Well, still progressing through the desert of death, keep getting lost and running out of water.  At least the experience is good, with all characters leveling up nicely.  Money isn't bad either.

Moon Tears - one of the more useful items found in the desert

Drak

 This firebreathing desert lizard is somehow unable to attack in the first round of combat due to being overcome by the heat, something that doesn't seem to affect my rather overdressed party!

One of the random drops gave me some royal armor, the best armor I've found to date.

 My thoughts exactly.  The whole desert sequence feels unnecessary and overly long. 

 Hey, this is new, a big monster popping out of a hill, maybe this means progress at last!