Are avorae and Muse still participating?  If not, that does bring us down to 8 characters, which would split up relatively neatly into three parties.<br/><br/>From what's been said so far, I think we could send one group out on a scouting mission to Shendilavri, and another group out to get bodies for Anasil.  If there's anything else we can do to prepare for the heist while having only what divination spells will reveal, we can send the third group out after that.<br/><br/>When it comes to Malcanthet's stats, Dragon Magazine #353 has a CR 28 version of her printed up that's supposed to be an option for her actual true power.  I wouldn't be surprised if Zaer wanted to alter those stats a little or give her some sort of special home-plane defenses that would turn her into more of a puzzle encounter or an obstacle to be avoided, rather than a straight fight, however.