Outlands College of Heralds
The Outlands College of Heralds is the heraldic arm of the Kingdom of the Outlands within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). It supports name & armory submissions, field and court voice heraldry, awards tracking, scribal activity, and educational outreach across the kingdom. Heralds ensure accurate recordkeeping and provide ceremonial support at events.
Roles & Responsibilities
| Title | Description | Herald |
|---|---|---|
| White Stag Principal Herald | Chief administrative herald & voice of the Crown | Andreas von Meißen |
| Rampart Herald | Submissions (name/device) intake & processing | Khalidah bint Yahya'a |
| Castle Herald | Letter of Presentation compiler | Vacant |
| Besom Herald | Rampart’s clerk (submission notices) | Vacant |
| Wimble Herald | Order of Precedence & awards database | Þorvaldr Þórólfsson á Vaksfjall |
| Wharrow Herald | Roll of Arms (registered devices) | Llwyus ap Alan |
| Gimlet Herald | Book of Ceremonies & court protocol | Anna MacTaggart |
| Plover Herald | Field heraldry coordination | Vacant |
| Weel Herald | Education & publications | Carlos Nieto de Andrade |
| Blue Iris Herald | Queen’s court herald | Gráinne Shocair |
| Palmer, Scribe, Stags Attire, Liber/Trefoil/Fretty Heralds | Deputies, regalia, commentary |
| Barony | Title | Herald |
|---|---|---|
| Caerthe | Aspen | Jethro Stille |
| al-Barran | Scorpion | Vacant |
| Dragonsspine | Scalene | Angel d'Auvergne |
| Citadel of the Southern Pass | Rook | Sayyid Yaya al-Faris ibn Hassan al-Mari |
| Unser Hafen | Barbican | Hilarion Angelos Akropolites |
| Caer Galen | Ray du Soleil | Vacant |
| Aarquelle | Aarquelle | Ragnvaldr of Rendlesham |
White Stag Principle Herald
The White Stag Principal Herald is the chief heraldic officer of the Kingdom of the Outlands and serves as the Voice of the King of the Outlands. The White Stag oversees all heraldic activity within the kingdom, acting as the primary administrative herald to whom all heralds report. This officer in turn reports to the Laurel Sovereign of Arms, the Crown of the Outlands, and the Kingdom Seneschal.
The White Stag is responsible for the coordination of heraldic submissions, ceremonies, and field heraldry across the kingdom. Traditionally, the White Stag performs court heraldry for Coronation and field heraldry for the first and last rounds of Crown Tournament. Many responsibilities are delegated to the office’s numerous deputies, each specializing in different aspects of heraldry and administration.
White Stags
| # | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Keridwen of Montrose |
| 2 | Erasimierz Waspanieski |
| 3 | Saerlaith L'Estrangere |
| 4 | Mark Lasie of Westminster |
| 5 | Louis-Phillipe Mitouard |
| 6 | Fiachra ni Ciardhubhain |
| 7 | Karl von Schattenburg |
| 8 | Artan macAilin |
| 9 | Pendar the Bard |
| 10 | Timothy O'Brien |
| 11 | Juan Balthazar Tegero |
| 12 | Tatiana Pavlovna Sokolova |
| 13 | Sorcha MacLeod |
| 14 | Marie de Blois |
| 15 | Omar Mohammed Mirzazadeh |
| 16 | Fiachra ni Ciardhubhain |
| 17 | Randal Carrick |
| 18 | Angus Reid MacFarlane |
| 19 | Timothy O'Brien |
| 20 | Æðeluulf munc |
| 21 | Andreas von Meißen (Current) |
Heraldic Seal
- First Seal (Registered April 1983, via Atenveldt; changed December 1989, via the Outlands):
(Tinctureless) A stag leaping, surmounted by two straight trumpets crossed in saltire abased, all within an annulet.
- Second Seal (Registered December 1989, via the Outlands):
(Tinctureless) Two crossed trumpets, bells to chief, surmounted by a scroll bendwise sinister bearing the words "SALTANDI SALTARE", overall a stag salient, the whole within a bordure embattled.
Reporting and Record Keeping
Reporting Schedule
- Kingdom Staff: quarterly (due 10 Jan, 10 Apr, 10 Jul, 10 Oct)
- Baronial Heralds: monthly
- Shire/Canton/College Heralds: quarterly (to baronial herald or White Stag)
- Heralds‑at‑Large: periodic activity reports; removal after one year of silence.[1]
Report Contents
Each report should include:
- Herald’s SCA & legal names, membership info, group served, reporting period, date of report
- List of submissions sent to Castle Herald (submitter, type, status, dates)
- Accounting of heraldic funds handled (submission fees in/out)
- Status of in‑process submissions (milestone dates)
- Awards received by populace during period
- Other activities: courts, lists, demos, classes, publications.[1]
Record‑keeping
Maintain files for:
- Correspondence (incoming & outgoing)
- Submissions (pending & registered)
- Court Reports & Precedence updates
- Heraldic reference materials and forms.[1]
Equipment & Resources
Heralds should have:
- The Outlands Heralds’ Handbook and Guide to Submissions Heraldry[1]
- Portable file box/folders, scroll case, clipboard, file cards
- “Greenwear” (tabard/baldric) for voice heraldry
- SCA Corpora & Kingdom Law texts
- Access to the Online Ordinary & Armorial (http://oanda.sca.org/)
- Kingdom heralds’ websites (Rampart, Wimble, Wharrow, Plover, Gimlet, Weel, Stags Attire)
- Personal heraldic reference library.[1]
Structure
The College comprises three tiers:
- Senior Staff – Kingdom officers appointed by White Stag
- Local Heralds – Baronial/Shire/Canton/College heralds (White Stag‑approved)
- Heralds‑at‑Large – Un‑warranted but active participants.[1]
Heraldic Ranks
- Messenger‑of‑Arms – Entry level
- Macer – Demonstrates continuing commitment
- Pursuivant – Solid knowledge in at least one heraldic area
- Herald – Excellence in two or more heraldic disciplines
- Herald Extraordinary – Honorific for outstanding service and impact.[1]
Types of Heraldry
- Book Heraldry – Assisting with name & device research, documentation, submissions
- Field Heraldry – Announcing lists, match results, fighter identities
- Court Heraldry – Master of ceremonies for courts; awards announcements.[1]
Philosophy
Heralds serve as the Crown’s voice with courtesy, discretion, professionalism, and fun. Mentorship and education are core values.[1]
Recommended References
Basic Heraldry Texts
- Complete Guide to Heraldry (Fox‑Davies)
- Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry (Draconarius & Akagawa)
- Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (Withycombe)
- Surname & place‑name dictionaries (Reaney & Wilson; Black; Ekwall)
- Dictionary of German Names (Bahlow)
SCA‑Specific Publications
- Guide to Submissions Heraldry in the Outlands (Companion Handbook)
- Compleat Anachronist #22, #51, #66
- Free Trumpet Press pamphlets (Laurel Precedents, KWHS Proceedings)
External Links
- Official Outlands College of Heralds
- Rampart (Submissions)
- Wimble (Precedence)
- Wharrow (Armorial)
- Gimlet (Ceremonies)
- Plover (Field Heraldry)
- Weel (Education)
- Stags Attire (Regalia)