(urth) Lamarck, Wolfe and Exultants

[Jeff Wilson]

> Does this mean that common folk should be notably shorter then? Severian's
> height, were he on our planet, in most Western cultures, wouldn't raise an
> eyebrow high enough to stir thoughts of exulted blood.

The Commonwealth has poor nutrition and health care by our standards, and
Master Gurloes remarks on how this affects the growth of the apprentices
in SHADOW.

> I know his high cheekbones also indicates he may be some sort of Urthian
> bastard royalty, but I still wonder about the size of non exultant people
> of the Commonwealth.

The autocthons (natives) have even worse prospects and are described as
small in several places. Apparently, this allows Father Inire to pass as a
really old shaman with rickets or something.