The Rayz Engagements

## Overview

The Rayz Engagements were a series of military operations conducted by Tarn's de facto monarchy, led by Ref Calla's father, Trib Calla, in the A4510s. The primary point of contention was the Rayz government's lenient enforcement of the Stratum social class system, which included allowing inter-class marriages without punishment and refusing to condemn the native Sunrunners for their non-Stratist beliefs. The engagements ultimately resulted in Rayz maintaining its more lenient view of the Stratum and have since become a subject of interest in novels, films and non-fiction books.

In Rayz, these battles are commonly referred to as the "Tarnish Troubles."

## Prelude to the Engagements

The Rayz Engagements were triggered by the Rayz government's resistance to imposing the strict enforcement of the Stratum system as practiced in Tarn. Tensions between the two continents had been simmering for years, with the Tarnish monarchy viewing the more relaxed Stratum enforcement in Rayz as a threat to their traditionalist values. Determined to assert control and bring Rayz in line with their beliefs, the Tarnish monarchy initiated a series of military operations aimed at achieving their objectives.

## The Engagements

The Rayz Engagements unfolded as a series of military operations marked by strategic maneuvers and skirmishes between Tarnish forces and Rayz defenders. Despite being heavily outnumbered and facing a more powerful adversary, the Rayz government and its supporters managed to mount a strong defense, utilizing their knowledge of the local terrain and relying on the support of the local population. Sunrunners aided in several battles, strengthening the already amicable relationship between them and the Tarnish Rayzi.

Throughout the engagements, the Tarnish forces faced numerous challenges, including dissent among their ranks and mounting pressure from more progressive elements in Tarn. The engagements were marked by several decisive battles, where the Rayz defenders managed to turn the tide in their favor, ultimately leading to a Rayzi victory.

## Aftermath and Legacy

In the wake of the Rayz Engagements, Tarn was forced to accept Rayz's more lenient enforcement of the Stratum system. This outcome was seen as a significant underdog victory for Rayz and a sign of the weakening influence of the Tarnish monarchy. The Engagements left a lasting impact on the relationship between Tarn and Rayz, with some factions on both sides harboring lingering animosity.

Interest in the Rayz Engagements has enjoyed a revival in recent years, as the subject has been reimagined in novels, film, and non-fiction books. It has become more acceptable over time to publicly express the sentiment that the Rayz Engagements were a negative thing overall and achieved the opposite outcome than Tarn wanted at the time. The Engagements have come to symbolize the importance of self-determination and resistance against oppressive forces.

However, some regressive factions in Tarn still argue that Tarn should have been able to assert itself on Rayz and put an end to the "immoral" practices there and even call for a reopening of the issue, with possible military involvement at some future time.