The horrifying process of severing the bond between a person and their daemon, developed by the General Oblation Board (the Gobblers) at Bolvangar. The Magisterium pursues intercision because it prevents Dust from settling on a person - effectively destroying their capacity for consciousness, curiosity, and independent thought. The process leaves victims alive but hollow, listless, and fundamentally diminished. It is the series' most potent metaphor for institutional cruelty against children.