So I'll be handling the sand world dig thing with a few different phases. Most of the trip will be cut up between these sort of resource management sections, interspersed with specific encounters. In general it'll be how I handle anything like an expedition with a lower number of players like this.
At set points the NPCs will offer suggestions of what to do, and Ace as leader will get to choose which option to go with. His choices determine what sort of encounters you get, or what loot you find. I keep most of the stuff that's relevant in my own documentation, and so far you have this:
Wallet:
500 DA in Dead Kings
1500 DA in Arcmarks
Supplies:
2 days Algae rations.
1 Wagon with Two Horses.
1 Excavation Kit.
Loot:
2 Exceptional quality Steel Knives (Catch: Acquired by Con)
Heart Points:
Scrabler: 5/5 (Can't change, NPC'd player)
Tomblyn: 5/5 (Can't change, NPC'd player)
Flea: 1/5
Heart points are just shorthand representation of how I determine loyalty of an NPC, Tomblyn and Scrabler are your bros so they'll always be at full heart points.