Ardo, seeing the dragon react, is the first to attack. Swinging his mace he hits the creature. Even though he thinks it's a solid hit, he'd not sure the creature noticed.
Hunter it the next to react with his bow at the ready. He fires off two shots. The first arrow bounces harmlessly off of the dragon's thick scales. The second manages to wedge itself in between two plates causing the creature to wince. Gabriel is the next to react. Jumping to Ardo's aide, his morning star misses the creatures leg as it dodges the Paladin's attack.
The beast swings a mighty claw at Ardo and another at Gabriel while trying to take a bite out of Drethen. The beast hits Ardo (9 HP damage) as well as Gabriel (7 HP damage) and chomps on Drethen (19 HP damage).
As the creature attacks, Drethen is able to lay a vicious hit on the beast with his first attack but his second attack is ineffectual.
Ardo swings again at the monster, but is unable to do any damage. Hunter fires off two more arrows. Once again, the first bounces off harmlessly while the second finds a mark. Gabriel follows up as well, but also misses.
The beast retaliates at Drethen. Opening its mouth, he lets out a blast of lightning but only grazes Drethen with the blast (9 HP damage, on a successful save vs breath weapon it will go down to 4).
Thanking his lucky stars, Drethen continues his attack but is unable to damage the creature.
Ardo grimaces with pain wondering if he has finally met his doom is this grand beast. Realizing he probably better off backing up safely and pulling out his healing staff and keeping the fighters going.
Out of character: I am assuming my first round will be backing up safely then 2nd round healing Drethen with staff of curing. If I can cure in the first round with a spell I after I back up I will.
Hunter, happy that he can fire at a distance, continues to let his arrows go hopping for continued hits.
Ardo performs a fighting retreat while Gabriel and Drethen keep the dragon's attention. (A fighting retreat is your action if you do not want to have the person/creature that you're fighting to get an opportunity attack on your character.)
Hunter fires off two more arrows, but they both just barely skip off of the beast's scales. Gabriel swings his weapon and hits the beast getting a slight reaction from the monster letting him know that he finally hit his mark.
The monster retaliates by swiping a large claw at Gabriel, and a claw and a bite at Drethen. Each claw hits, but the monster's bite is foiled by Drethen's magical armor (Both Drethen and Gabriel take 3 HP damage).
Drethen, having had enough of this foul beast, swings his sword and finishes the monster.
The dead creature now lays on his pile of 86,000 SP and 5,900 gp.
Drethen breathes heavily as the beast finally fall to the ground and moves no more. HE almost drops his sword in relief that this fight is over. He looks around to make sure everyone else is ok before he goes over and sits on the ground before the creature.
Hunter think to himself that it was too easy so he says, "If we can take on large giants and dragons what else can we do?" He smiles and then makes a complete search of the area in case the dragon had a secret place kept from view.
The paladin was both relieved they got through that battle, and surprisingly calm. Gabriel will consider the treasure and ask his companions, "Anyone was to carry away what is here?" Personally he wanted to continue, but even he had to admit it may been seen as foolish to leave it behind now that they had slayed the dragon.