Doem is a series of taboos that have existed in Wode culture for thousands of years. While Wode may break these taboos (there is no metaphysical force preventing this), it can lead to expulsion or exclusion from the community if it becomes known. These taboos are not laws in the strictest sense, instead they inform a person's sense of "Doem" within their community. When a Wode engages in taboo behaviors, they are thought to have committed "di'doem," which lessens them in the community eyes. Some behaviors (such as eating human flesh) do so far more than others (such as presuming another person is incapable). The concept of Doem and Di'Doem are not hard codes of behavior with predictable results, as individual communities may have different interpretations of these concepts. Furthermore, it is not as though there is a numerical value associated with the concept of Doem.
Examples of Taboo Behaviors
1. Consuming what one does not produce themselves, or is given to them.
Generally, Wode view theft as a very serious taboo, especially theft of consumable resources such as food. While local laws may govern theft of coin or property, generally speaking even taking the last bit of food off a communal plate without ensuring everyone "gives" it to one is a strict taboo.
2. Believing lies, having lies be believed.
Wode tend to view the act of a lie no one believes as immaterial, whereas the act of believing a lie is di'doem and reflectively becomes di'doem to the liar. "Little white lies" are less common in Wode culture than elaborate and fantastical lies that aren't meant to be believed but to evade an unpleasant or embarrassing truth. Furthermore, this idea extends to some religious concepts within Wode society - religious zeal is viewed with great concern, as the spirit world is full of liars.
3. Eating the flesh of intelligent species, or the flesh of anything that can eat a person.
While many cultures have a prohibition against the consumption of the flesh of intelligent species, Wode often extrapolate this at least one step. If an animal has the capability to eat a human, Wodde will generally not eat the animal because it could contain "humanness." When encountering a lack of knowledge about an animals food habits, Wode will generally err on the side of not consuming it to mitigate the risk.
4. Keeping people as property.
Slavery and forced-labor are long unacceptable ideas within Wode culture, but this extends to other ideas about interpersonal relationships as well. Children are not the parent's "property," nor are lovers or partners. While adults are generally responsible for the collective protection and rearing of children, children are often seen as members of the community yet to reach adulthood rather than the individual property of their parents.
5. Harming of Children or the caretakers of children
6. Presumption of incapability.
A taboo that encompasses ideas of sexism or other prejudices, Wode believe dismissing the capability of a person without proof dishonors the dismisser, not the dismissed. Stating that one can not do a thing that one has never attempted is seen as an extension of this. This leads to certain cultural behaviors, such as making a mock effort at a thing one does not want to do to "prove" that one cannot do it. This is also often seen as a reluctance to refuse challenges (even that one is likely to fail) without making at least a performative gesture of attempt.
The presumption is that only Wode have the responsibility for this Doem, and that non-Wode's unawareness of the cultural practices protects them from judgment by default. While two bonded or married Wode have individual Doem to maintain and be responsible for, Wode who bond or marry with non-Wode often find that they have become the defacto caretaker of their partner(s) Doem.
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