…from the very first graphic novel, March, 1980
A Game Setting Idea
Submitted for your nitpicking…
On an otherwise typical RPG fantasy world, there is a large expanse of land where the surface world, aside from many small kingdoms protected by powerful magical domes, is so deadly dangerous that even the most powerful of adventurers would be dead within hours. EVERYTHING living is dangerous! The average chipmunk, with his incredible speed, ferocity and neurotoxic bite, can drop a 12th level warrior in under a minute. You don’t even want to know how deadly a squirrel is. Bears, lions, wolves? Better you should meet Godzilla.
Anyway, none of these small kingdoms can produce everything they need to survive, so they must trade. Magical teleportation spells takes months to cast, so instead, the people use the vast system of caverns & cave systems as trade routes between kingdoms. Sure, it’s dangerous, but not nearly as bad as the surface, where the average flock of sparrows can strip the flesh off of a bull carcass in under an hour.
In fact, some of the underground dwellers have given up their evil ways in favor of good old capitalism. Goblins, for instance, run a whole string of inns along the Underground Road and many kobolds will hire onto caravans as security guards.
So, there we go…a world with a logical reason for going into the underdark besides killing the dwellers there and taking their stuff (altho that does indeed happen in the offroad areas). Now, my Gentle Readers, how might we expand upon this? Or should I start up yet another poll based RPG creating thingy, perhaps on my other LJ?
The Dociverse Blog 
That’s just brilliant, Doc. Consider me part of the pro-piranhakeet lobby.