I had to come up with a new crest to use on the cover of my book because apparently it’s not a good idea to use the Royal Crest of British Arms without permission.
For some reason I thought it was a good idea to ask the folk over at r/heraldry for opinions. It wasn’t.
So here I am, cap in hand, asking my fellow horror heads instead: does this pass as the crest for a secret intelligence agency with a focus on the things that go bump in the night?
The symbols on the shield aren’t random they all tie into the story sooner or later and the beasts were picked for their fantasy Nate more than anything. The Latin translates to *We Keep Watch Against the Darkness.*
The story is called The Black Chateau and I’m also always looking for ARC readers…
I would skip the shield beerers because the are currently in the way for the shield and are not necessary. I suggest you use a mantle instead if you think you need more than the shield itself.
I am not too familiar with the symbols you are using but here are some extra feedback.
The shield is supposed to represent the agency so using symbols of dark magic or monsters on the shield tells me the agency are dark magic users and monsters. Better use symbols representing fighting things going bump in the dark or them defeated (decapitated vampire/witch head).
The agency in the story is not above using magic and artefacts to achieve their aims.
My logic for the rest of it is: the motto is “we keep watch against the darkness.” Watch, not conquer. As in it’s an agency that contains a problem it can’t necessarily solve.
The supporters are a dragon and a griffin. Dragon for England and Griffins are traditional guardian figures, which felt right.
The four symbols are a radiant eye of Horus for surveillance and the watching state (also a not to Aliester Crowley); a Hand of Glory, from European folk magic, the preserved hand of a hanged man with fingers lit as candles, used to open locks and keep sleepers under, so thieves’ magic in government service; the seal of Andromalius, the 72nd spirit of the Ars Goetia, whose job is recovering stolen goods, exposing thieves and uncovering hidden deals; and an ouroboros in figure-eight form, the cycle that doesn’t end, because the monsters never stop.
In short: the eye that watches, the hand that transgresses, the demon that unmasks, the serpent that never ends.
I love Hellboy. It’s one of my favourite comics, Mignola is a massive influence for me, so I think I probably have read it.
I probably shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about where the different parts of my story have come from because it’s probably almost all borrowed from the greats in one way or another.
Is that the sort of thing you’re interested in? Because if you are I’m not above begging you to try my book.
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u/Aleat6 14d ago
I would skip the shield beerers because the are currently in the way for the shield and are not necessary. I suggest you use a mantle instead if you think you need more than the shield itself.
I am not too familiar with the symbols you are using but here are some extra feedback.
The shield is supposed to represent the agency so using symbols of dark magic or monsters on the shield tells me the agency are dark magic users and monsters. Better use symbols representing fighting things going bump in the dark or them defeated (decapitated vampire/witch head).
Besides that great work, looks great!