The Direnni were not powerful in Hammerfell, and that is exactly why they had thier summit in various cities, announced by the Chairman, whoever that was that year based on a revolving list of clan heads, as late as possible. They did this because nowhere in High Rock was considered "neutral ground" enough for the backstabbing branches of the Direnni mage clan to gather safely, and they needed to make sure none could gain too much more local support than thier compatriots when they finally arrived. For added insurance against threats both within and without, several members of the City Guard and the closest Legionary presence would be voulenteered to make sure the proceedings went off without a hitch, and to make sure the powerful Direnni saw Imperial support around them.

After another mysteriously bandit-free walk across mountains, fields, valleys and a stretch of desert that took very long, Favonius sat at a nearby water-seller and drank down some of the hilariously expensive yet cool and surprisingly well-treated liquid.

"Jorran?" He asked inside his head.

The amount of magic power shining from the arena is astounding. It will be an irresistable prize if Calaxes is within a thousand miles. The Direnni were using the arena to have thier conference, it was the only structure in Sentinel large enough besides the Palace, which couldn't simply be emptied out and used for other purposes. Some of the guests might see what the Goevernor spent his embezzled funds on.

"I know that much. The problem here is that if we can't keep Calaxes out, we'll need to stop him inside. Discreetly."

I see a small service entrance. Three cart-pushers, presumambly employed by the caterer, are milling about. If you were to bribe them, you may be able to use a classic disguise trick.

"Cliched and overused, but noted."

There is also a small repair ladder leading up to the higher reaches where the workers move the awnings in on a day like today. It would be simple enough to climb that and jump down, using your magic to slow your fall.

"I like that plan better." He thought, niether of them stating the obvious "rush in, overwhelm guards, hope for the best" alternative that wouldn't work in these sensitive circumstances.

As they waited, getting shooed from one water-stall to another over thier loitering, Favonius expounded an idea that had hit him shortly before they reached the desert to Jorran.

"Jorran."

How may I be of assistance?

"Let me run this theory by you:" Favonius said as he twisted the wrist of an attempted pickpocket, then let him run off wimpering. "Since setting off from Cloud Ruler Temple we haven't seen a single bandit, at least not outside in-city inns. Now, we know that before the Oblivion Crisis, bandits were very common, but not so common as to totally discourage road travel."

Favonius continued to run through the simple, obvious logic of his idea and slapped himself for not seeing it before. He bought a strange desert fruit that he couldn't pronounce the name of and bit into it. It was sweet and very juicy, hence it's utility to the earliest Ra Gada settlers as they wandered through the otherwise bone-dry deserts. "So I'm thinking that the original onset of panic was all a Mages Guild lie to drum up telepoter sales, and to keep everyone who couldn't afford thier prices in one place. Not to mention make them invaluable for transportation, trade, and government affairs."

And you think that by lying about the amount of bandits on the roads, when they removed road travel there was so little plunder that the bandits just...stopped?

"Yes. Once people start using the roads again, they'll come back. But since we aren't bound by where the Guild could or would take us, until that time we can use the fact that the Guild helped solve the bandit problem to our advantage if it comes down to it."

Jorran acknowledged the ideas, but as yet said nothing. while he had no love for the Guild, or anything else due to his nature, he had been programmed to serve them before having that program overridden when he jumped into Favonius' head. He did see a few things that made Favonius' plan seem all the more convincing while his fake skin was being designed and his chassis repaired, but he still did not pass any judgement. He wanted more data.

Favonius ordered another of the Ra Gada fruit and sat on a bench under a tree in a public garden. It was astounding what magic could do. He read the plaque next to himself, and saw that the tree had been brought from Valenwood, and had the moisture it needed fed to it by magic devices buried deep under the walks and fences.

The noise of the crowd was at once jarring and comforting. The vibrancy of them all running around him filled Favonius' enhanced senses, shop and street cart owners shouted thier wares to passers-by, a donkey cart barreled down the street, scattering all in thier path, a street-performer plucked his instrument on a corner a short distance from Favonius. Dogs barked at eachother and children played on the fences, with watchful parents ready to leap in at the first sign of trouble. All at once, that all stopped.

Favonius was aware it was still going on, but it was as if all color had drained from his vision save the flap of a blue mage's robe headed towards the Arena. With a single movement he was on his feet, and was bounding quickly after Calaxes. He sped several paces down the street after him, then twisted into a back alley. Calaxes was gone.

