The color of the sky was just starting to change when Chris, Lana, and Ziun stepped out of the portal -- out of the dungeon -- and back into the real world. Again with the healing tent, again with the aches and pains, but they were alive and that was what mattered. Chris might have reflected more on his teammates -- Lana, for her part, seemed willing to accept the status quo, at least for now -- but “dark” was coming and Chris still had preparations to make before… before whatever was going to happen at the docks happened. As things were, Chris tried to slip away without attracting too much notice. His teammates knew about one of the families after his head, hopefully they wouldn’t mind too much. He didn’t take the direct path back to the Drooling Dragon either. He needed to go back eventually for all sorts of reasons, but some paranoid instinct told him the obvious paths would all be watched. So he went in a more circuitous direction, even taking the time to stop by the docks and scout the location while there was still daylight, just so he knew what he’d be looking for when it went away. What was the weather going to be like tonight? Chris thought. Would he be able to see? Eventually, though, Chris arrived back at the inn. The crowd inside was as busy as it always was, but Chris managed to find a spot at the bar where Hector could see him and waited his turn for attention. When he got it, he asked, “Anyone been looking for me while I was out?” The question was secretly two questions, and he trusted Hector enough to piece together both of them. The first was the double-checking on his pursuers kind of question. They’d shown up to the Drooling Dragon once already, and it was only through Hector’s will that Chris hadn’t been found the first time. But that wouldn’t mean they wouldn’t try again, and it wasn’t like Chris hadn’t made even more enemies in the meantime. The second kind was, well, the plan he had told the undine woman. As much as he wanted to involve as few people as possible, Chris was not going to be able to dispel the lodestone or whatever it was by himself. So he’d needed to find someone who both could do that and wouldn’t ask questions. If he was really lucky, they’d also know what was up with the ring he’d just got. But one thing at a time. He also made sure to order food where he could. It was sure to be a long night.

Suppose will nominate and see if the bump helps Tapu Lele Lilligant Tinkaton Maschiff Sandshrew Belibolt

I don't know how to rate an intentionally wonky song, but it was fun, 7/10