Harmony pulls her rapier out of the beast and wipes it clean, smug grin beginning to form on her face. Despite its fearsome appearance, this thing wasn't nearly as hardy as she imagined.

She's startled out of her thoughts by the booming voice outside, and is quick to head to the stairs. As she passes by Gunra and hears his comment, she gives him a nod of acknowledgement and respect.

Hearing the voice, Nurm tries to follow the others as fast as his frail body allows him. His necklace glowing gloomily, mimicking his thoughts. We were too slow. We should have evacuated the city much sooner, most of these people are most likely lost. If Tiamat sends her dragons, this keep stands no chance.

Linan guides you back upstairs, while Eadyan, Escobert and the Governor follows closely behind you. 

When you go there, Linan goes back to where her husband and children are. Leyding is with them, and you can see that Zirca has been brushing and braiding her mane. The villagers still avoid her and now the family too as well, but they are not longer in an aggressive mood. Both Leyding and Roladd wave at you when you pass by them.

From his spot, Ignar looks out and nods. He seems surprised you made it back here.

You reach the parapet and look down, and then you see them:

From the smoke and ashes, a creature strides into the dim light of the dying fires around the keep. Although it is shaped roughly like a human, it is at least seven feet tall, its skin is covered in blue scales, its fingers bear wicked claws, and its face has the muzzle and reptilian eyes of a dragon. The creature stops about eighty yards from the main gate of the keep and scans the walls. He seems pleased when he spots you, and gives a threatening smile, revealing a set of long, pointy fangs. A line of kobolds fans out behind it, along with a masked man in a cloak. With their spears, they prod five prisoners into the dim light. Out of the five of them, you instantly recognize Mentha: The halfling ranger's cloak is soaked in blood, and seems like she's barely conscious. She looks incredibly tiny when compared to the half-dragon cultist. You also can make out a woman, a teenage boy who seems to be in a similar condition as Mentha if not worse, and two children.

The woman has long red hair, and you hear the blacksmith shout her name in anguish. "...Sara!"

The kobolds then step down and stand behind the half-dragon, leaving the masked cultist to stand watch over the prisioners.

The half-dragon creature hails the keep. “Defenders of Greenest! This has been a successful night, and I am feeling generous. Do you see these five pitiful, useless prisoners? We could kill them easily, but I'm bored, so I will trade them back to you instead. Send out your best warrior to fight me, and I will let them live!”

He seems to stare right at you when he growls. "No cheating and no magic tricks of any kind, or I will slaughter them right here and then myself!"

To emphasize his words, he walks over to the prisioners and kicks Mentha down to the ground. She coughs blood as she falls to her knees, and an uproar of impotent anger is heard from the crowd of villagers behind you.

Moving past the crowd, Nighthill speaks out to you. "Adventurers, you’ve demonstrated your prowess all through this frightful day. I realize this is an awful burden to ask you to bear, but any of you has a better chance to defeat that horror than my militia have...”

The blacksmith, Markguth, then approaches. "Governor, if I may... I know that I'm no warrior, and that I'm injured, but that's my sister those monsters have in their claws! If no one here is brave enough to face that bastard, then I will!"

"That would be suicide, my friend..." Nighthill starts, but Markguth interrupts him. "If it means Sara lives, I don't care if I die"

The half-dragon stares at the Keep with his arms crossed, waiting.

Petmailer takes out the shield of Markguth and readies it, taking out his rapier as well and putting away his long bow.  He looks at Gunra and the others, also at Nighthill and Eadyan, "I can face him, but I feel that I will surely die if I do so.  And I'm not sure that this will change anything.  They will still destroy this town.  What do you think?  I'm glad that we could rescue you Eadyan, but I fear that Mentha is lost...."  He looks up and gauges their reaction, a look of steel and sadness in his eyes.  

Harmony moves to the edge of the battlement so she can lean over and properly look at the half-dragon. She shouts down to him, "Yeah, uh, a few questions." She begins counting them off on her fingers as she goes. "Is this a fight to the death? Will you only let the prisoners go if we win, or do we just have to fight you at all? Does 'letting them go' also entail you leaving or are you going to keep burning shit? And can we have healers on standby for after the fight is done, assuming our guy doesn't die?"

