diff --git a/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGates.json b/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGates.json
index 9beed58429..08de0933c1 100644
--- a/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGates.json
+++ b/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGates.json
@@ -7,16 +7,16 @@
     }
   ],
   "config": "gen=c,rust,verilog,zig;tests=zig",
-  "gen_hash_c": "sha256:723a598914ee23e57be303db50d42531cc4e060b0dc2f4cb56234e53ef1f545c",
-  "gen_hash_rust": "sha256:a959e6e61dbce9d00050932baed8e74633a5ce6e4a6dc376f9ee3c5494445473",
-  "gen_hash_verilog": "sha256:27185ecb4aa7e109f3c9fb7280863ac2fff7f4262bf8b02b9c3177612079580f",
-  "gen_hash_zig": "sha256:d96163a4182c592c121c7cf497d5770791f41fb7fb382300b2d79dee3ef3c79e",
+  "gen_hash_c": "sha256:e83faa16fdda54ccb71a5cef820dcbcb0b115a1a964b1b769e8efa3fe4f46de4",
+  "gen_hash_rust": "sha256:f5a230d83ed3b53022cda5241bcb97a98a6f7d35118813dd896bfd94a408db57",
+  "gen_hash_verilog": "sha256:e60c97323fe49104fa91dec8d4d70db8c3070acb09e10955bae928b09a0aaeac",
+  "gen_hash_zig": "sha256:2bb85ab7683c3ce5f9e68d5cdeec753084408e7c0b36e65e68a3aba22a8312e8",
   "module": "ClawGates",
   "ring": 12,
   "seal_schema": 2,
-  "sealed_at": "2026-10-18T22:24:12Z",
+  "sealed_at": "2026-10-18T22:41:04Z",
   "sealed_by": "t27c-bootstrap@0.5.2",
-  "spec_hash": "sha256:1976cf9af48f8799d5d7584648c3cca97ca35d0ccd31b5019b0a1fed909f1e90",
+  "spec_hash": "sha256:944d2af8d1a9f6ad261a527445f94922e3f299d5bb3657341f6f5cdc5c38f9c1",
   "spec_path": "specs/claw/gates.t27",
   "tests": {
     "failed": 0,
diff --git a/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGatesPins.json b/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGatesPins.json
index fce3514a73..804d43fe68 100644
--- a/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGatesPins.json
+++ b/.trinity/seals/claw_ClawGatesPins.json
@@ -1,33 +1,33 @@
 {
-  "built_by": "t27c-bootstrap@0.5.2+4ab200073",
+  "built_by": "t27c-bootstrap@0.5.2+9448ab4be",
   "closure": [
     {
       "spec": "specs/claw/gates.t27",
-      "spec_hash": "sha256:3ae3db764f44ce4e0c45b8c7af6f17db39755e3c23be43c17a75409394a0a32d"
+      "spec_hash": "sha256:944d2af8d1a9f6ad261a527445f94922e3f299d5bb3657341f6f5cdc5c38f9c1"
     }
   ],
   "config": "gen=c,rust,verilog,zig;tests=zig",
-  "gen_hash_c": "sha256:cd501815d2c74fa080136736e0518a67b592c44a853000153812721f8e8ea57d",
-  "gen_hash_rust": "sha256:af20324af83bbf7f3eba345a64033ca44fca7934a470055624ec381a77ff74e3",
-  "gen_hash_verilog": "sha256:1e0ce75eba74ad61a29409655a21add1b64eafd9d90a7c12d748d4173f082478",
-  "gen_hash_zig": "sha256:ca3b9d27acacfadaeea3cedd46f29834c25e2e258819017d71653a3a24df473b",
+  "gen_hash_c": "sha256:9b019d7001ef279fa03cb313208c21af916bcd0b04a18301b3ba9a11b61c4c7e",
+  "gen_hash_rust": "sha256:82c7f3aa3cdb72a027efb1f3c66b96052c7dfdb63d0be68a44458ff8d694e240",
+  "gen_hash_verilog": "sha256:0ae1fdb0af1f915ab3ec0b2926c26061de7ca11cf1d76919464dda405b48b3f5",
+  "gen_hash_zig": "sha256:7ad136326adee3ce56c546e7d70a4f5d8a7283ffd0f12b9efbdde3a31a5d3036",
   "module": "ClawGatesPins",
   "ring": 12,
   "seal_schema": 2,
-  "sealed_at": "2026-10-18T09:41:14Z",
+  "sealed_at": "2026-10-18T22:41:06Z",
   "sealed_by": "t27c-bootstrap@0.5.2",
-  "spec_hash": "sha256:e18a7800770e75607f68b089aaa38880e490276fbe6706372b0e302bb990238c",
+  "spec_hash": "sha256:a6ab857762046c32d4b9b1314e8709e2e74a1b6faada15b2d38aeecb7fab5ef8",
   "spec_path": "specs/claw/gates_pins.t27",
   "tests": {
     "failed": 0,
     "failing": [],
     "forced": false,
-    "passed": 5,
-    "total": 5,
+    "passed": 6,
+    "total": 6,
     "vacuous": 0
   },
   "toolchain": {
-    "test_runner": "sha256:1982ae948e24d00c5d221ccec12dfce1eb01204b53e37b0f857f93b16d64629d",
+    "test_runner": "sha256:8512b80da533b79289110fca4a65f3336abd7a059ca4b72ea595d5e33ff8ad10",
