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Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!
You asked for suggestions for arms to match your late-period French persona. Here are some ideas.
You expressed interest in a white crane on a blue field. That's a very good starting point. Cranes and herons are not especially common in period armory, but they are found occasionally across western Europe. Most often they are used for "canting", which is the practice of using a heraldic charge whose name is similar to your own surname. For example, the 15th century Scottish family Cranston used a crane. The French word for "crane" is "grue", so if you chose a surname like "Gruyer" [1] or "de Gruey" [2], you might use a crane as a cant. But there are plenty of examples of non-canting uses of cranes, too, so it's not necessary. Just fun.
Cranes are usually depicted standing on one leg, often with the other claw raised and grasping a stone. A crane in this posture with the stone is called "a crane in its vigilance". Many medieval bestiaries related the story behind this peculiar stance: A crane was believed to stand guard over his nestlings holding a stone in one claw. If he fell asleep, he'd drop the stone and wake himself up.
Herons are also occasionally found in medieval arms. The heron is artistically distinguished from the crane in two ways: It would not be "in its vigilance", and it would have a tuft of feathers pointing backward from the top if its head.
A single white crane on a blue field would make a lovely set of arms, but it is unfortunately too similar to existing Society armory. However, I can suggest some simple alternatives:
Azure, three cranes argent.
Azure semy-de-lys, a crane in its vigilance argent.
Azure, a chevron engrailed between three cranes argent.
These designs closely match the heraldic style of your period, and as far as I can tell, they are clear of any conflict. Feel free to substitute herons for cranes in any of these designs.
I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Zenobia Naphtali and Margaret Makafee.
For the Academy,
Arval Benicoeur
References
[1] Dauzat & Rostaing, Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Lieux de la
France (Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1963).
[2] Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire Etymologique des noms de Familles et des
prenoms de France ( Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987).