Dwarfism in Daxia: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Elder Dwarves.jpg|thumb|Elderly Corummese dwarves]] | [[File:Elder Dwarves.jpg|thumb|Elderly Corummese dwarves]] | ||
In ancient [[Corumm]] dwarves and pygmies were seen as people that had been cursed by deities or whose parents were being punished for | In ancient [[Corumm]] dwarves and pygmies were seen as people that had been cursed by deities at birth or whose parents were being punished for some transgression. These beliefs led dwarves to be shunned or exiled from their communities at best and persecuted or killed at worst. Ancient Corummese religions sometimes made use of dwarves in rituals, and many times the dwarves did not make it out unscathed. While this attitude changed very little through the centuries, the arrival of Christianity and its doctrines of mercy and equality before God saw some limited shift in public attitudes. Still, dwarves could usually only make a living as objects of fun and derision, working as part of entertainment troupes or 'freak' shows, as servants to the wealthy or as menial laborers. Significant official changes in the societal status of dwarves only came about with the advent of the Qian dynasty. | ||
The last Corummese dynasty | The last Corummese dynasty is known to have included through its history a significant number of members born with dwarfism and it banned the killing of dwarves, who were often preyed upon for the supposed miraculous properties of their body parts. Noble-born dwarves were not the only ones able to attain high office in this period, but base born dwarves too served as royal eunuchs, bureaucrats, craftsmen and there even was a dwarf who attained the rank of fleet admiral. The Qian court created many positions that were filled exclusively with dwarves. The Keeper of Imperial Shoes was a dwarf responsible for the crafting, storage and maintenance of the Emperor's shoes. Likewise the Stool Groom was a dwarf official who maintained the imperial stocks of toiletries, assisted the Emperor in his personal hygiene and excretion if necessary, and applied perfumes and lemon scented oils on the monarch after the deed. The High Gardener was a dwarf official who maintained the [[Imperial Lemon Grove]] and other palace gardens. These positions were salaried ones and prestigious for they kept these office holders in constant close proximity to the monarch. For their protection and patronage of dwarves the Qian came to be known as the dynasty of dwarves. | ||
[[File:Lord minimus.png|thumb|Don Juan Fonseca, [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] ambassador to the Imperial Qian court from 1652 to 1670. Foreign dwarves were especially well received as envoys and diplomats.]] | [[File:Lord minimus.png|thumb|Don Juan Fonseca, [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] ambassador to the Imperial Qian court from 1652 to 1670. Foreign dwarves were especially well received as envoys and diplomats.]] | ||
The favor of the Qian was not reserved for domestic dwarves, foreign ones were also appreciated and feted. The [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] was the first to take notice of this trend by sending Don Juan Fonseca as its first ambassador to the court of the Qian. A dwarf of noble descent, Don Juan succesfully negotiated for the opening of economic relations between the two nations and stayed in his post for eighteen years, becoming somewhat of a socialite who mingled with [[Mirzak]]'s upper crust and maintained several mistresses. Other nations followed suit through the years such as [[Kiravia]] in 1715 with ambassador plenipotentiary Iğuriv D.S. Tōmtor who introduced Kiravian whiskey and the game of checkers to the court. | The favor of the Qian was not reserved for domestic dwarves, foreign ones were also appreciated and feted. The [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] was the first to take notice of this trend by sending Don Juan Fonseca as its first ambassador to the court of the Qian. A dwarf of noble descent, Don Juan succesfully negotiated for the opening of economic relations between the two nations and stayed in his post for eighteen years, becoming somewhat of a socialite who mingled with [[Mirzak]]'s upper crust and maintained several mistresses. Other nations followed suit through the years such as [[Kiravia]] in 1715 with ambassador plenipotentiary Iğuriv D.S. Tōmtor who introduced Kiravian whiskey and the game of checkers to the court. | ||