     "zig": "0.16.0"
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/gen/c/claw/gates.c b/gen/c/claw/gates.c
index a1f4491a12..6e66ee09e5 100644
--- a/gen/c/claw/gates.c
+++ b/gen/c/claw/gates.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 static const const char* NAMES[67] = { "agent-runner-docker", "auto-merge-ready-prs", "bootstrap-tests", "build-paper", "build-vivado-image", "catalog-count-gate", "cli-tri", "conflict-markers", "conformance-integrity-gate", "coq-kernel", "coq-proofs", "corpus-ratchet", "damage-negatives", "deploy-api", "documented-commands", "dupe-ratchet", "emit-bitexact-gate", "exhaustive-nightly", "fix-carries-source", "fpga-build", "gate-topology", "gf-wide-conformance", "gf16-conformance", "harness-scratch", "issue-gate", "l1-traceability", "lean-proofs", "loop-tools-gate", "needs-boundary", "oracle-nightly", "orphan-modules", "own-language", "pack-index-consistency-gate", "phi-loop-ci", "pr-budget", "pr-dashboard", "pusher", "queen-doctor", "queen-export-push", "queen-feed-empty-bodies", "queen-feed-roadmap", "queen-feed-untested", "queen-publish", "queen-refile", "queen-watchdog", "release", "rings-rust", "sandbox-docker", "sbom", "schema-validation", "scorecard", "seal-coverage", "seal-staleness-warn", "secret-scan", "sign-release", "spec-guards", "spec-parse-ratchet", "t27b-native", "t27o-golden", "t27o-release", "untrusted-input-gate", "verilog-widths", "vivado-synth", "wasm-explorer", "withdrawn-live-gate", "xilinx7-l3-bench", "zenodo-publish" };
 static const size_t NAME_LENS[67] = { 19, 20, 15, 11, 18, 18, 7, 16, 26, 10, 10, 14, 16, 10, 19, 12, 18, 18, 18, 10, 13, 19, 16, 15, 10, 15, 11, 15, 14, 14, 14, 12, 27, 11, 9, 12, 6, 12, 17, 23, 18, 19, 13, 12, 14, 7, 10, 14, 4, 17, 9, 13, 19, 11, 12, 11, 18, 11, 11, 12, 20, 14, 12, 13, 19, 16, 14 };
 static const uint8_t CLASSES[67] = { 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
+static const size_t EVENT_LENS[67] = { 22, 46, 35, 35, 17, 30, 17, 35, 35, 35, 35, 35, 35, 22, 35, 35, 30, 26, 30, 35, 44, 35, 35, 35, 37, 30, 30, 35, 26, 26, 35, 12, 35, 30, 19, 30, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 31, 26, 26, 7, 35, 22, 30, 35, 54, 35, 30, 35, 25, 35, 35, 35, 13, 4, 35, 35, 17, 17, 35, 30, 25 };
 static const const char* EVENTS[67] = { "push,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,pull_request_target,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch,schedule", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request_target,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request_target", "workflow_dispatch,pull_request", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "push,schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,workflow_dispatch", "release", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,workflow_dispatch", "push,release,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "branch_protection_rule,schedule,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "release,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "workflow_call", "push", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request", "pull_request,push,workflow_dispatch", "workflow_dispatch,pull_request", "release,workflow_dispatch" };
 #define P_OK 0
 #define P_SPEC_ONLY 1
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ uint8_t class_of(const char* name, size_t name_len);
 bool is_blocking(const char* name, size_t name_len);
 const char* events_of(const char* name, size_t name_len);
 uint32_t count_class(uint8_t c);
-bool rows_filled(const char* names[static 67], const char* events[static 67]);
+bool rows_filled(size_t name_lens[static 67], size_t event_lens[static 67]);
 bool every_row_filled(void);
 bool names_unique_in(const char* names[static 67], size_t lens[static 67]);
 bool all_names_unique(void);
@@ -107,12 +108,12 @@ uint32_t count_class(uint8_t c) {
     return n;
 }
 
