I was determined to show the main party from AFP what I was made of and went to the job board, I thought alone but was followed by Esmeralda. When we arrived I grabbed a random posting and told Josephine I would take it. It turns out that it was also being considered by a warrior named Bronwyn. Josephine was surprised to see it was handwritten, and was based in a far off town. It would have ended right there if Tokair hadn't walked in, and took an interest. Next thing I know we were dragged to a magic circle and teleported to some city near the destination. I tried to interject about getting supplies but it was too late.
We arrived and got what supplies we could, and began the 2 day journey to Thalean. On the way I finally really read the posting, a man's sister was kidnapped by a red dragon and assumed to be sacrificed to it.
When we arrive at Thalean, we are shocked to see the place in near smoldering ruins. Asking around, we find out that it was attacked several times by the cult of the dragon, with a full grown dragon as air support.
We do a little in town and then head to the keep where we find our benefactor. Esmeralda attempts to con them into paying more, but they are willing to pay more just to have some protection, as they expect another attack soon.
Night falls and we are in various parts of the town when we see signs of the attack beginning. Bronwyn and I force villagers to head to the keep and we meet up near the center of town in time to protect a family from cultists and kobolds.
We all try to head to the keep but see flames licking at the old mill, and we go to help. Several Cultists and more kobolds are attempting to burn it down with the residents inside. We fight through them and free the people but have to convince them to flee to the keep as the mill is already ablaze and there is no time to save it.
We arrive at the keep and get inside, banging at the sallyport has Esmeralda sniping from the parapets and Bronwyn and I at the sallyport door, trying to keep in intact. Esmeralda thins their numbers and; seeing the door is a lost cause, we open it suddenly and gain the element of surprise on the attackers, felling them quickly before closing the door.
Then the unthinkable happens, the adult dragon begins doing strafing runs on the keep. We take cover against whatever wall age will fly over first and attempt to strike at her as she flys by.
Unfortunately she is clever and dive bombs at us, nearly striking us with her deadly lightning breath (the moron who hired us is apparently color blind) but we do get a free strikes in and she retreats, her work done.
Governer Nighthill has been injured but overall the forces still stand. Peter, the man who hired us was killed.
We rest after the forces pull out and in the morning we are greeted by a hulking half blue dragon who challenges our "champion" to a duel. He has hostages to back up his request and serve as reward. I step forward.
I come out swinging, landing heavy blow after blow, and he cuts deep into me with his greatsword. I use every ability Pelor had provided, and when he felt he had me dead to rights opened his mouth and let loose a blast of lightning, with no way to dodge, I stand firm, not falling when I should. One last strike and the dragon man fell, dropping his sword and his kobold retainers pick him up and carry him off, despite casualties.
I was on my last legs and cried out that next time we would end it and picked up his sword. I went to rest and was told that Esmeralda and Bronwyn went to try to secure a horse, unsuccessfully, but found the enemy tracks. We ready now to head after them and find the kidnapped sister.