Quoted By:
A: January 30, 2019
I'm only a full month late answering this. Part of that was doing research for a proper answer, the other was time spent thinking (and failing at thinking) on a satisfactory answer.The coat of arms as I've come to understand is composed of four parts: Motto, Crest, Shield, and Supporter. Also it seems impossible to make this thing meaningful without it also looking garrish and obnoxiously colored, which irritates me.Tackling the Crest first, representative of a notable achievement of the family or individual: An oak tree in full bloom. This tree is black, which to my understanding represents a number of things - Grief and regret among them, but also constancy and prudence. As the Warden of Dryad there is no greater achievement to House Valen. As you are well aware the act itself was one that inspired little but misery and regret, but in being Dryad's Warden the family house is bound to Dryad faithfully and perpetually, as such constancy is also an accurate descriptor, and prudence is self-explanatorily the motive which drove the events of the Atelier in the first place. The actual meaning of this was lost to MOST of the Valen family outside the few who renewed the contract, and to public knowledge it represents their arboreal lands. The tree is flanked by two sets of pointed fey-like wings which are silver.The Shield is a misnomer as this part assumes they bore a shield into battle. While most in setting would still use a shield in their coat of arms, house Valen is unique in that it uses a sword. This is also the first instance i'll mention of historical changes, as initially it used a bow in description of the founder's hunting weapon of choice, but it was changed to a sword some generations later in a symbolic gesture referring to the rarity of those who were deserving of swords in setting. Explicitly it can be read as "We are the elite". This weapon is maroon, which signifies fortitude, patience, and victory. In a way you may look at this combination as an explicit statement that they're not merely the elite NOW, but will continue to be so.Supporters are typically animals or people standing on either side of the shield to support it. It's meant to tell a part of the "origin" of a family or heraldry... In our case it's a small field of red mint which the sword is supported by pommel first. Red representing generosity, the strength of a warrior, and martyrdom. the plant needs little explanation. "Shouldn't they be green?" you might ask. The answer is funny. And by funny I concede it's a little sad. Simply put the founder of House Valen, as you may gather from reading the quest itself, took a very long time to come to terms with their own feelings, and understanding both how to identify what they felt, and what was felt towards them. By the time they had it was far too late, and rather than publicly change their coat of arms to reflect that, it was left red in fond memory."No one remembers you like I do."
