__Maps and the Narrative__

[IronGears]

Remember, however, while this is true, remember that almost all food energy comes from the sun, therefore underground food growing operations would have to be HUGE in proportion to the mining operations, unless the culture is very old and has been slowly mining for many years.

(I think my point that mining-focused cultures would mostly rely on trade is sensible)

[Midgardsormr]

Expeditious Retreat Press' supplement A Magical Society: Ecology & Culture has an interesting chapter about food chains and possible sources of energy that might warrant a read. Not that it wouldn't take some major logical yoga to create a viable subterranean farming ecology. But most people are at least familiar enough with caves to know about the blind white critters and cave moss. You just have to hope that they don't think too hard about what kind of populations such organisms can reasonably have.