Fer-de-Lance might be a new name for some Listener solvers.
However, he has been appearing regularly in the Magpie series with some POTMs and puzzles ranging from Grade A to Grade D with a wide range of grid forms (circular/ carte blanche/ and even a pair ‘Twin’ that appeared in successive months) and a range of subjects from classical to a memorable Michelin man. There has been one intriguing IQ too. So we can expect anything, though the title and first three words of the preamble prompt us that 13 might have something to do with this puzzle.
There’s an unclued entry and ‘a thematic item’ as well as a message produced by that familiar gimmick – the extra letter produced by the wordplay – which is going to give us two instructions and ‘a standard description of a part of England’ (yes, we understand later that that ‘standard’ is a flag.)
Generous clues and we are lucky in that more than one ACORN appears rather quickly in those clashing letters CONCORD/HARM, MACAQUE/SONORANT, CONSUL/EARCON, CLARET/SCONE, TOREADOR/BLANCO, INFANTS/RED CROSS, VICAR/NORMAL, and it becomes evident that there will be thirteen of these and that they will be symmetrically placed but let’s admit it – it was a tough gridfill with clashes like STANZAS/IDOCRASE, TRANCE/TOREADOR, (a second clash in TOREADOR!) GROOM/MARCAN, and CARNET/COOPERANT (yes, a second clash with that unclued ACORN – how pleasing, as well as those OAKS at 38d that grow from little things (MULTUM IN PARVO!)
So we have a full grid but what do we have to do? DRAW CLASHES, COLOUR MOTTO, VERT SEMEE OF ACORNS A HORSESHOE OR. Of course this week’s blogger needs the help of co-setter Google who comes to the rescue as usual: Flag of Rutland: Official Blazon. Arms: Vert semée of Acorns a Horseshoe Or. Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours in front of a Horseshoe an Acorn Or leaved and slipped proper. Motto: Multum In Parvo meaning “Much in little.”
The nerdier half of Dash learnt the art of “blazoning” as a youth and interjected at this point to clarify the special syntax used, stating the colour of the “field” first (vert/green) and then listing the “charges” on it, in this case sown with acorns plus a horseshoe, and finally giving the tincture (or/yellow) which applies to both of them, it being Bad Form to repeat the colour name unnecessarily. Now you know; though a glance at the flag tells you the answer anyway. My grid seems to be doing that, though my acorns should be yellower. Quite a feat, Fer-de-Lance to manage to find those 26 words that would conveniently clash to give the acorns! Ah, but as a new Listener setter do you qualify for the elite Listener oenophile outfit. Yes, indeed. One clue tells us ‘Arthur guzzles port with wild abandon (5)’ We put [R]IO into ART to give ARIOT. He’s a little more sober and sedate when an answer is CLARET (Contents of bin turned soft material wet (5)’ [T]ALC< + RET). So “Thank you for the challenge, Fer-de-Lance, and Cheers!”
PS Both halves of Dash are proud of their Yorkshire ancestry and would like to point out that the Friday on which this puzzle appeared was Yorkshire Day, not Rutland Day which is 13th September. Nah then, lad!