Bondsman

A Bondsman is a Clan prisoner taken during combat, of any caste or rank. A Bondsman is considered a member of the Laborer caste until freed or promoted back to active service.

A Bondsman wears a woven cord on the wrist to indicate the wearer's status (known as a bondcord). The color and highlighting indicate the Clan to which the wearer is bound and the capturing unit.

Bondholder

A bondholder is the person that takes a bondsman and is the primary determiner of when a bondsman has fulfilled his bond obligation. Custom indicates that any prisoner remain a bondsman for at least a token amount of time, even high-ranking and Bloodnamed warriors. Some Clans do not free Bondsmen to certain castes, especially the Warrior caste.

Bondsref

Bondsref is ritual suicide to prevent becoming a Bondsman. The person performing Bondsref must have the permission of their Bondholder and perform said act before taking a bondcord, otherwise the performer is considered dezgra and their genes will not be used in the Clan breeding program.