Staff of Authority: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|'''Captain Blackadder''': "Don't forget your stick Lieutenant!"

 

A '''Staff of Authority''', also know as a staff of office, is a staff or rod which often denotes an official's position, a social rank or a degree of social prestige. Staffs, scepters, batons, swagger sticks, pace sticks, riding crops (when used like a swagger stick instead of for riding), ceremonial maces, and crosiers are all but a few examples. Canes would also sometimes qualify if they are used to indicate a specific office or profession.

 

A [[Magic Staff]] sometimes doubles as a '''Staff of Authority'''. Staffs used mainly for combat purposes that are not intended as a mark of authority would be a [[Simple Staff]]. Maces designed for fighting rather than display could fall under [[Carry a Big Stick]]. However, there can be overlap in these tropes. A staff, rod or mace can have magical or fighting uses and still be a '''Staff of Authority''', but only if it is also a symbol of authority, rank or position. A '''Staff of Authority''' in the hands of royalty would also be a part of [[Requisite Royal Regalia]].

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* Tintin tale ''King Ottokar's Scepter'' - The new King of Syldavia will be forced to abdicate if he can't find the titular object before the people notices it was stolen. It's all a front for an attempted Anschluss.

* In [[Dan Abnett]]'s [[Warhammer 40,000]] novel ''[[Brothers of the Snake]]'', the coronation regalia include a spectre and orb. They are supposed to react if the heir is improper, and they don't. More importantly, they are the sealants for the [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]; the queen had been assassinated precisely so they would be removed from the Royal Mound. [[Weather Dissonance]] soon shows up, and an Inquisitor and a squad of Space Marines must move to contain it.

* [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]] - The poem Mythopoeia uses the symbol of a golden scepter to represent the creative human author ruling his own subcreation.

** The Istari, including Saruman and Gandalf have staffs that seem to be symbolic as well as practical. In their confrontation at Isengard after the Ents march on the place, Gandalf breaks Saruman's staff to show that his authority has been revoked by the [[Powers That Be]].

** The Sceptre of Annúminas was the chief mark of royalty of the North-kingdom of Arnor in Eriador in Middle-earth during the Third Age