Dragon boss feels too soon

[quintinium.1]

I have found a single piece of ironwood. I was expecting that I'd have a bit more exploration of Dwarrowdelf before encountering the dragon. For me all Dwarrowdelf is, is the drake room with where I used Oin's key, the few flights of stairs after passing the drake, then to the floor with all the weapon and armor storage (basically the armories). Then I bust through a dirt wall to find the dragon. Not a single piece of iron wood.
Hell, I'm avoiding that single drake I encountered because I don't have a hammer or any other blunt weapon. All my weapons get the "I need a better weapon" cry. They are tier III.
I feel like I am missing something. All my goals and events are crossed out except ascend the bridge to Kazzad dum and reach Durin's Highway. Anyone else having progression type issues? Is this a game's procedural generation messing up progression?

I should note I haven't been to the lower lower deeps. I forget what it's called. Where you have to get there with the rope ladders because it's just a crack in the grounds floor. But you don't find ironwood in there from what I gather.

[supergtp]

Go back and check.

I am at the same timeline.

[Athos42]

You can beat the drake with Tier 3 weapons, it's just a question of avoiding and blocking, and make sure you build a small camp with bedroll, table and repair station outside. Might take a while. As soon as this is done, try the same with some Orcs in there until you find three emeralds... now go and enchant an axe with the unlocked enchantment and you have a chance to get ironwood from every tree and mushroom you chop. Also, furniture in Dwarrowdelf homes yields ironwood when breaking. With it you should be able to craft Tier 4 weapons; build a one-handed and two-handed hammer and you are good to go in Dwarrowdelf.

[quintinium.1]

So I went back, no dragon, just the bird. Is that weird or what. I never anyone. And from what I gather I was supposed to fight a bunch of waves of orcs until the dragon flew away. But it looks like I skipped that part. Or I don't understand how this works. Which is more likely.

[Viconia]

If you are in the biome called "Desolation", that dragon fight isn't the final dragon fight. The dragon in Desolation taunts you then flies away, leaving you two drakes (small dragons) to deal with. Just run past then -- they won't follow. Same actually goes for the drake in the armory -- just run up the stairs and it will stop following you. Return when you have good bolts (tier IV) and take it out ranged. Then build over the spawning next so it doesn't come back!

[therealjohnconnor]

I just got above the armoury drake and shot it to death. It was completely defenceless. Viconia's advice is good dealing with the Desolation spawns which, if attacked, will fly after you spewing Shadow, so not smart to try picking them off from afar..

[supergtp]

Originally posted by quintinium.1:

So I went back, no dragon, just the bird. Is that weird or what. I never anyone. And from what I gather I was supposed to fight a bunch of waves of orcs until the dragon flew away. But it looks like I skipped that part. Or I don't understand how this works. Which is more likely.

Same thing happened to me. I think it was a warning as something similar happens later. Mainly a shock and dialog moment.