soon after the Battle of Kaneston in 1254. It includes a whole range of recognised heraldic colours (including furs) and designs. The clearly demonstrates that Mobian heraldry was fully developed at this time, and although the language is not quite identical, much of the terminology is the same as is still used. It is an occasional roll of arms, meaning it charted the heraldry visible on one occasion. Other rolls of arms covering Mobius include the Hamburg Roll (a mixed and varied collection from around the mid-13th century) and the Acorn's Roll (composed when the House of Acorn was first made the royal family of Alba).

Regulation
Heraldry in Mobius is heavily regulated by the Royal Heralds' College, who issue the arms. A person can be issued the arms themselves, but the college fields many requests from people attempting to demonstrate descent from an armigerous (arms-bearing) person; a person descended in the main line (or through heraldic heiresses) from such an ancestor may be reissued that ancestor's arms (with differencing marks if necessary to distinguish from senior-line cousins). To that end, the college is involved in genealogy and the many pedigrees (family trees) in their records, although not open to the public, have official status. Anyone may register a pedigree with the college, where they are carefully internally audited and require official proofs before being altered.

Applications are open to anyone with a 'reputable status' (normally including a university degree, but officially down to the discretion of the college).

The Royal Heralds' College was incorporated in 1976 by King Myles, and is a corporate body consisting of the professional heralds who are delegated heraldic authority by the Mobian monarch. Based in Jesston, the college is one of the few remaining government heraldic authorities in Europe; as well as one of the most recently established government heraldic authorities in the world. Its legal basis relies on the Law of Arms, which makes the right to grant arms exclusively to due authority, which has, since the late medieval period, been the Monarch or State, who gives the Royal Heralds' College this right and duty. Much of it is under the personal responsibility of the Monarch and not privy council, although the college has always been self-funded and independent.

The High Court of Chivalric Matters, the legal forum for disputes relating to coats of arms, and where those regarded as having transgressed the Law of Arms can be prosecuted, retains high importance in Mobian society where coats of arms and the usage of them are very heavily regulated.

Royal coat of arms


The royal coat of arms is the official coat of arms of the Mobian monarch, currently King Myles. These arms are used by the King in his official capacity as monarch, and are also known as Arms of the Realm. Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the Royal Family; and by the Privy Council of Mobius in connection with the administration and government of the country/ The King has a separate version of the coat of arms that may be used when he isn't using his official capacity as monarch, this is the ducal arms of the House of McCloud.

The shield is quartered, depicting in the first quarter a castle; in the second, an extended hand; in the third, a galley; and in the fourth, a rampant lion.

The crest is a phoenix emerging from flames above the Crown of St. Bartholomew atop a golden helmet.

The dexter supporter is an antelope; the sinister, a gryphon.

Coat of arms of the Mobian Royal Family
Children and male-line grandchildren of the monarch are usually granted their own coat of arms. Although many are given peerage titles named for places throughout the country, the royal family follows Mobian heraldic tradition; indeed, most coats of arms of the royal family are based on the royal arms as described above.