The Stratum

## Overview

The Stratum is a hereditary three-tier social class system that has been an integral part of Callax's history and culture for over four thousand years, particularly in the dominant religion, Stratism. With origins tracing back to a mythical event known as the Expounding around 4.5 thousand years ago, the Stratum is practiced and/or enforced with varying degrees of strictness across the continents. Stratism is a monotheistic faith that believes God himself ordained the Stratum and that the Stratum mirrors the society found in Paradise.

## The Stratum System

According to The Angelic Verses, angels visited Callaxians just passed the salt flats west of the Argony Sea 4.5 thousand years ago during the Expounding and declared the already-existing Stratum system to be divinely sanctioned. The Stratum is divided into three classes: Gahls, Laxes, and Zeds. The social structure is believed to mirror the divine order in paradise, and how well an individual embodies the role of their class in life is said to determine their class forever in the afterlife.

Interclass romantic relationships, including marriage, are restricted. "Unclassed" people, meaning anyone who does not choose to abide by the rules of their class, are said to go to the Wasteland after death instead of Paradise. This would include both Tarnish who rebel against the system, Sunrunner Animists, and other native people's in the islands north of Rayz. One bone of contention between Tarn and those of Tarnish decent on Rayz is Rayz's leniency regarding these two issues. They often turn a blind eye to interclass marriage and refuse to openly condemn the Sunrunners. This was a major factor which led to the Rayz Engagements.

### Gahls

As the ruling class, Gahls make up less than one-twentieth of the population on Tarn and hold the most wealth and power. Their place in the afterlife is determined by how well they play the role of the elite, with traditional interpretations focusing on maintaining their status and more modern interpretations emphasizing kindness and sharing with Laxes and Zeds. In order to keep up appearances, Gahls will support other Gahls in times of financial trouble, though there is a stigma attached to needing such aid.

### Laxes

The mid-tier class, Laxes, comprise about a fifth of Tarn's population and are responsible for much of the world's art and bureaucracy. Free from the hard toil that many Zeds endure, some Laxes can be quite wealthy, but they are barred from positions of true power exclusive to Gahls. It is not uncommon for a Lax to join the Tarnish military, as they receive preferential treatment over Zed soldiers.

### Zeds

The lowest tier, Zeds, make up about three-fourths of the population on Tarn and serve as blue-collar workers, service staff, and rank-and-file soldiers. While some Zeds have been able to accrue some wealth, poverty remains a significant concern for many. Their place in paradise is supposedly determined by how well they play the role of Zed during their mortal life, which is often interpreted by Gahls as the need for Zeds to be content with their lot in life and by seeking to serve Gahls all their days. Stories in The Angelic Verses such as "The Tale of the Gahl and the Beggar" are meant to remind them of their place in society.

## Spiritual Leadership

Stratism distinguishes itself as a unique monotheistic religion through its unconventional structure, namely the absence of official clergy and meeting houses. Instead, the faith vests spiritual guidance in Gahls, who are particularly respected when they occupy leadership positions. This structure makes prominent Gahls like Ref Calla and his heir apparent, Brek Calla, significant spiritual figures in the Stratum. Although Stratism has no official "head," many people would consider whoever the acting monarch of the Calla family is at a given time to be the most supreme position in all of the Stratum. This pattern extends beyond New Bray'ed's borders, with the leaders of places like Norvia, Parinar, Qarnath, and Rayz etc. being seen as spiritual guides due to their political influence and their Ghals status. This practice even includes leaders such as CEOs in the corporate world, where leading Gahls often act in roles akin to religious leadership.

In the context of Stratism, these leaders will at times make public statements or deliver speeches that serve a purpose similar to that of sermons in other religious traditions. Despite this, Stratism doesn't prescribe a formal worship mechanism or prayer convention. Instead, it emphasizes the notion of playing one's given societal role, promising the role of Gahl in the afterlife for those who do so dutifully.

The belief system intertwines so tightly with Callaxian society that a conventional clergy is unnecessary for many to adhere to the faith and fear the prospect of being a Zed in Paradise. While good deeds, such as generosity and politeness, are alluded to positively in The Angelic Verses, they are secondary to the central tenet of fulfilling one's designated role.

Notably, the study and interpretation of Stratism's tenets aren't limited to Gahls. Theologians, often Laxes and occasionally Gahls, delve into scholarly research of The Angelic Verses and the historical evolution of Stratism. Though these theologians aren't considered religious leaders in the traditional sense, their writings can significantly impact religious theory and contribute to Stratism's evolution over its 4.5-thousand-year existence.

For many, including Zeds, reading from The Angelic Verses is a common activity and is seen as one of the most important activities anyone of any class can undertake.

## The Current State of Stratism

### Tarn

In Tarn, the Stratum is deeply intertwined with religious faith and the belief in God, and is strictly upheld by law. As the birthplace of Stratism, Tarn remains the most traditional in its interpretation and enforcement of the Stratum, with the social order and religious devotion being nearly inseparable for many Callaxians.

### Rayz

Rayz is supposed to enforce the Stratum by law, but their interpretation of scripture is much looser than in Tarn. For example, the leadership of this continent allows intermarriage between classes and permits the native Sunrunners to practice their religion unmolested. This more lenient approach to the Stratum has caused tensions with Tarn, which sees Rayz's practices as a challenge to the religious and social order. These tensions ultimately culminated in the Rayz Engagements.

### Kemper

Kemper formally abolished the Stratum over a hundred years ago, leading to a significant decline in the number of its practitioners. However, a very small number of Kemperians continue to voluntarily practice the Stratum. Many of the people on Kemper now practice Pnueology, Callax's complex astrology system, instead.

## Modern Civil Unrest and the Stratum

In recent times, the Stratum has been a significant source of civil unrest among Callaxians, particularly on the continent of Tarn. While the Stratum remains firmly entrenched in Tarn's religious and social fabric, the more lenient approach in Rayz and the formal abolition in Kemper demonstrate the shifting perspectives on the Stratum and its role in modern Callaxian society.