The Freedom of Free Women of the City
Cultures on Gor to testify without torture
This is another Freedom that is best seen in it's contrast to the
treatment of those who are enslaved.
Her old name had been hers as a free person, publicly registered,
legally certified, historically identified with her throughout her life,
until her capture by slavers. It had been a proud, intimate possession,
giving her pleasure and dignity. It had ennobled her. It had served, with
other properties, to distinguish her as a precious person, a unique
individual, among all others on the planet Earth. When asked who she was, it
was with that name that she would answer. That was who she was. Then the
name had been taken from her. She was then only an animal in bondage. In
Gorean courts her testimony would normally be exacted only under torture. In
such courts she could not, legally, be named, but would rather be described
as, say, Ilene, the slave of Hesius of Laura, or Ilene, the slave of Bosk of
Port Kar. Her name might be changed, or altered, as often as a master
wished. Indeed, he need not even give her a name. Changing a girl’s name,
or taking it away, are common modes of Gorean slave discipline.
Hunters