-bool rows_filled(const char* names[static 67], const char* events[static 67]) {
+bool rows_filled(size_t name_lens[static 67], size_t event_lens[static 67]) {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 67; i++) {
-        if ((names[i] == "")) {
+        if ((name_lens[i] == 0)) {
             return false;
         }
-        if ((events[i] == "")) {
+        if ((event_lens[i] == 0)) {
             return false;
         }
     }
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ bool rows_filled(const char* names[static 67], const char* events[static 67]) {
 }
 
 bool every_row_filled(void) {
-    return rows_filled(NAMES, EVENTS);
+    return rows_filled(NAME_LENS, EVENT_LENS);
 }
 
 bool names_unique_in(const char* names[static 67], size_t lens[static 67]) {
@@ -604,19 +605,21 @@ void test_coverage_report_lines_are_exact(void) {
 }
 
 void test_a_hole_in_either_column_fails_the_filled_check(void) {
-    assert((rows_filled(NAMES, EVENTS) == true));
-    const char* n[67] = {0};
+    assert((rows_filled(NAME_LENS, EVENT_LENS) == true));
+    size_t n[67] = {0};
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 67; i++) {
-        n[i] = NAMES[i];
+        n[i] = NAME_LENS[i];
     }
-    n[66] = "";
-    assert((rows_filled(n, EVENTS) == false));
-    const char* e[67] = {0};
+    n[66] = 0;
+    assert((rows_filled(n, EVENT_LENS) == false));
+    size_t e[67] = {0};
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 67; i++) {
-        e[i] = EVENTS[i];
+        e[i] = EVENT_LENS[i];
     }
-    e[0] = "";
-    assert((rows_filled(NAMES, e) == false));
+    e[0] = 0;
+    assert((rows_filled(NAME_LENS, e) == false));
+    e[0] = 1;
+    assert((rows_filled(NAME_LENS, e) == true));
 }
 
 void test_a_repeated_name_is_caught_wherever_it_sits(void) {
diff --git a/specs/claw/gates.t27 b/specs/claw/gates.t27
index 1ede4a9be4..21945b9738 100644
--- a/specs/claw/gates.t27
+++ b/specs/claw/gates.t27
@@ -98,6 +98,25 @@ pub const CLASSES : [67]u8 = [
     0, 0,
 ];
 
+/// Length of EVENTS[i], parallel row, for the same reason as NAME_LENS: gen-c carries no .len.
+/// specs/claw/gates_pins.t27 pins each row to EVENTS[i].len.
+pub const EVENT_LENS : [67]usize = [
+    22, 46, 35, 35, 17,
+    30, 17, 35, 35,
+    35, 35, 35, 35, 22,
+    35, 35, 30, 26, 30,
+    35, 44, 35, 35, 35,
+    37, 30, 30, 35, 26,
+    26, 35, 12, 35, 30,
+    19, 30, 26, 26, 26, 26,
+    26, 26, 31, 26, 26,
+    7, 35, 22, 30, 35,
+    54, 35, 30, 35, 25,
+    35, 35, 35, 13, 4,
+    35, 35, 17, 17, 35,
+    30, 25,
+];
+
 /// Trigger keys of row i, comma-joined, as measured 2026-10-12 (see header).
 pub const EVENTS : [67]str = [
     "push,workflow_dispatch", "schedule,pull_request_target,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "push,pull_request,workflow_dispatch", "workflow_dispatch",
@@ -151,18 +170,20 @@ pub fn count_class(c: u8) -> u32 {
 
