Validating Heraldry (sage ability)
Validating heraldry is a sage-status sage ability, permitting the character's entrance to the Heraldic College of Arms, a league of eighty to one hundred persons whose honour it is to give formal consent to a new, recognized heraldic symbol. This grants the character with one vote, deciding the legitimacy of those seeking heraldic adoption.
Throughout the character's career, it's presumed that from time to time he or she has been in communication with scholars and other persons within the field — and that upon becoming a heraldic sage, the character will receive an invitation to be invested in the appropriate College of Arms. There is four such colleges that exist, one each in the Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Oriental worlds. Upon receipt of the invitation, the character must journey to an agreed upon place to be invested in a secret ceremony.
Benefits
Upon his or her investiture, missives and letters will begin to arrive asking the character to submit a vote to the Guild of Arms. It's not necessary to submit a vote; any unsubmitted vote is counted as a "no." In addition, if the character's residence is made known to the Guild, gifts will arrive continuously from those wishing to influence the character's vote or gain the character's support in creating or gaining heraldic "achievements."