A Feast For Crows by George R. R. Martin came out on my birthday this year. I am rereading the series now, starting with the first book, A Game of Thrones. I have to say that it was excellent the first time, and kicks the shit out of that Jordan crap, but the second time around it's much MUCH richer, which you can't always say for books. These books are part of a proposed seven-part fantasy series called A Song of Ice and Fire. It is supposedly based on 15th-century War of the Roses England. Unlike many other fantasy series, this one is long on intrigue and gritty, unforgiving reality, but relatively short on the fantastic.
In this series, and in Olde England, I guess, the major houses had crests, often with an animal doing something, and a saying. The Starks of Winterfell, for example, had a grey direwolf on a field of white. Their words are "Winter is Coming". Individuals from the houses also had their own sigils. If I were the High Seat of some noble House, I wonder what our symbols would be. Maybe the animal would be a giant scorpion, tail upraised. The words would be something along the lines of "By Might or by Spite". My personal sigil might include a black sword, shadows and something else.
In the games Diablo II and Dungeon Siege II, you pick up money, weapons, armor and magically-imbued amulets and rings as you defeat enemies. Some of the most interesting items are set items. Set items are presumably relics from of a great hero of an age long past. When worn, the wearer is granted extra abilities. For example, Tal Rasha's Wrappings. If I was such a legendary warrior whose gear bestows extra abilities, it would likely be a fighting mage type of set. I think I'll use my actual name for this one. They would call the set Alston's Assembly. I'll come up with the parts and what they do in detail in another post.
What would your house avatar be? What's your saying? What's your set name? What is in this set? I'd like to hear what your responses might be.
First off, I am glad to hear you say that about the Song of Fire and Ice series as I am about to re-embark on that journey again (I had interrupted it unfortunately with the fantastic Mists of Avalon and I couldn't read ANY other book for a while after that), and also to hear you trash that crap Jordan series (sorry Suj). I was so disappointed in it by the very, very shoddy ending of the first book.
Secondly, my house would be governed by the Owl, our set is the witch-wizard warrior (i.e. a fighting mage type) and our words would be "There is always a deeper magic."
(Wow, and I came up with all that after a significant amount of sangria).