[jason taylor]

Hint this was inspired by a scene in the thriller Blood and Treasure in which the characters use a similar (Chinese not Vilani of course) device to access a triad bank:

Vilani signet wand:

This is a wand several inches in length and usually about two inches in diameter. It contains two seals similar to a Terran signet but typically it is meant to be read electronically rather than with a wax impression (though some are made to function in that method).

Typically each seal has a geometric design made in a complex format. Each seal is quartered and a wand has a seal on each end, making for a minimum of 8 possibilities. As electronic locks can read superimpositions, there are far more combinations allowed simply buy placing the quarter seals in prescribed order. Often treaties and contracts are finalized by superimposing the seal of one party on that of another in a given order.

The shaft is often made of valuable material and displays heraldry as well as sacralized artifacts such as a dataholder containing the laws of a given demesne. In the past such devices were subject to sumptuary laws and only nobles could possess them. In the Third Imperium it is permitted to copyright individual signet wands but not signet wands in general.

A variation with which it is often confused is a writing wand. These contain the eight most common Vilani characters. They are detachable so that the holder can replace them with the blocks for other characters.

Signet wands are often used as regalia by a noble house, or similar officeholder. Lending them is a sign of trust; it is effectively declaring a person to be a lawful agent.