The night passes uneventfully for you all, but as you awake and reconvene by the Alpha's hut, you find that the guards are all... dead. The door is open, and within, you see the Alpha panting aggressively, ramming a spear a foot deep into a dying, monstrous half-man, half-wolf creature's chest -a  foe who was at least twice his size. Blood splattered across his face, the normally handsome face transformed into a terrifyingly demonic visage of pure primal rage. After ten or twelve brutal stabs, the Alpha's face relaxed, and the blood-color drained from his eyes. Cautiously, he licked his lips clean of the beast's blood. Glancing towards you, he chuckled nervously. "Sorry about that..." he coughs slightly. A soft whimper immediately draws all of your attentions. Teki is sitting on the pallet you last saw him on, whimpering softly and watching his father. Tekan smiled, and leaping over the massive monster and stooping to scoop up Teki.
"Shh... shh... kunuki... shh..." he makes soothing noises. Teki starts to giggle slightly and reaches for a few strands of Tekan's blood-soaked hair. Tekan shook his head and brushed the strands away from Teki's reach. "Ah ah ah! Kunuki sasa nuyake, Teki!" he chided playfully. Teki laughed and began clapping his hands, "Oke yaka! Oke yaka!" Sitting the boy down on the pallet again, Tekan turns to you.
"There's been a slight... issue. The creatures attacked this morning, and most of our warriors were wounded or killed. We had intended to send in a few guards with you, so that they could point out some traps and such... but the few that are left are needed here. However," Tekan turns and picks up a large leather sack. "Yokan prepared the ritual last night... a good thing, as he was one of the first targets of the attack. Yokan has returned to Thorusan, Yosei, Aval-Nueki. As has... several others. Here," he hands the sack to Nil, "Take great care with that... we can't replace it."
"The entrance to the temple is open, courtesy of this," he delivers a violent kick that causes several dozen bones to audibly shatter, "bastard. I'll personally stand guard at the entrance to await your return. Good luck."

The temple entrance awaits you.

"I'm sorry lord Alpha. I am glad you and your child are unharmed. We shall attend to the matter of this curse at once. I will be glad to protect the ritual as we traverse the temple."

Falchion bows his head toward the alpha and steps forward with respect, his massive metal hand slightly outstretched.

The alpha takes your hand and grips. It appears he is about to speak, but a woman wearing strange fur garments comes running and shouting towards you. Tekan turns to her just as she slams into him. Jumping back with a start, she starts furiously apologizing and bowing.
"Maeyst, please, there is not much time. Why has the priesthood sent you?" he asks, his voice just twinged with annoyance. She shoves a fur-wrapped bundle into his arms and runs back to the village.
"A strange one... but a good candidate for the priesthood. Let's see..." he  unwraps the bundle, "Oh! Oh of course, brilliant! Here, Falchion. Take this. In our native tongue it is called Palla Sa'salym, which, loosely translated, means Flames Which Burn Away to the Truth. Many traps and encounters in the temple are based on our priesthood's abilities to construct illusions. This sword can burn away the illusions when thrust into them... including those that the enemies within might have constructed. It is a sacred treasure, but as we cannot send anyone in with you... it is the best hope. Please, do not let it fall into the enemies hands, and return it when you have finished. Good luck, my friends."

There's a rustle of straw as Jack is re-stuffing parts of his torso.

"I'm ready to go if the rest of you are. Sir Alpha, thank you for your hospitality and protection. I pray this journey is a swift and safe one. Great Pumpkin watch over you and yours. Come companions."

I head to the temple.

"Aw man... the pretty boy and robot got new toys... Fine! But I call dibs on any cool toys in the temple!" Mithanos shouts as he chases after the scarecrow. Turning his head back towards the hut, he shouts happily, "Don't you worry, Teki! Big brother Mith'll kill all the scary monsters and you'll get to have nice and fun dreams again!"

Flachion takes the sword carefully, testing its weight. He looks at the swords craftsmanship and finds it is of usual make, but not without merit.

"Lord Alpha, I am honored to accept the care of such a weapon. Though I do not make promises lightly, I will do my best to care for this weapon, and I shall return it when I am done."

Falchion bows his head to the Alpha and takes two steps backward. The metal giant grabs the dwarf by his hair and pulls the brain dead fool to his feet. He then makes his way to the exit, Drinking some fresh oil as he waits for the rest of the troupe.

Vex thanks the Alpha and heads to the temple

Nil bowed graciously to the alpha as he took the sack.  "I'm glad that you're all right, Alpha.  I must admit that I was worried for a moment when I saw that the guards had met their unfortunate end.  You needn't worry.  I'll be sure nothings happens to it."

Attaching the sack to the rest of his belongings, he turned to the others and gestured toward the door.  "Shall w--"

He stopped suddenly, realizing they had all already left.  With a sigh he followed after them, muttering indistinctly to himself.  He thought, passingly as he heard Mithanos screech gleefully about toys in the temple, that he'd possibly found himself among the oddest assortment of people he'd probably ever met.

The entrance to the temple is rather plain, honestly. When you first arrived, it had been almost perfectly completed, with many primitive, but artistic works. However, now, you see that only the skeletal structure of the ziggurat has been constructed. Very little to any artistic or cultural garnish has been applied to the structure yet, and the top of the temple seems roughly constructed, at best. In fact, it looks as if the temple was just about done with construction, but just beginning the decoration process. at the base of the steps leading up to the entrance of the large stone structure, a pair of powerfully carved stone warriors stand on plinths. As you make your way up the long path of stairs, you notice the steps seem to be aging slightly the further up you go. At the landing several hundred feet above the ground, you arrive at the actual temple. A row of towering columns hold up the awning, and beneath it, you find the entrance, safely guarded by two more stone soldiers. Each soldier wields a stone carved spear pointing from their hands down to the ground. The spearheads rest soundly within special indentures in the stone, and the shafts cross through metal braces on the doorways, locking them from the outside. You have arrived at the temple of the Elundari.

This temple confuses the mind. I approach the doors and knock.

After knocking on the door, your scarecrow companion screams out loudly "I SEE NO THING!!!", your party is both distracted and confused. All perception checks in this area suffer a -5 penalty.

As the scarecrow steps back from the door, you hear a shout from the area below you "That's nice to know!" in a mocking tone. Meanwhile, a crow flying by relieves itself on the scarecrow, with a distinct caw that sounds more like "You saw nothing!" than "Caw".

"Well, that is good to know haystack."
Falchion walks up to the door and crouches down. He moves around while crouched, placing his hands upon the door and at different points placing his head against it, as one who had ears would do to listen. He observes the statues in the same manner, except placing his forehead against them instead of the side of his head.