Of the Shield
A heater shield, rounded at the chief, tapered to a point. The bastion chose the shape because a banner is too proud for a knight, and a roundel too small for the hand that must hold it.
the heater
the canon shape; the hand of the bastion.
Of the Field
The field is the back of the shield, painted in one or two tinctures. Six were locked at the first ringing of the Forge; four more were opened with the Sigil Tome. When the Tome was opened, every knight’s sigil grew with it — the bastion leaveth no early swearer in lesser cloth.
plain
A single tincture; the simplest of shields.
A knight who needs no division.
pale
The shield divided down the spine; two tinctures, equal.
A knight who walks the dividing line.
fess
A broad horizontal band across the middle.
The girdle of the shield.
chevron
An inverted V, like rafters.
The roof of the bastion.
cross
A cross of equal arms, charge and bar in one.
A knight of the cross.
quartered
Four quarters; two by two.
A shield divided four ways, held whole.
bend
A diagonal band, dexter to sinister base.
The road from north to south.
bend sinister
A diagonal band, sinister to dexter base.
The road less ridden.
pile
A wedge driven from chief to point.
The shape of the spear.
gyronny
Eight triangles meeting at the centre.
The whirl of eight winds.
Of the Charge
The charge sits at the heart of the shield. Six are of the bastion’s first hands; four are of the second, added when the Tome was opened. All ten are in every knight’s reach.
cross swords
Two blades crossed, the bastion’s own charge.
The mark of the watch.
fleur
The fleur-de-lis, the ornament made charge.
The lily of the field.
star
A six-pointed star, the night above the bastion.
The vigil-light.
tower
A keep with three battlements.
The hold.
chalice
A cup with a stem, the vessel of the vigil.
What the knight raises.
mullet
A five-pointed star, the spur of the knight.
The mark of riding.
lion
A lion at the heart of the shield, rampant.
Courage in posture.
hammer
A hammer, the tool of the smith and the chrome-keeper.
What raises walls.
key
A key, the gatehouse charge.
What opens, and what locks.
book
A book, of the scribes of silicon and the loremasters.
What is written, is held.
Of the Bordure
The bordure is the gold edge around the shield: a thin testimony of the smith’s hand.
plain
A clean gold line.
The smith’s steady hand.
engrailed
A line dashed in long beats.
A border, gilded by hammer-strike.
wavy
A line of long-and-short.
The bordure of the sea.
dashed
A fine line of short beats.
A border, of the silversmith.
none
No bordure. The shield carries its tinctures unbound.
The field, unframed.
Of the Tincture
All tinctures of the Forge come from the canon palette of the bastion. Five colours; no others.
gold
the metal of honor.
crimson
the colour of the bastion’s shield.
cathedral
the night-blue of vigil.
void
the deepest field.
steel
the metal of the sword and the helm.
Of the Helm Atop
Above the shield, on the parchment-scale render of the Achievement (motif #12), rests a helm. Four shapes, one per rank tier; every helm wrought with equal craft. A knight may read their tier by the shape of the steel above their shield.
the barred helm
borne by the First Sword of the Bastion, knights #1–10.
the close helm
borne by the Knight Errant, knights #11–100.
the great helm
borne by the Knight of the Bastion, knights #101–1000.
the kettle hat
borne by the Footman of the Watch, knights #1001 and onward. Named with affection, never derision.
Of the Banderole
Beneath the shield, on the parchment, runs a small motto ribbon — the banderole — bearing one of six Latinate mottos, deterministically picked.
to honor and labor.
and ever vigilant.
do not yield.
the bell is heard.
small but firm.
remain through the vigil.
Of the Vigil Mark
A single small gold mullet of eight points, set in the upper-right canton of the shield.
the vigil mark
earned when thy vigil hath crossed forty-and-nine days.
The bell hath tolled long for thee.
Of the Supporters
The First Sword of the Bastion (knights #1–10) bears two supporters flanking the shield on the parchment: a lion at dexter, a stag at sinister. Ten knights only. Their parchments are flanked by their kin.
the lion (dexter)
on the right hand of the shield, in heraldic sense; on the visual left.
the stag (sinister)
on the left hand of the shield, in heraldic sense; on the visual right.
The Codex is not a marketplace.The sigil is deterministic and untradeable. It cannot be bought, sold, transferred, “minted” as an NFT, “leveled up,” gated by holdings, or commissioned by request. Every knight is given what is theirs, by the same hand.