None of the thugs notice Papolstaanas as he prepares the hut for Chaku, but many of their eyes are on the tall shifter as she suddenly seems to loom over them.
When Chaku begins moving toward the hut, the leader smirks.
"See, boys? Even that big guy ain't nothin' but a scared little..."
Taking off at a run towards the hut, Chaku leaps skyward, dragging the force of nature with him. 10, 15, 20, 25 feet he flies, an increadable feat for one of his size. As he nears the ground, he connects with the elements again, Thunder and Lightning, I release you from my service. An unnerving cry echos through the camp and goliath lands, driving the spirits into the ground, and unleashing a shockwave throughout the hut, carrying the smoldering embers and Papolstaanas' stash on it's blast wave. Chaku slowly rises from his croutched state, rolling his massive shoulders and partially flexing his rippling muscles as the dust and leaves from his devestation outline his form.
The hobgoblins gasp and take a few steps back. At least one whimper can be heard. The cloaked goblin's distressed choking sounds grow even louder. What parts of his face visible under the hood seem to be turning a bit blue.
Returning to his friends, he flicks off a bit of ash that landed on his shoulder before turning back to the goblinoid group. Weirdos...? he asks the leader, clearly irritated at the reference. I hear a hammer to the face is another bad omen, Just ask them. He points off toward the burnt bodies tossed on the fires, two of which have clearly shattered bones in multiple places.
The leader seems to have been struck dumb by the display. He opens and closes his mouth a couple of times, but no words come out. But the tattooed human pushes his way in front of the hobgoblins and spits on the ground.
"Bah," he says in a soft, hoarse voice.
"So what. Huts don't fight back." Visible sparks gather around the end of his staff, and the hobgoblins nearby look at him hopefully.
A smirk spreads across her face as she sorts through what she knows and what everyone else is doing and yet feels like she's missing some vital piece of information. Her eyes move towards the one hiding in the robe with writings on him and linger there. "Signs are very tricky things to understand sometimes it's worth jumping at shadows." She offers a very sad and understanding smile to anyone paying her the least bit of attention.
The genasi has deciphered the tattoos on the mage's skull and recognizes them as air magic binding runes. She pulls on her connection to that element and exerts her will, momentarily warping the bindings. Instantly the sparks the mage had conjured spring from the end of the staff and arc to the top of his head. He shrieks and claps his hand to the spot, nearly letting go of the staff. After a brief bug-eyed stare at Cillani, he quickly shuffles back to his original spot behind the hobgoblins, staring intently at the ground.
Jynxx looks at his goliath friend and offers a somewhat confusing smile. To Chaku and anyone else that looks at Jynxx it appears to be a mixture between happiness and an apparent discomfort. "I believe my friend does not care for your words. To be quite honest, I don't either. We have done nothing until now to show any ill will unto you and your group. Your own words will lead to the fight neither of us truly desires."
"I would suggest that you go now, and we will send a messenger to your employer along with the zocalti. That is as good of an offer as you will obtain from us now. The alternative... well death doesn't suit many people well does it sister?" he says as he turns back to look at her.
ooc: no check really necessary here, Cillani and Chaku finished off the challenge so... I guess they believe you about the messenger at least. 
Cillani's final display seems to have driven the tall hobgoblin from humiliation to rage. He tightens his grip on his glaive and brings it down into a ready position for the first time, apparently ready to attack. But the goblin pulls at his elbow, whispering urgently. The hobgoblin bends down and the two have a very brief exchange of whispers.
The leader stands back up and faces the group, his expression grim.
"All right," he says.
"You better send that messenger with the beans. Or else... or else... you won't get off so lucky next time!" None of the others look at him directly, and even he seems to realize how lame he sounds. He turns away quickly.
"Come on, boys. Let's get out of this damn stinkin' jungle."
The mercenaries depart at a quick pace, disappearing into the smoke.
(Skill Challenge: Complete!)
After they are gone, Krassus stands. He still looks shaky, but seems to have recovered a bit. He is no longer crying.
"I am sorry," he says.
"I... Chef Balsamae said he'd be sending someone for the zocalti I'd put away. But honestly, I am shocked that he would send someone so... coarse. I know he travels with bodyguards... it must be that he had no others available."
He starts moving towards the eastern side of the main hut.
"The zocalti is hidden by the base of the cistern. I will show you. Let's take it and return to Fulcrum. I... I would ask you, please, let us at least deliver a small sample to Chef Balsamae, so that he might still consider us - Hedra - for future business. Then you can take the rest back to Silverships."
Krassus points out the location of the hidden stash. The bushel itself is a burlap bag weighing about 45 pounds, carefully wrapped in oilcloth to protect it from moisture. A few loose stones from the cistern, covered with the jungly overgrowth, had kept it hidden from the raiders.
