Core Rules of the Taboo Directory
The Taboo Directory is the supreme law of Tanapocia, dictating what every citizen may and may not do. It is presented as divinely inspired — Venus's will made manifest in law. In reality, each rule was carefully crafted to prevent discovery of the Church's lies and to maintain absolute control over the population.
Violation of any rule triggers investigation by Church authorities, and penalties range from public flogging to execution.
01No person shall enter any area east of the Forbidden Boundary
Punishment: Death
Prevents discovery of Eastern Children homeland
02No person shall question the divinity of Venus or the authority of the Holy Church
Punishment: Public flogging to execution
Maintains absolute ideological control
03No person shall use, study, or possess any magic not sanctioned by the Church
Punishment: Death by burning
Prevents Eastern Children from discovering their heritage
04No person shall leave their village boundary without authorization
Punishment: Imprisonment, flogging
Keeps population isolated and ignorant
05No person shall contact or communicate with any being from the Dark Realm
Punishment: Death
Prevents alliance between villagers and surviving Eastern Children
06No person shall spread history or knowledge contrary to the Church's official doctrine
Punishment: Tongue removal, then death if repeated
Protects the Church's fabricated history
07No person shall shelter fugitives wanted or judged by the Church
Punishment: Same sentence as the fugitive
Eliminates safe harbors for dissidents
08No person shall conduct any religious ceremony without the parish priest's permission
Punishment: Imprisonment, investigation
Maintains Church monopoly on spiritual authority
Enforcement
Enforcement is multi-layered: villagers report each other (encouraged by the Church), parish priests monitor their flock, Holy Knights patrol, and Temple Knights conduct secret investigations. The result is a society built on mutual suspicion, where even private doubts feel dangerous.