In answer to Harmony's questions, the half-dragon laughs. "What's the fun in a fight if the loser doesn't die?" He says, glancing at the masked man as if expecting him to laugh with him. He doesn't. "We fight, one dies, these people will get to live no matter who wins and yes, we'll leave! How does that sounds?"

In a quiet voice so as to the cultists down there don't hear, Eadyan speaks. "If one of you does fight and ends up dying, I know of a spell I could use to revive you..."

"He's Langdedrosa Cyanwrath..." Ignar says, recognizing the voice. "He's evil, but he has a code of honor. If he's promising he'll do something, he'll do it."

Gunra regards the scene grimly. He listens to the deliberation, growing conflicted and anxious. He wasn't suicidal, but he couldn't ask the blacksmith to take on this risk.

"I have no love for Mentha, but those children and the blacksmith's wife are not responsible for what has happened to this town. They should not be sacrificed."

"I will not stop you from throwing away your life, Petmailer. But he wants a simple fight, and I am a simple fighter. I might have the best chance. I stayed behind when most of us ventured to the temple. It would only be fair that I take on this challenge."

This was clearly a decision that needed a consensus, though. He falls silent and listens to the others.

Petmailer listens to this and then straightens up, goes over to Gunra and extends his arm, grasping him in a handshake extending up the forearm to the elbow.  "Thank you.  As much as I would love to thrash that Dragonborn and pierce him with my rapier, I know that you are right.  You have the best chance of all of us in beating him.  If Eadyan can revive you afterward and they will leave us after that, perhaps it is best.  I can't decide for you my friend, but if you choose to do this you have my full support.  Perhaps this will help."  He offers Gunra the shield from Markguth and the healing potion he has.  "I don't know if you can use these, but perhaps they will help.  And if I see Cyanwrath pulling any dirty tricks, I swear I will put an arrow in his head."

After the conversation he walks to the battlements again and looks out, pulls down his mask and focuses on the masked man beside Cyanwrath and sends a message, "Who are you?  Show yourself and pull down your mask.  Tell me who you are..."

Kane listens to the half dragon’s speech and Gunra’s decision. “I agree with you Gunra, this brute wants a battle of Strength, something I am sorely lacking. I wish you the best of luck and hope you survive the fight.” He then walks over Leyding to check on her. “Hey, Leyding. You doing okay? You’ve made some new friends?”

Petmailer hears Kane and turns to him saying “Remember Kane, some things behave according to their nature.  It is ... unavoidable.”  Petmailer looks pointedly at Leyding and the children, worried for their safety.

“But it doesn’t mean it has to happen. What is nature all about? Change. The changing seasons. The changing weather. I believe with enough love and care, Leyding can be changed for the better. If you don’t believe, that’s fine. If I am wrong, then I will suffer the consequences.”

Gunra accepts the handshake and the shield. The sentiment was appreciated. He leaves his own shield leaning against the battlements. His eyes fix on the half-dragon. There weren't many humanoids that made Gunra feel small, but even from that distance, the tortle could tell this was a confident, competent adversary.

"I will take up your challenge, Cyanwrath. I will be out presently."

With that, he begins to move down the stairs towards the front gate of the keep. Before he reaches the bottom of the stairs and the gate, he uncorks and imbibes the potion, then utters a few draconic words, casting Zephyr Strike.

As ready as he can be for such a duel, he steps up the gate, grips his axe and borrowed shield, and waits for the gate to open.

Harmony steps away from the ledge and mutters to Eadyan, "Come on. We should be ready downstairs to drag him inside if needed." She then follows down the stairs. Before he heads towards the gate, she tells him, "We may not be by your side, but that doesn't mean you're alone. For what it's worth, the people of Greenest have faith in you." She walks to stand near him at the gate, planning to stay there for the duration of the fight. She keeps her hands clearly visible and away from her weapons so it won't appear that she's interfering.

((d6 of inspiration to Gunra))

At Petmailer:

Kane, when you go to talk to Leyding, she's with the Swift kids. She's nervously chewing one of her own braids, but otherwise she seems to be acting normal. As she sees you approach she spits the hair and cleans some drool off her muzzle. "Yes, I okay. I with new friends here. Zirca brushed my hair and Roladd told me how you saved them.You are his hero." 

"Yeah, well, I exaggerated some details..." Roladd mumbles, awkward. The twins laugh.

The boy gets to overhear Petmailer's comment. "Dad says the same thing. That when we get to the city, she can't stay to live with us..." "It's not fair!" Zirca pouts.

