The adventuring party departed from the Hobgoblin encampment, after depositing Farid/Faird there for the protection of the Hobgoblins, suggesting he develop ingenious defenses for the Hobgoblin peoples. Fang, in taking the lead, subtly led the party towards what he knew to be a Asherati village that had dropped off the map.

When the intrepid band found the Asherati village, they discovered it had been abandoned. A cursory examination found four bodies, two Asherati and two olive-skinned human. They were killed with slashing and bludgeoning weapons. Further searches of the bodies turned out a Eagle's Claw hidden on the person of the most-beaten Asherati, as well as identification on humans. Prince Aidan discovered it contained identifying markers of the H'Sinth Princedom to the east.

Soveliss combed meticulously over the surface buildings, discovering casks of water, wine, and dried provisions. He also, in an unremarkable pot, discovered a fist-sized ruby. Meanwhile, Fang discovered a hidden room deep in the underground dwellings. While the handle of the entrance was covered with contact poison, Fang got lucky in placing a cloth over it to insulate himself from same. Within the closet, Fang discovered an Asherati boy, Clay. Clay provided a bit of history, cluing the party into the fact that it was, in fact, the Sultan's men abducting wastelands humanoids for slave labor. Interesting was the fact that the Men from the East had offered aid, but were unsuccessful in stopping what had come.

The party made their way most of the way to the next Asherati village over, and the naturists Fang and Soveliss, who could hide their tracks, led the boy to said village, where they were able to convince the elder to take in Clay with gifts of water, wine, and foodstuffs. The mission accomplished, they made their way back to the party proper, disguising the fact that they had been there at all.

Along their path through the desert to the Petrified Forests to the west, the party skirted a den of outsized ant lions. Surprisingly, in such a field, they did not discover any ants... Along the way, Soveliss fashioned arrows whose heads were of the Adamantine, and a hand-factored crossbow designed especially for Fang. In the same period, Prince Aidan fashioned armor for Buttercup and Soveliss and two wooden shields out of the darkwood. Fang shaped the remaining bits of Adamantine into a fine set of caltrops, which should be sufficient to slow even the Adamant Golem the Sultan's contacts were devising.

Approximately two days into the trackless journey, a massive sandstorm made its way toward the protagonists. Prince Grandar mentioned to Prince Aidan that the Unwavering Path was approaching. While the rest of the group dug in for the storm's passing, Prince Aidan prepared to stand his ground. After several seconds of being buffeted by the sands, he was able to visualize a platinum-lined path into the heart of the storm. For the better part of three minutes, he focused his energies into the path, eventually coming to its heart; in this heart was a demonic-looking figure. Prince Aidan heeded the words of Prince Grandar at their first meeting and thrust the ancient longsword into the 'guardian'. He was, in his mind, instantly transported to a corridor -- however Fang, who had been following him, instead saw him freeze and be unaffected by the buffeting winds. In this mental journey, Prince Aidan met with a statue who demanded his intention. Replying that he would awaken the sword Kratosh, the statue demanded what he would happen with the current 'taker'; Prince Aidan replied whatever Grandar willed. Luckily for him, Grandar, after so many generations extended upon the Oerth, wished to join Heironeous and leave the curse-breaking to more modern parties. Prince Aidan was returned to the sandstorm, the Fang led him out the other side of it, albeit with grievous injury.

Upon returning to camp, Prince Aidan's sword energized, Buttercup announced that she discovered several ways of destroying the Demon Heart. The two most promising were immolation in a Hallowed kiln, which she determined she could not yet accomplish, and sacrifice of the heart, all her divine power for the day, 150 worth of incense and other religious goods, and a blade of the solidest construction. Opting for the latter path, she suggested they find a place to purchase these. Soveliss mentioned that he remembered a nomadic Dwarf tribe that should be nearby. His estimate of four days turned out to be less, as the party used treacherous-but-passable passes and a prevailing tail wind to speed them to their destination.

In the Dwarven camp, Buttercup traded her healing skills for the religious imagery, while Fang and Soveliss bartered for better equipment. The dwarves, in exchange for a large value of precious metals in the form of already-worked weapons and armor as well as a dire warning of the safety of the Dwarven people at large, were willing to trade out one of their tribe's five magical boons. Prince Aidan sought out a Holy Warrior of Moradin's Forge in order to inquire about the proper way to be a paladin. After some confusion regarding the proper weapon to use (warhammer versus long sword), Brunhilde was able to tell him he must focus on the divine spark already within him. Disheartened by the lack of precise definition on how to do so, Prince Aidan re-united with the party after a bath in water which, while dubious, did scape the mud and sand off of him.

Departing the Dwarven encampment, the resolute group made their way to the only Hallowed Altar they knew of, the one they cleared in the Bhukka hold. Buttercup unlocked the massive iron door of the tombs with the key she had secreted, and motioned the party within. She retired to the Altar room with Fang as protector, whereas Prince Aidan, Melody, and Soveliss remained in the Tombs region to protect against meddling Bhukka. Once the ritual commenced, the Altar room was encased in a sun-golden 'bubble' of protection, which showed dark spots where the fell forces tried to force their way past Pelor's might. After expending all her energies and speaking the appropriate prayers in the language of the Gods Themselves, Buttercup motioned for Fang's Adamant blade, and sunk it deep into the Demon's Heart, which immediately dissolved, releasing all the Divine Energies. Buttercup stumbled out of the Altar room, entirely drained, and announced that it was done, and she would be sitting down now.

The intrepid adventurers have now closed off one avenue of attack against them, by cleansing the heart of its evil and fell lure. Now they intend to head to the Elven Petrified Forests. Are they yet found and tracked by the Sultan's men? Is the slaving post north of the Sultan's palace on their list (and if not, will Fang allow it to remain as such?)? What paths lie afront of the party, and which shall they walk? Only time will tell.