kiirget

Kiirget is a fictional term used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to describe a ceremonial oath-taking device and the associated social mechanism that records commitments among members of a community. The term derives from the Kiir language, combining kiir- “bind, seal” with -get “tool,” roughly translating to “binding tool.”

In physical form, a kiirget is typically a compact disc or ring made from a pale alloy and a crystal core. When activated, it emits a faint glow and projects a short, cryptographic inscription of the spoken oath. In use, participants recite an agreed pledge, and the kiirget records the words, assigns a time stamp, and links the pledge to each participant’s identity. The device is designed to be tamper-evident and requires presence of all signatories or an established quorum.

Functionally, kiirgets serve as public, durable records of social contracts—marriage-like unions, guild memberships, loan agreements, and oath-sworn commitments. They are often maintained by a community archive, with legal or cultural consequences for breach. The technology is described as low-energy, relying on a protected memory lattice rather than conventional power sources, and its cryptographic signatures are periodically archived to prevent loss.

Variants exist for different contexts: a portable field kiirget for temporary alliances, and a communal archive kiirget used in ceremonies. In fictional settings, kiirget plots may explore questions of trust, memory, and state authority, including counterfeiting, coercion, or ritual reinterpretation.