# Ordinaries #

The main ordinaries consist of big stripes or areas on a shield.

| _Cross_ | _Chief_ | _Fess_ | _Pale_ | _Bend_ | _Bend Sinister_ | _Saltire_ |
|:--------|:--------|:-------|:-------|:-------|:----------------|:----------|
| [[img/argent_a_cross_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_chief_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_fess_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_pale_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_bend_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_bend_sinister_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_saltire_gules.png]] |
| _Base_  | _Chevron_ | _Pall_ | _Chevron Inverted_ | _Pall Inverted_ | _Bordure_       |
| [[img/argent_a_base_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_chevron_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_pall_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_chevron_inverted_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_pall_inverted_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_within_a_bordure_gules.png]] |

Generally, an ordinary can have its outline altered in the same way that
lines of partition can be (see PartyPer).

| _Cross wavy_ | _Bend dancetty_ | _Pale embattled_ |
|:-------------|:----------------|:-----------------|
| [[img/argent_a_cross_wavy_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_bend_dancetty_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_a_pale_embattled_gules.png]] |


Note that these are blazoned as _Argent a
cross/chief/fess/pale/etc. gules_.  That is, the background first
(_Argent_), followed by the ordinary, which is given by its name followed
by its color (or other treatment).  So, yes, the treatment doesn't have to
be a simple color; you can do things like _Ermine a fess bendy azure and or_.

[[img/ermine_a_fess_bendy_azure_and_or.png]]

---


These "full-sized" ordinaries usually only come one to a shield.  When
you're dealing with more than one, you use smaller versions (which can also
be used singly).  pyBlazon will **sometimes** automatically convert to the
smaller ones when you call for more than one, but I think it isn't always
perfectly done.

| _3 pallets_ | _3 bars_ | _3 bendlets_ | _3 chevronels_ | _3 bars gemelles_ |
|:------------|:---------|:-------------|:---------------|:------------------|
| [[img/argent_3_pallets_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_3_bars_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_3_bendlets_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_3_chevronels_gules.png]] | [[img/argent_3_bars_gemelles_gules.png]] |

Note that _bars gemelles_ are **pairs** of narrow bars.

## On to [Charges](Charges) ##