Snubbing

Snubbing is the practice of limiting a vortigaunt's psionic link to the Vortessence.

Overview
The vortigaunts' ability to link telepathically with each other and with the Vortessence relies on the use of sensory organs. Through the use of surgery or dampening instruments, it is possible to interrupt the function of these organs.

Snubbing was popularized under the Combine regime when captured vortigaunts would have their psionic abilities blocked in order to facilitate enslavement. While the Liberation saw the freeing of vortigaunts captured by the Combine, the practice of snubbing did not disappear. Vortigaunt enslavement continues to the present day and can be found most frequently in Benefactor cult s in the outlands.

Some shackled vortigaunts became Torn.