Greathouse Marque

A

greathouse marque is like a heraldic device in that it follows through the family and is constructed based on a culturally-enforced set of standards and can be constructed by an artist not otherwise familiar with the work based on a verbal formula. The symbol is also much like a livestock brand in that it is usually simple - scarcely more than one or two symbols and up to two colors - and is designed to be easily interpretable as a brand or tattoo on a person's body. Marques often contain one or two kaqata glyphs which may have a connection to the family surname, the location in which the originating greathouse was built, or some higher value the family seeks to uphold. By way of example, the marque employed by A'adekpf "Iodex" Sagan, relin of Arxid Sagan and his extended family, could be described as "on a dust armos, a burgundy flying 'io' encircled." Apropos, the 'io' gylph comes from "nemus adiodex," meaning "the way of the protector," a state that Iodex embodies as a retainer for Arxid.

Greathouse marques are usually periodically re-established, often for every third greathouse structure produced from a given lineage, but those from more famous or wealthy heritages may be maintained despite the expanses of time for the purpose of marketing, public relations, or simple prestige. The eldest couple in the household has a strong influence over what form the marque will take, though some families put up designs up to a vote among the members of the house before making the decision. Many of the greathouse marques in use as of the year 10k AR have been in use for so long that their origins have become obscured.

Because greathouse marques have the character of a trademark, the government maintains the Registry of Marques to provide lookup services and prevent the duplication of marque designs within living generations.