In my last blog, I introduced you to the idea of Kelorne and Yonmere’s rivalry, and in the images of the two rivals, I included in the background versions of their logos. I’ve given a lot of thought to the banners and logos that are used in Traitor’s Eye and I wanted explain some of the meanings behind them.

Kelorne – The Silver Fox

This description comes directly from Traitor’s Eye, and shows how Kelorne invented his symbol:

“A simple soldier was as much as he could aspire to be within his faction. He had shown his talent as a soldier early on, not only as a fighter but as a tactician and helped win several battles. He never got the credit he deserved though, held back by the circumstance of birth. He clashed repeatedly with his leader. He was called a scheming fox by his old faction leader as an insult and was eventually expelled from his faction, together with a group of loyal followers.

To lesser men it may have been the end. But not for him. He reinvented himself, building his own faction from a rag-tag band of brothers to an army of men. He turned the insult of a fox into his symbol, a green flag that bore the image of a silver fox, the cunning leader he knew he was.”

Yonmere of House Clayson – The deeply rooted and Historic Tree

Yonmere’s emblem is the emblem of House Clayson. Founded by Yonmere’s ancestor Clayson, he moved from Syros (the southern region) into Kasban (east) and took up residence in Thorngrove Forest. Clayson was a senior soldier in Theokin’s army, and having joined Theokin when he expanded from his base in Anthrow and liberated Syros from the giants. Clayson wanted to replicate his former leader by expanding east into the land of the giants.

The banner was formed after Clayson’s death, and depicts both their territory, the forest, and also the faction’s roots in the east. It became the banner of House Clayson, a dynasty that eventually became a powerful player in the eastern region of Kasban.

The banner differs to Kelorne’s start-up banner, which was based on the identity of one man. The banner of House Clayson represents a family tree, a legacy, a dynasty.

The Guardians – Historic Unity in Rumithia

Talking of legacy, there is one symbol known across Rumithia, despite the divisions and despite the years gone by, the symbol of the Guardians.

This symbol represents nostalgia of better times gone by, a time of unity when the four regions of Rumithia were controlled by the three principle races, humans, rooklins and giants and Rumithia was at peace. It was the opposite to the Faction Wars, the era in which Traitor’s Eye begins, riven with division.

This banner will be important early on in Traitor’s Eye as it will re-emerge and feature prominently in the first few chapters. Gongore comes to Rumithia and hoists this banner as his own, preaching unity. The nostalgia and history behind the symbol are so powerful that it creates a reaction amongst the people and this leads to Kelorne’s faction’s demise.

The Mystery Fourth

This one can’t be revealed until the book comes out, but I will leave it here so you can view and speculate as to what this could represent….

For my next blog, I will be highlighting a significant place in Rumithia, so stay tuned.