Recently I was give the role of GMing my group due to our previous one being able to run two sessions. The party is all currently level five consisting of one Trox barbarian, one Sylph sorcerer a Gillmen rouge and a paladin multiclass with a gunslinger.
The Party is currently hired as protection for a ship called the Cena (party named.), the captain is the one who hired them and has been vaguely suggested to be a retired adventurer/cleric.
The party is about to come up against it's first dragon battle.
I haven't got much of an idea as to what to do story wise and need some ideas on what I can have the party do since they really like story focused sessions.
PC levels would be nice to know to determine what CR adventure you are talking about, as your quest seems to be a homebrew lacking other indicators(the dragon is the closest indicator, yet it has a large range, and sounds OP compared to your the rest of the story.)
The current CR rating is 7-9, all party members are at level 5 and well equipped (currently lacking a healer). However there is also a Griffon accompanying the party due to previous adventures.
As a DM, I like to come up with encounters, then decide why those encounters happened.
So ask yourself this question: Why is the dragon attacking? Then, follow the train of thought that inevitably follows. Do yourself a favor, and NEVER stop at "Because it's evil/greedy."
Is there a place with more information on the dragons?
If I can find additional information, for example what a chromatic dragon will work with or if it's possible to control one with magic,