I think if you help Rud's family out (a small town in the southwest sand) by killing the dragon and taking the daughter to the fountain in the winter north west. It might reset the characters for you. (They have a multiple string quest for Rud's family that you can't do if the sand kingdom is destroyed, but the sand kingdom must be destroyed for you to get Rud's family in the southern town. It's a house that is usually is locked) [1. tri-river sword, 2. free them from the zombies in Sinda, 3 save them from the dragon after the sand city is destroyed)