"Mmmm, carne asada and chorizo for me," Kit says cheerfully. "You're fantastic, Rosamia."

"Your spicy chicken tacos have the perfect amount of bite and flavor." Taeli said to Rosamia, taking a couple. "I'd ask you for the recipe, but I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to do them justice if I made them myself." She took a bite, and her facial expression was all that needed to be said on how much she enjoyed them. She ate properly and neatly, as best she could, because she was hungry and did indeed enjoy tacos. She glanced over at John, gave him a motherly look, and nodded her head once towards the food, as if encouraging him to eat. "They're delicious. It's tradition, you know. Tacos before assignment."

Of course he already knew it. For years they have been doing the same ritual before a new assignment.

Mongo struts into the briefing room, late as usual.  "Sorry boss.  My circuits were wandering, and I never thought to synchronize my internal clock with the local time after returning from that last mission."

A giant, walking construct resembling a brick wall sits down in his usual chair in the back of the room.  Six foot two, at least 300 pounds, and covered in tattoos, he's the pure definition of the term 'Grunt' if there ever was one.  Obviously recruited into the Order of the Black Sun for his brawn and curious good looks, and not his brains, Mongo slaps John on the back a little too hard.  "Hahahaha, how's it going, my little man?"

As the rest of the team starts consuming their tacos, Mongo couldn't help but laugh "Silly humanoids....you and your need for consuming flesh to recharge.  How 'bout some of this instead?!" as he rudely licks both of his enormous biceps, suggestively.

While chewing, Taeli coughed - or choked, at Mongo's behavior. Hard swallowing her bite and grimacing while doing so, she gave him a look and said, "No thanks. You know too much iron in one's diet is poisonous, yes?" she said straight faced, medically.  

“I’ll take one of each, if possible,” Amelia whispers over to Rosamia as Mongo made his big entrance. The fighter gives the war forged an incredulous look when she sees him.. lick his biceps? “Eugh... Come on, man, we’re trying to eat here!”

Kit gives Mongo a stern look. "Mongo," she says sweetly. "I'll tell you for the umpteenth time. Get here on time. Oh, and keep acting that way, and I'll personally shoot off that big plume you're so proud of." Several streaks of red thread their way through the changeling's hair before she hops up from her seat. "Right, let's finish our food and get geared up, people. We've got a deadline to make."

"Mongo, we can't eat you, so stop being gross. And besides," Rosamia says as she flexes and conjures up her Astral Arms, which totally bear no physical resemblance to Star Platinum. "these biceps are better."

"Very impressive, both of you." Taeli smiled, finishing her food. She used a small napkin to curtly clean her mouth, clearly informed at how dangerous both of them were in combat, and happy to be part of the team. She didn't mind patching them up after a fight, and she loved using her faith and her mind to put them both back together again. Not to mention she enjoyed everyone's company, even if some of them were late and made crude sexual innuendos. 

She waited for everyone to finish. "Excellent food as always Rosa." she mentioned. She closed her eyes and folded her hands together, thanking Pelor for such a wonderful meal, and the start of a beautiful day, and new mission.

John Lee rubs his shoulder tenderly after the swat, shooting the iron man a wicked look. "Take a bit easier thar, tin man. I'd hate for ya to find a random rust monster shoved up your metallic bum." He wanders to the other side of the room, grumbling obscenities under his breath.

"Oh, that wouldn't be fun to remove." Taeli said thoughtfully. "Come on." she said to the room in general, especially taking John Lee by the good shoulder. "Let's go get suited up, shall we?" 

The armory of the Order of the Black Sun was a massive locker filled and gate caged area containing plenty of various weapons, armor, and benches. Tae found her locker, opened it, and began to suit up. While there were slight variations, the typical armor, clothing, and weapons the Order used were black with very slight gold highlights. 

She latched into her plate armor and adjusted her symbol of Pelor, touching it affectionately for a moment. "Watch over us, Lord." she whispered. Taking her shield, she slung it around her back and latched on her hammer. Finally, she took a large cloak and wrapped herself in it. 

She waited patiently for everyone to finish, and assisted latching people in if needed.

"Glad you all liked the tacos. Those of you that eat, anyway." Rosamia says, as she heads over to the armory, even though she didn't really need anything in there. Her body was weapon enough for her and she found that armor restricted her movements and made it easier for her to get hit, not harder. But she at least put on the uniform that denoted her as a member of the order, so that she looked professional.

Amelia shoveled down her tacos before they headed off to the armory, giving Rosa a thumbs up in thanks for the food. Amelia's armor was relatively simple, just some leathers with a patch embroidered onto her top right breast the signified her allegiance with the order. She looked herself over very briefly in the mirror, something she normally wouldn't have done a few years ago. The blonde still found it difficult to look at herself in the mirror, mostly when she had been in the nude, but with some time she was able to clean herself up quickly and move along. Baby steps, she told herself, baby steps.

