The Callaxians

## Overview

The Callaxians are a sentient species native to the planet Callax, which consists of three populated continents: Tarn, Rayz, and Kemper.

The most dominant religion among Callaxians is Stratism, which supports a hereditary class system known as the Stratum. The Stratum is practiced and enforced with varying degrees of strictness across Callax, with Tarn being the most traditional, Rayz being more lenient, and Kemper having abolished the system altogether.

Many Callaxians are currently experiencing a period of civil unrest driven by the opposing factions of the Stratist Traditionalists and the Shoehorns.

## The Stratum

The Stratum is a three-tier social class system that has been in place on Callax for at least four thousand years. According to The Angelic Verses, angels visited Callaxians near the Argony Sea in the year A0 and declared the already-existing Stratum system to be divinely sanctioned. The class system is divided into Gahls, Laxes, and Zeds, with intermarriage between classes being strictly prohibited in the scriptures.

The Gahls, as the ruling class, hold the most wealth and power, while the Laxes function as artists and mid-level bureaucrats. The Zeds, who make up about three-fourths of the population, are blue-collar workers, service staff, and rank-and-file soldiers. Poverty is a significant issue for many Zeds.

The Stratum is legally enforced on Tarn and Rayz, although enforcement is much looser on Rayz. Kemper legally abolished the Stratum over a hundred years ago.

## Factions

### Stratist Traditionalists

Led by Brek Calla, the son of the King of Tarn, the Stratist Traditionalists believe in the preservation of the Stratum, which they view as deeply embedded in their religious and cultural heritage. In the Callaxian Civil War, which is a proxy war in the galactic scene, the Traditionalists are backed by the Union of Planets, which believes Callaxians have the right and responsibility to deal with their own issues until they become advanced enough to join the galactic scene.

### The Shoehorns

The Shoehorns are a growing faction of rebels on Callax who denounce the Stratum and seek to abolish the class system. Led by Brek Calla's older sister, Dra'rek Calla, they have been emboldened by the support of the Mission and are challenging the traditional Stratist beliefs. The Shoehorns have gained support from many Callaxians and have become a significant force in the ongoing civil unrest on Tarn. The term "Shoehorn" is a nod to the rebels' role in "forcing" change in Callaxian society. The Mission seeks to assimilate Callax into the galactic scene as members of the Mission.

## Geography

### Tarn

Tarn is the largest continent on the planet of Callax, containing roughly 68% of all land on the planet. It is sometimes referred to as a "mega continent" and is home to a diverse range of peoples and cultures. Tarn is most well-known for being the birthplace of the Stratist faith, the most popular religion on Callax, which has been in place for over four thousand years.

Tarn is home to several autonomous countries that share a tradition of Stratism and are ruled by a de facto monarchy. New Bray'ed, the largest city on Callax, is situated roughly in the center of Tarn somewhat near the shores of the Argony Sea and is considered the cultural and religious heart of Tarn. The Calla Complex and Moonstone College are located in New Bray'ed. Whichever Calla is the ruler of the Calla Complex is also considered to be the King or Queen of Tarn.

### Rayz

Rayz is mid-size continent on Callax known for its more lenient interpretation of the Stratum, often turning a blind eye to inter-class marriages and permitting the native Sunrunners to practice their religion without condemnation. The Rayz Engagements, a series of military operations conducted by Tarn's de facto monarchy, left a lasting impact on the continent and its relationship with Tarn. Rayz, mostly desert, has a relatively low population density.

### Kemper

Kemper is a small, densely-populated continent on Callax that formally abolished the Stratum over a hundred years ago. Although there are a few pockets of people who still voluntarily practice it, the number of adherents has dwindled dramatically since abolition. Many of its people now practice Pnueology, Callax's complex astrology system. Kemper is also known for producing a high number of top Strategex players per capita.

### Jii

A virtually uninhabited northern polar continent largely covered in ice. It is home to various species of birds and predatory mammals. There is also an extremely resilient multi-color native flowering plant there that many people closely associate with strength and power in times of adversity, called the Jii rose.

## The Calla Family

The Calla family, powerful and influential on Callax, supports Stratism and provides leadership to Tarn, with legendary figure Mavvril Calla revered for a supposed divine vision establishing their protective role. The family's influence extends across Callax, with members holding high-ranking positions in Tarn's government and military.

They own the controversial ChidaVision news outlet.

