An Eastern weapon made out of hard wood or metal with leather wrapped around it. The leather enables doing damage without leaving cuts or scars. However, if used with the intention of killing the target it can be effective.
The technology seems to have reached the Empire; it is quite often employed by Jhereg enforcers in the collection of debts (where causing fatalities is not the point), but may also be utilized in serious fights. Vladimir Taltos carries one of these in his youth.