Heraldry

Heraldry is a system of blazoning arms onto shields and armor to ascertain the allegiance of the bearer. The soldiers of the noble houses of Ferelden oftentimes carry shields with the heraldry of the house of which they serve. The dwarves of Orzammar also occasionally wield shields with the heraldry of their noble houses. The other races may occasionally bear heraldry, but to a lesser extent compared to the humans or the dwarves.

In Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, the party can purchase and apply a shield heraldry to their equipment for cosmetic customization and attribute bonuses. All heraldries provides, except the Legion of the Dead Heraldry which provides a seemingly out of place.