### Ref Calla

Ref Calla is a dignified and hale man in his mid-50s who serves as the de facto King of Tarn. He is deeply committed to the Traditionalist cause, but also tries to present himself as a magnanimous figure who has the best interests of the Zeds at heart. He has overseen many public assistance programs, hoping to insulate himself from criticism of the Stratum and of Gahls. He is the father of Dra'rek and Brek Calla.

### Go'Mul Calla

Go'Mul Calla presented herself as a kind and compassionate queen who dedicated herself to relief efforts for the lower classes on Callax. Her untimely death deeply affected her family and the people of Callax, leaving a lasting legacy. By not accepting advanced medical technology from the Mission to save her life, she and her husband Ref Calla used her death as evidence of their deep commitment to the Traditionalist cause.

### Brek Calla

Brek Calla, brother of Dra'rek Calla and son of Ref Calla, is the leader of the Stratist Traditionalists and advocates for the preservation of the Stratum. He is backed by the Union of Planets, which believes Callaxians have both the right and responsibility to deal with their own issues until they become advanced enough to join the galactic scene.

### Dra'rek Calla

Dra'rek Calla, sister of Brek Calla and daughter of Ref Calla, is the leader of the Shoehorns, a growing faction of rebels on Callax who denounce the Stratum and seek to abolish the class system. Under her leadership, the Shoehorns have become a significant force in the ongoing civil unrest on Tarn. She is backed by the Mission, which seeks to abolish the Stratum in anticipation of assimilating Callax into the galactic scene as members of the Mission.

## The Callaxian Epochal Pace

Modern Callaxians appear to fall in the 35th percentile of the Epochal Pace, making them a relatively slow-progressing species. This is part of the reason the Stratum has been able to last for millennia.

## Other Notable People

Callax has been home to many notable people throughout its long history. Some of those people are:

1. Dawnwatcher (Sunrunner leader)
2. Pi'dek Pillal (Tarnian scientist and philosopher)
3. Tedd Commo (Lyrondian explorer and cartographer)
4. Facetaker (Sunrunner warrior and spiritual leader)
5. Dro Lazzi (Tikka crime lord)
6. Dre'el Jilla (Fet poet and cultural ambassador)
7. Fi'rel Yilla (Hermit's Cottage resident)
8. Ki've Rinni (Parinian scientist)
9. Thee Vorre (Norvian social reformer and activist)
10. Hateringer (Sunrunner environmental scientist)
11. Pil Calla (Tarnian ruler)
12. Pi'la Calla (Tarnian ruler, daughter of Pil Calla)

## Notable Events

There have been many notable events on Callax in its history. Some of those are:

1. The Battle of Three Wits, A3450's: strategic engagement involving deception, espionage, and diplomacy between Parinar, Frostborne, and Norvia
2. The Reverence Cascade, A1800's: series of natural disasters leading to a spiritual revival in Lanisca
3. The Varqarn Civil War, A4311: Conflict between western and eastern regions of Varqarn, resulting in the creation of Qarnath and Varnara
4. Frostborne Migration, A2200-A2300: Gradual movement of Frostborne people from the far north of Tarn to their current location
5. The Ildarian Ruust Famine, A4350's: widespread food shortages and malnutrition in Ildaria caused by the decline in staple tuber crops
6. The Great Stratist Conversion, A4000's: widespread adoption of the Stratist religion by various remaining tribes across Callax
7. The War of the Twins, A4485-A4492: A war instigated by a fascist wing of the government in Parinar led by twin brothers, committing numerous atrocities targeting Zeds
8. The Kemper Revolution, A4320's: Uprising in Kemper leading to the abolition of the Stratum system and the establishment of a more egalitarian society
9. The Great Hackball Scandal, A4380's: Controversy involving match-fixing and corruption in hackball in Tarn, leading to reforms in the sport's governance
10. The Rayz Engagments, A4516: A series of military conflicts and skirmishes between Tarn and Rayz, instigated by Tarn in response to Rayz's lenient enforcing of Stratist law
11. The Oasis Accords, A4525: Peace agreements between Tarn and Rayz resolving lingering tensions from the Rayz Engagements

## Religion

Callaxians follow various faiths, with Stratism being the most dominant. Rayz more loosely interprets the Stratum, allowing intermarriage between classes and also openly allowing the Sunrunner people to practice their form of Animism. Kemper abolished the Stratum a century ago, and many of its people now practice Pnueology, Callax's complex astrology system. Atheism and agnosticism exist on Callax but face heavy prejudice where the Stratum is legally enforced, as they challenge the social order.

