For several days, one or more persons would be taken from the castle and dropped into the Dead Zone. It was a random selection and at random times, which is what led to the expedition visiting the home, so to speak, of the person who gave us the crystal. [a frown crosses his features as he thinks back on those several days. they still had no idea who or what had taken them over there and how they were able to do so without someone in the castle noticing...]