A Ktorr Skann was a term used by the Vulcan civilization. Being declared a ktorr skann meant that the Vulcan in question was without a family as they had been banished from the household with them being forbidden of ever returning home due to the decisions they had made. Such decisions were not easy and were the formal cutting of ties between family members. Silek had chosen such a life after deciding to not join a career of diplomacy and politics that his father Skon had planned for him. (TOS novel: Demons (novel))