The symbols are actually only in 2k3 HQ, they are not available in XP and VX.
For colours, \c[0-31] will change the colour of the text based oin the windowskin palette. SO, any integer between and including 0 and 31 will set the colour - \c[0] is the normal color
For the icon, you need a script. There are two in the RMVX Scripts Database that allows you to do that, my own Advanced Text System and Woratana's Neo-Message System.