 /// Every row of a table shaped like this one has a name and a recorded trigger set. The
 /// columns are parameters so a test can hand in a copy with one hole: a check that only reads
-/// the constant table can never fail, and no mutant of it can die (#10686).
-pub fn rows_filled(names: [67]str, events: [67]str) -> bool {
+/// the constant table can never fail, and no mutant of it can die (#10686). It reads the length
+/// columns, not the strings: gen-c lowers `s == ""` to a C pointer comparison, so in the
+/// committed gates.c an empty-string test compared addresses, not contents.
+pub fn rows_filled(name_lens: [67]usize, event_lens: [67]usize) -> bool {
     for i in 0..67 {
-        if names[i] == "" { return false; }
-        if events[i] == "" { return false; }
+        if name_lens[i] == 0 { return false; }
+        if event_lens[i] == 0 { return false; }
     }
     return true;
 }
 
 /// Every row of the inventory has a name and a recorded trigger set.
 pub fn every_row_filled() -> bool {
-    return rows_filled(NAMES, EVENTS);
+    return rows_filled(NAME_LENS, EVENT_LENS);
 }
 
 /// No name appears twice in a name column (with its length column).
@@ -575,7 +596,7 @@ test coverage_report_carries_every_class {
 // The length-table pins live in specs/claw/gates_pins.t27: they read .len on
 // strings, which the zig runner executes and the gen-c backend cannot lower,
 // so they sit in a companion module that is never gen-c'd. A wrong number in
-// NAME_LENS/PREFIX_LENS/SUFFIX_LENS/*_LEN fails there, not silently here.
+// NAME_LENS/EVENT_LENS/PREFIX_LENS/SUFFIX_LENS/*_LEN fails there, not silently here.
 
 test audit_tail_line_matches_the_count {
     // The runner prints the report; the tail must say what the count says.
@@ -616,15 +637,18 @@ test coverage_report_lines_are_exact {
 }
 
 test a_hole_in_either_column_fails_the_filled_check {
-    assert rows_filled(NAMES, EVENTS) == true;
-    var n : [67]str = undefined;
-    for i in 0..67 { n[i] = NAMES[i]; }
-    n[66] = "";
-    assert rows_filled(n, EVENTS) == false;
-    var e : [67]str = undefined;
-    for i in 0..67 { e[i] = EVENTS[i]; }
-    e[0] = "";
-    assert rows_filled(NAMES, e) == false;
+    assert rows_filled(NAME_LENS, EVENT_LENS) == true;
+    var n : [67]usize = undefined;
+    for i in 0..67 { n[i] = NAME_LENS[i]; }
+    n[66] = 0;
+    assert rows_filled(n, EVENT_LENS) == false;
+    var e : [67]usize = undefined;
+    for i in 0..67 { e[i] = EVENT_LENS[i]; }
+    e[0] = 0;
+    assert rows_filled(NAME_LENS, e) == false;
+    // One byte is enough: the check asks "empty or not", never "how long".
+    e[0] = 1;
+    assert rows_filled(NAME_LENS, e) == true;
 }
 
 test a_repeated_name_is_caught_wherever_it_sits {
diff --git a/specs/claw/gates_pins.t27 b/specs/claw/gates_pins.t27
index 9295e05657..24a50374ba 100644
--- a/specs/claw/gates_pins.t27
+++ b/specs/claw/gates_pins.t27
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 ; specs/claw/gates_pins.t27 -- the length-table pins for specs/claw/gates.t27.
-; gates.t27 carries every string length explicitly (NAME_LENS, PREFIX_LENS,
+; gates.t27 carries every string length explicitly (NAME_LENS, EVENT_LENS, PREFIX_LENS,
 ; SUFFIX_LENS, HEAD_LEN, OK_TAIL_LEN, DRIFT_TAIL_LEN) because the gen-c backend
 ; lowers str to const char* and cannot express .len; those tables are the one
 ; hand-generated input to that idiom, and a wrong number there would miscompare
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ test name_lens_pin_every_row_to_the_bytes {
     }
 }
 
+test event_lens_pin_every_row_to_the_bytes {
+    // every_row_filled reads EVENT_LENS, not EVENTS: a zero here for a filled row, or a
+    // nonzero length for an emptied one, would make the filled check lie.
+    for i in 0..67 {
+        assert gates::EVENT_LENS[i] == gates::EVENTS[i].len;
+    }
+}
+
 test report_lens_pin_their_strings {
     for k in 0..3 {
         assert gates::PREFIX_LENS[k] == gates::LINE_PREFIX[k].len;