Three-way combat

[Maybryn]

My group of adventurers (4 5th-level adventurers) have been arrested regarding the death of a small gang. While authorities attempt to sort out the circumstances leading to the death of the gang, our adventurers have been put to a special "Trial By Steel."

I decided to use a random dungeon creator online, and came back with an impressive dungeon that suits my needs perfectly, with a little modification. Inside of this dungeon is five rooms and three encounters.

Interestingly enough, the random dungeon generator suggested a young adult blue dragon (CR 12) for a group of level 5 adventurers. In another room down the hall, a group of 16 orc warriors populate what I've determined to be the room guarding the waystone out of the Trial by Steel. The orcs aren't aware of the dragon's presence, but the dragon may be aware of the orcs.

Naturally, I don't expect the group of level 5 adventurers to take down a CR 12 monster, no matter how generous I've been with gear and loot. However, I'm thinking that it would be possible to lure the orcs away from the spot they're guarding toward the dragon's lair. With a group of 16 unwitting orcs fighting alongside our adventurers, trading blows with a dragon, the adventurers may survive the encounter. Naturally, the orcs will want to take out the adventurers afterwards, and after a battle with a dragon can seriously drain a party's daily resources. The orcs may still be a challenge.

Has anyone else had experience with three-way encounters before? How did they turn out? How did your players react?

[Austin Morgan]

This board is for Pathfinder Society, Pathfinder's Organized Play System. As this isn't an organized play question, it'll need to be moved to the Pathfinder RPG board.

[Joshua J. Frost]

Moved to the appropriate forum.

[jmeis982]

I would think the orcs would be just as apt to fight alongside the dragon against the party. Given the Dragons alignment it would probably attempt to lure the orcs into serving it's need.

[Swordsmasher]

The young adult blue dragon might be an extreme encounter for the pc's, however I don't think it is impossible.

If the dragon has been harassing the orcs, then maybe they could fight, but as you say if the dungeon is a Trial By Steel, then there is a reason the orcs and the dragon is there. perhaps the dragon is already wounded in some way. Perhaps it was slain for attacking the city, and was resurrected with the task of 'executioner' for so many years. Maybe you could slap a few negative levels on it.

a cr 12 dragon usually has around 150 hp or so, so with a few negative levels it would be survivable.