It's official - Name and device passed, AND...

[Sasha_Khan]

...one of the charges (the zulfikar) sets a precedent for use in SCA heraldry.

"Gürcü {I.}skender. Name change from Mykola Alecksandr and device change. Azure crescenty argent, a zulfikar inverted Or and a gore sinister argent.

His previous name, Mykola Alecksandr, is retained as an alternate name.

This submission is the defining instance of a zulfikar in Society heraldry. As such, it should not have been forwarded to Laurel without documentation of the existence of zulfikars in period heraldry. Fortunately, commenters were able to provide such documentation. Selim I, Ottoman Sultan from 1470 to 1520, used this charge on his "red standard."

A zulfikar is an Islamic symbol, the sword that Ali was given by Mohammed. The word appears to mean something like 'bifurcated'; it is generally depicted as a scimitar or straight sword, but always with a blade that splits into two distinct blades somewhere between the hilt and halfway to the tips.

His previous device, Azure crescenty argent, a Russian Orthodox cross Or and a gore sinister argent, is retained as a badge."

The old device (retained as a badge):
<a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/sasha_khan/pic/000848d7/g15"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/sasha_khan/pic/000848d7/s320x240" alt="000848d7"></a>

The new device:
<a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/sasha_khan/pic/000as2kg/g15"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/sasha_khan/pic/000as2kg/s320x240" alt="000as2kg"></a>

Considering some of the go-rounds some of my friends have had with the CoH, it's nice to have an annotation next to my name - WITHOUT it being followed by 'OMG! Never DO this!' or some other, nicer-phrased bit...

[Baron Alcyoneus]

Congrats!