She sheathed her blade and secured her shield to her back for now. When she was finished, she simply waited for the others along with Taeli and Rosamia.

Kit changes her shiftweave to her Order uniform and heads to the armory. She puts on her well cared for studded leather armor before slinging her quiver and shortbow over her shoulder. Her shortsword went in its spot at her right hip, balanced by a pair of daggers at her left. The changeling then helps anyone who requires assistance with their bulkier armor.

Mongo: “Don’t forget to put on yer underwear, lads!” he manages to get out between good natured chuckles. Mongo didn’t wear any armor. Or clothes, for that matter. His exoskeleton itself was heavily armored, and painted all black, better to camouflage himself in their usual environment.  His only stitch of clothing, as a nod to his lowly rank, was his magical cloak.

Clanking, yet graceful, in her heavy armor, Taeli found an excuse to walk over to Amelia and "fix" her collar, which was perfectly fine. Still, it was her way of letting Amelia know that this was another exciting, but dangerous mission, and that they would get through this one together, just like the last mission. And the mission before that. And, the mission before that. 

"There." she said, finishing to fix her perfectly fine collar. "Perfect." she said, giving Amelia a soft smile and looking at her. She nodded to her almost imperceptibly and wordlessly reassured her that together, we will prevail.

Rosamia closes her eyes and says a silent prayer, asking her father to be with her and her comrades on this mission, as he had with so many countless others. She opens them up and gives a nod towards Amelia. "So, we ready to go meet up with the contact and kick some ass?"

Amelia’s cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment as Taeli fixed her collar, the fighter so sure it was fine the way it was. Though, she did find comfort that the other was looking out for her, as she would everyone else. “Thank you,” She says appreciatively with a bright grin before looking to Rosamia. “And yeah, I believe so!”

We traveled south along the Coast Road, past Floshin Estate to refresh, and then headed slightly north to Bloodgate Keep. We we approached the ruins, a bright flash of arcane energy indicated that our contact had appeared - a woman, wearing a red robe, and bald. She spoke with an aura of urgency, but she did indeed recognize us.

“I am Syranna,” she says. “Welcome to Thay. I must make this quick. As a rebellion leader, I know that my life could end at any time. We must make every moment count. Here is a status update. Many Red Wizards chafe under the rule of Szass Tam. Once, Thay was a land of learning and power. Now, death scours Thay while the lich lord ignores all concerns other than his quest to become a god. If his mad plans are left to run their course, none will be left alive here to worship him." 

She points to a particular spot in the ruins, the Bloodgate Nexus, which looks like an outdoor portal system.

“This is a magic gatehouse, from which I can send you to the Doomvault — the heart of the lich lord’s domain deep beneath us. The Doomvault is a secret laboratory and containment structure, beneath which lies a hidden storehouse where the phylacteries of Szass Tam’s elite liches are held. There, the lich lord’s power can be broken. When your mission is complete, use this scroll to teleport back to the surface. I will be alerted and send to have you retrieved back to Waterdeep."

She pauses briefly to see if any of you have questions.

"For centuries, the Doomvault was a legend. Kazit Gul, a Red Wizard who spent his life studying the deadliest dungeons on many worlds, planned it. As a living human and a lich, Gul fashioned the vast complex based on his research. The purpose of the dungeon was to lure explorers to their deaths and harvest their souls to fuel Gul’s phylactery. As Thay became more hostile to outsiders, fewer people sought the Doomvault. Eventually, unable to fuel his phylactery, Gul became a demilich. Szass Tam discovered the Doomvault and saw the opportunity to rebuild and repurpose it. The Doomvault is a vast, active complex of laboratories and menageries dedicated to creating the monstrous armies with which the Red Wizards plan to conquer first the North, then all of Faerûn. The dungeon is divided into sectors dedicated to the creation and control of specific types of monsters."

"As you know, you have three mission parameters: (1) Destroy the Red Wizards’ monstrous creations and experiments to end the threat to Faerûn. (2) Gain access to the Phylactery Vault deep beneath the dungeon. (3) Destroy the phylacteries within the vault. My rebels will use our power to stop magical communications to the outside and contain any enemies who escape from the Doomvault. We'll make sure that no one outside the dungeon knows of or reacts to what’s happening until the characters succeed."

Kit listens carefully, nodding. "Got it. In, destroy, out. You'll keep us from being discovered by anyone outside the vault." She glances at the others. "Questions?"

Taeli nodded as Syranna spoke, mentally taking notes and paying attention. "I have no questions. I'm glad we have you on our side. I appreciate the information. Commander, I am ready when you give the order."