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I'm writing a story set in a Middle Ages type setting (Game of Thrones, LOTR style).

In the story, I have a race of people who are "faeries", based off of Celtic legend and lore. They're associated with magical underground caverns and springs, so they're essentially going to sort of be the gnomes or dwarves of my story, but I digress.

I like the idea of creating an underground world with lots of bioluminescence - glowing mushrooms, worms with hanging webs, the main light source they use (though I may alter this if that is not feasible for whatever reason).

My question is: How should I factor the scientific side of this environment with how I describe the faerie's appearance?

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    $\begingroup$ You should read the Myst novels. They deal with this extensively. $\endgroup$
    – TheBlackCat
    Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 1:43
  • $\begingroup$ Obviously, this is a relevant now as it’s obviously a very old post. you probably written it by now (if you have what’s its name, I’d love to read it) either way, I thought I’d like to put my input even though it’s already probably too late. Really interesting question and actually very much in keeping with some of the old folklore. Similar To one of the previous answers yes Gollum would be a very good example of a subterranean species, however it depends very much on the species. It’s your world your building technically even though it’s based on real mythologies so it follows the rules you s $\endgroup$
    – Trystan Kennedy Bennett
    Commented Jun 23 at 9:17

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Well species trapped in cave systems tend to evolve either large eyes or lose their sight. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150911-blind-cavefish-animals-science-vision-evolution/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3849642/

They also tend to be pale in color. In the darkness visual camouflage matters less. In a way Gollem is a pretty decent example of what could happen to a humanoid.

Which would be fine if you take old fae myths because those tend to be horrible monsters at the best of times.

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Fungi, insects, and worms are probably the most likely sources of below-ground non-oceanic bioluminescence. Bioluminescence seems to be primarily selected for aiding in the attraction of prey, the ability to use a decoy to avoid predators, and communication. My understanding is that bioluminescence is the product of a chemical reaction so I wouldn't expect glowing webs to last long. Glowing edible fungi probably wouldn't fare better than their edible cousins that don't glow.

Perhaps the proximity of your faeries leaves a magical residue that leaves normal matter with a glow. Stones or webs glow dimly as a patrol traverses a tunnel; stalagmites and stalactites glow brightly in warrens or cities. Maybe it builds up based on population and fades slowly: the Ruins of the Great City of the Lost Ones might still be dimly lit after several hundred years.

Another option would be to have the faeries adapted to low light. The underground is probably going to be pretty dark, even with bioluminescent fungi. Your faeries may have exceptional hearing (echolocation) or have developed more and/or more exceptional rods (darkvision). Faeries with a super-sensitive sense of smell might be able to navigate by nigh undetectable breezes or scents from the surface (or the depths). It'd be hard to describe; but, they may be able to detect slight variances in their planet's magnetic field and navigate based on known veins of ore, as an example.

https://scripps.ucsd.edu/labs/mlatz/bioluminescence/bioluminescence-questions-and-answers/

http://www.uppercumberlandcaving.net/faqs.html

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/rods-and-cones

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    $\begingroup$ Took me a second to parse 'exceptional rods' there. $\endgroup$
    – Joe Bloggs
    Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 10:10

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