Well, lets hear their team composition first.

Of course, I'm just pretty confident they will go for the double cross in some way.

Be wary of urging us to be first strike, a distraction or even rear guard/re-inforcements waiting for their signal.

I don't want to leave any of our party too vulnerable so I think Duplicate Familiar is the way to go, send Varys II with their leader and keep in constant contact.
 
You don't try to double-deal a dragon. You prepare for the Dragon's double cross, but trying to get a fast one by one before they've invested themselves into a mutual objective is asking to get burned to death.
 
Paranoia is wise.

It will also prove insufficient. Mostly because we should mark their ship with an Arcane Mark.
 
I don't want to be too specific as to what our capabilities are, nor what kinds of magic any of our Companions might wield. To look at him, for example, Waymar hardly seems a mage, and while Tyene is a powerful healer, that is only one facet of her magic. At the same time, despite both of them having quite a bit of prepared spells remaining, it could be a mistake to share that Dany and Rina are Clerics who could have seriously depleted themselves in the previous battle. Being vague could cause them to be wary, or to make incorrect assumptions should they choose to double-cross us.

I think my plan speaks to our strength in a nebulous way, without giving away any kind of specifics.

[X] "Well met, Yrten Sword-Sunder. I must admit, the Golden Wind is truly an impressive vessel. Rarely have I seen its equal." We can flatter you so hard your brain dribbles out of your ears, but we'll rein ourselves in for now. But be aware that we find your ship pleasing to the eye, and should you attempt to double-cross us, it will make a fine addition to my hoard. Addressing the Tiefling Mage, "Greeting, Wisdom, we have not yet been introduced. I am known as Scalathrax Ashbringer."
-[X] "My retinue and I have just returned from translocating three Efreeti Turtle Vessels, captured by sword, spell, and claw less than an hour ago, to my realm far from the Plane of Fire. Although two were taken completely intact, I regret our enthusiasm was too great for the third to withstand. Still, I am certain my vassals are capable of salvaging something of worth from its broken keel."
--[X] "The Efreeti overseers were slain, of course, but the remaining crews seemed quite amenable to entering my service."
---[X] "I believe our credentials speak for themselves, yes? And what of you and your crew, Sword-Sunder? A fine vessel and skilled crew does not necessarily make one capable of successfully taking a Devil-crewed treasure barge."
-[X] Varys will relay to us the pertinent information she is able to glean using Mindsight, including the number of Intelligent crew members, and whether there are any Efreeti or Devils aboard.
-[X] Ask of Yrten what he knows of our prey, its crew of Devils and other malignant beings, and whether or not it has escorts, and how many.
 
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Addressing the Tiefling Mage, "Greeting, Wisdom, we have not yet been introduced. I am known as Paarthuanax, Lord of Flame and Sky."
@Goldfish, we already introduced ourself differently.
If there is one advantage to playing the part of a crimson wyrm and elder child of Tiamat, it is that few people ask 'Scalathrax Ashbringer' too much of his past.
Randomly changing the fake name for no reason seems very odd.
 
Randomly changing the fake name for no reason seems very odd.

I am known as Paarthuanax, Lord of Flame and Sky."

"I thought you were Scalathrax Ashbringer?"

"Ahh, I see the reputation of I, Ferrugon Flamescale, well precedes me."

"..."

Edit:

I thought I was remembering Ferrugon as a Dragon name from another work but it is actually the name for Rust Devils, most common in Dis and incite complacency, pride and cynicism.

We're about to ambush a pleasure barge transport from Dis, a complacent and prideful way to transport gold and prisoners.
 
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It would be funny if we're just conning ourselves into thinking we're some kind of genius incognito, but to be honest, I think the reputation of dragons being giant scaly man-children works against them, and in our favor. Because a name like Scalathrax Ashbringer to my ears sounds as paper-thin an assumed name as, say, Tiserys Vargaryen.
 
BTW, ya'll, I totally forgot to mention it earlier, but now that we can cast 8th level spells, a new tactic has become available to us.

It requires using Ancestral Awakening to temporarily acquire the Chain Spell Metamagic feat, which turns a single target spell into one that can affect up to one target per caster level. Dany has made good use of it up until to this point, but now it is our turn, because the glory of Mass Baleful Polymorph is upon us. :drevil:
 
BTW, ya'll, I totally forgot to mention it earlier, but now that we can cast 8th level spells, a new tactic has become available to us.

It requires using Ancestral Awakening to temporarily acquire the Chain Spell Metamagic feat, which turns a single target spell into one that can affect up to one target per caster level. Dany has made good use of it up until to this point, but now it is our turn, because the glory of Mass Baleful Polymorph is upon us. :drevil:
:evil::evil::evil:

Don't mind me, I'll just be awaiting the day we get to pull this off.
 
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