A facade perhaps? An interesting theory.

Indeed. I was quite surprised when I learned of the current... bartering system that's in place. Imports? I hadn't thought about it, but I suppose it is unusual that shelves remain stocked when there's no easy way out of the city.

You're probably right, but then that's usually the way these things go. If I had more answers than questions, I suspect it would be because I simply wasn't trying.