"That's okay!" Leyding says suddenly. "I don' need to live with you. I don' need your dad, because I already have a dad! He's just not here right now..." She turns to Kane. "He and friends promised, they will bring Dad back. Then, I won' need to stay with you."

Out of the kids, only Zackary seems satisfied with the answer. Zirca is still pouting, and being the eldest Roladd seems aware of how serious the situation they are in actually is and seems worried. Then, Zackary asks something. "...Where are we going to go?"

Gunra, when you walk downstairs, you feel the eyes of the townsfolk on your back. Markguth wishes you luck, and Ignar just remains indifferent.

Eadyan and the Governor go with you to the gate, along with Harmony. "I pray to Chauntea that you make it back here alive..." The elf says to you. 

"Whatever happens, you have my gratitude" Nighthill states before giving the order.

The gate opens. Outside, you see Cyanwrath smile. "...About time!" He shouts. Now that you are looking at him directly, you can see he's wielding a greatsword.

When he sees you exit the gate, he laughs mockingly. "I have to say, I would have liked it better if my combatant had more time on the clock. Not much of a victory if the loser was going to die in a few more years anyways, ya know what I'm saying?" He readies his sword. "Oh well, beggars can't be choosers! Come here and show me what you are made of, warrior of Greenest!"

Gunra: After you exit the gate, roll initiative and post your action.

Gunra meets the warrior's gaze, willing his legs forward. He responds to the challenge Draconic.

"When you die, Tiamat will devour your soul. When I die, I will join the Ninefold Dragon. Why should I fear?"

Pulling on all his strength and speed, he moves to close the distance.

“Yes, Leyding. I did promise. And I will try my best to keep my promise. I don’t know where you dad is, but I will do everything in my power to find him and reunite you two.” 
Kane puts on a pretend displeased look. “What do you mean, “exaggerated”? I risk my life saving you, and this is how you repay me?” He then smiles and winks to show he is kidding. “How bout a story to pass the time?” He wants the kids to be distracted and not have to watch the fight between Gunra and the half dragon. It could get messy. “Once upon a time, there two beautiful princesses named Lady Leyding and Lady Zirca...” Kane tell a story of the princesses being captured by a horrible dragon and how the two brothers Roladd and Zackary went and had to battle an ogre, play a game of checkers with a hag, and sneaking past a hobgoblin camp before defeating the dragon and rescuing the princesses. 

Petmailer is watching from the top of the battlements, he has his longbow out.  He turns to look pointedly at Eadyan and sends a message to him :

 He holds his finger to his mouth like Leosin did, in a "shush" manner, and waits for his response, then turns back to watch Gunra and Cyanwrath.  

Petmailer, Eadyan tries his best to not react, keeping his expression stoic, but the answer you get sounds panicked:

Kane, the kids visibly welcome the distraction after all the fear and pain they've had to endure today, with Leyding and Zirca amused that they are the protagonists of the silly tale. They don't insist on the question.

Gunra, you make it to melee range faster thanks to your Zephyr Strike, but Cyanwrath parries the hit with his greatsword. He grins defiantly.

"What would you know? Even if die, my soul is that of a dragon, the greatest creature to ever exist!"

He strikes with his Greatsword at Gunra before continuing, swinging it twice.

"...and you are nothing but a pathetic reptile." He growls.

Against Gunra:

Gunra gets his shield up to deflect the first blow, the blade gliding past his carapace, but the second one is too quick and gouges deep into his plastron. Immediately crimson begins to seep from the wound.

"A great soul, to be sure. But damned by your jealous, childish goddess. As I am a pathetic reptile compared to you, so is Tiamat a pathetic reptile compared to Asgorath."

He musters his waning strength and drags his axe upwards, trying to intercept and counter the next blow.

The half-dragon aims for another blow as Gunra talks back, but gets intercepted just in time by the axe. In sharp constrast to the blood now spilled by Gunra, Cyanwrath has yet to get harmed, something he seems smug about.

For a moment, it seems as if he's going to open his mouth to talk again, judging by his smug smile and the anger growing inside him as reflected on his eyes. 

Instead, what comes out its lightning.

Burning golden sparks surrounds the two as the blue half-dragon attacks the tortle with his draconic breath, and a thunderous roar can be heard coming from him. 

Lightning Breath. Gunra must now make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 17 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.