These poor pale slaves were caught. As legitimate Gordianite spawn, they are allowed atonement for betrayal. They carry one great knot outside the gut. The upper intestine has been teased out through careful surgery. A loop is pulled outside the skin. Experts tie it unbreakably. No food can be digested until the knot creator slips his work. He will do this at the end of each watch if the Usurer has done well. A different Knotsman ties the knot each day in patterns only they know. If they die, the Usurer must starve. Instinct: to survive

• Save their tie-master