## Organized Crime, Drugs, and Smuggling

Organized crime on Callax is rooted in the Stratum system. It is represented by powerful syndicates like the Manni Family on Tarn, the Lazzi Family in Kemper, and the Caddi family on Rayz, each adapting to their respective environments and exploiting social and economic inequalities. Many people feel the smuggling and drug trade on Callax is a serious problem, especially along the border between Qarnath and Norvia/New Bray'ed.

## Calendar, Holidays, and the Two Moons

The Callaxian calendar consists of 312 days divided into 12 months, each with 26 days. Holidays throughout the year celebrate various aspects of Callaxian culture, nature, and history. The two moons, Fo'mul and Go'mul, have unique cycles that influence the planet's tides, climate, and wildlife, as well as certain holidays such as the Confluence of Shadows.

## Sunrunners

Sunrunners are the native people of Rayz who inhabited the continent long before Tarnish colonizers arrived. They mostly live north of Oasis, in the deserts of Rayz. They practice a form of Animism that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, both living and nonliving. Their culture is often characterized by a lighthearted and humorous approach to life.

Sunrunners face some criticisms, particularly in regards to their exclusion of women from leadership roles, as only men are allowed to be shamans and only shamans are allowed to be leaders.

Labeled by Tarnish leaders as "heretics", Sunrunners are not permitted to enter the continent of Tarn, although this still sometimes occurs.

Sunrunners have their own calendar and holidays.

## Popular Pastimes

### Strategex

Strategex is a popular board game on Callax with a history dating back centuries. It's a game of prestige, with the top players in the world receiving great honor and respect. While there are many champions from Tarn, Kemper produces more top players per capita. There are also top players from Rayz both among the Sunrunners and among Tarnish Rayzi. However, because Sunrunners are not legally allowed to enter Tarn, no Sunrunner can attend the world championships held their annually.

Strategex is an asymmetrical board game, meaning each player has different rules and strategies. The game has a potentially problematic history, mirroring battles during a legendary period of time when Stratists from Tarn first settled on Rayz and began fighting with the native Sunrunners there. Despite its controversial history, the game remains popular, and some Sunrunner writers and activists have pointed out that the game is not necessarily anti-Sunrunner, as the Sunrunner side can win just as easily as the Tarnish side.

### Hackball

Hackball is a popular two-team sport on Callax that requires players to wear a large mitt on one hand and hold a "hacker" in the other—a long ball-flinging device that sends the balls flying at high speeds. The game is known for its chaotic and fast-paced gameplay, with sometimes as many as five balls in play at the same time. There are only two main rounds in the game, with gameplay not pausing after a goal is scored. Minor injuries are common, and top players need to be in peak physical condition to compete at the highest level.

The objective of the game is to get the balls into the opposing team's goal, with each ball counting as one point. Final scores often exceed one hundred points for both teams. The game has no set positions, allowing for a high degree of player flexibility and improvisation.

Hackball is popular in every corner of Callax, with the professional league on Tarn being run by a coalition of representatives from every country on the continent. The league generates a significant amount of revenue yearly and is a source of great pride for the players and the countries they represent.

It is worth noting that it is almost unheard of for a Gahl to take part in the game as a player, with the sport being dominated by Laxes and Zeds. Despite the potential for injuries, the popularity of Hackball shows no sign of waning, with fans and players alike drawn to its fast-paced and exciting gameplay.

## Languages

Callax is home to a rich linguistic tapestry. Major languages include Norvian, Parinese, Frostborne, Varni, Laniscan, and Fet in Tarn; Velsinese and Ildarian in Kemper; and Stratist Rayzi Norvian, Sunrunner Language, and Rayzi Creole in Rayz. These languages, with their unique histories and cultural influences, facilitate communication, trade, and cultural exchange across the continents, reflecting the vibrant identity of Callax.

Norvian is the lingua franca on Callax and is the only official language in New Bray'ed.

## The Solar System

In the Nythar solar system, there are several planets, moons, and unique celestial events. Callax, a planet with strong tides and two moons, experiences the influence of the massive gas giant Xanthis. This relationship results in an orbital resonance and spectacular aurora events every 5.426 years. Coastal cities on Callax adapt to the strong tidal fluctuations through engineering solutions such as elevated platforms, coastal barriers, and adjustable infrastructure.