Sylvester Archipelago

Hmm. Tell me about the social strata in Heliotrope then.

The society is structured around clans. Numerous different clans compete for dominance over each other. Within each clan, there is a hierarchy dominated by a warrior elite. It is possible to climb the social ladder from the very bottom if you have the appropriate skills and abilities and if you somehow prove yourself. There are elves who are unable to interact with the Shadow. They are at the very bottom, doing all sorts of menial labor. These individuals have almost no chance of rising up.
Something like this:
Warriors - spies/assassins - slave traders - ordinary merchants - everyone else.