She frowned and nodded. "I am afraid I am no expert, as I have no children of my own. Have you tried removing the crystal?" she suggested. "If it were intended as a siphon..."<br/><br/>At the question of 'government', she shook her head. "Some few get involved in the politics of nations, as you, yourself, clearly have, but for most, their egos are large enough that more than one or two in a hundred mile radius is cause for conflict, even among those of us who would be considered 'civilized'," she said, amused.<br/><br/>"A large part of my draw to this region was locating and researching a supposedly cursed region, somewhere in the range. I believe the locals called it the Valley of the Dead," she explained - and before she could continue, she was barraged with multiple, first-hand accounts of the situation there. "I... I see," she said. "Would that I had been allowed to continue my efforts, such a disaster might have been averted. Or I might have fallen under the same fell influences... it is hard to say. Still.. that frees up my concerns for this region... and I cannot very well return to my old lair, not with Ilthuliak knowing of it. No, I believe I can send some messages from here, as I do believe I have a not-insignificant debt to repay."