"The Direnni." Favonius said, and sprinted towards the Arena as fast as he could go, remembering where the service ladder was. He boundedup it, his arms aching and his legs on fire by the time he reached the top of the massive structure. Normally he would have cast a spell to reenergize himself and heal the small cut that he had managed to collect on his left pinky, but he felt he would need every ounce of his magical strength. he had trained every night since setting out from Wayrest but knew that at his full strength Calaxes could easily just overwhelm him.

He looked down from the empty rooms where servats would normally be. Today, they had put out the awnings and then left. They were not to hear the business of the Direnni. Favonius used as little energy as possible to disguise his signature.

One of the Direnni, the Chairman based on his position in front of the others, was speaking.

"The Mage's Guild needs a check on it's power, or else all independent groups will be destroyed. Ourselves, the Psijics, the Telvanni, we will all be made to swear allegiance or die! we have already seen thier lies, there are no bandits on the roads. we must send couriers to the other organizations, to unite and prevent our own destruction!"

There were general murmers of assent. Despite thier usual squabbles, they all saw the Guild as a threat to thier autonomy. As they all were speaking to one another, Calaxes clapped his dessicated hands and walked up to the Chairman's podium.

"Such a rousing speech, my dear Chairman." Calaxes said, a hint of humorless laughter in his voice. "However I don't think you will be able to stare down the Guild. They are far to valuable, and in your way so are you."

"Who are you? What are you?" The Chairman asked, his hands cackling with magic power.

"I think the more accurate question: what are you?' Calaxes said, turning away from the Chairman to face the other Direnni and a few mundane retainers. "The answer is simple:"

He whipped around and unleashed a spell at the Chairman. "You are my food!"

At that moment, Favonius jumped down from the awnings, slowing his fall according to plan, and redirected the spell against the wall. He and Calaxes both sent spells out, neither bothering with elements, choosing instead pure force. They walked in circles around eachother as the Direnni protected themselves. Favonius grabbed a chair and threw it at Calaxes with his own magic. Calaxes blocked it with another, then threw them both back. Favonius simply let them clatter to the wall behind him. Such distractions would be useless. He channeled more and more of his power into the force spell and rooted himself to the spot, no longer circling. The pressure in the back of his mind mounting, forcing all of his magic to vent out into the spell as fast as it could go. He knew Calaxes was doing a simillar spell. He also deduced, based on Calaxes' advanced decomposition, that he couldn't muster much more than what he was.

"Jorran." Favonius said, showing him a plan. he was beginning to tire, sweating profuesly and panting as all his magic vented through his hands and crashed with thunderous noise and light against Calaxes' massive spell.

I will attempt to do so.

A green spark shot from between Favonius' head and the Chairman's. Favonius felt strange, not having a person in his head, but it seemed as though it worked, and the Direnni spells had not been shielding against a foriegn consiousness like Jorran. The Chairman learned what Jorran needed him to: that Favonius was an ally and Calaxes was an enemy, as well as what Calaxes would do if he won. The Chariman began waving his hands in an articulate pattern and chanting an incantation as Jorran hopped back into Favonius' head.

This should help.

The Chairman's hands shone as lighting danced around them. He finished his incantation and sent a massive stream of lightning towards Calaxes. Distracted, Favonius' spell broke thriough his and began to push him back. Calaxes tried to deflect both, but began being pushed towards the wall. Favonius intended to crush him against it, splattering him and rendering him incapable of further ressurection.

Just as the spell began to squeeze Calaxes against the wall, he began to melt through it, as though the space between himself and the utside did not have a solid wall between them. Calaxes changed tack, igniting all of the magic in front of him and sending the massive ball of fire at Calaxes but it was too late.

Calaxes had dissapeared. Favonius would have chased him, but he was too exausted, He could barely even walk over to a chair before collapsing. The Direnni all ran around him, some casting protective spells over the doors, while others began to siphon thier own magic to Favonius. The actions of thier Chairman in face of a direct attack overrode ant family squabbles between these powerful mages, and like any powerful family, they fiercely protected even the ones they hated.

Favonius began to see clearer, and his breathing didn't hurt so much. He gulped down the water someone handed him, and then another. "Someone try and find out where that thing went." Favonius said. "Chairman, sir, could I speak to you in private before we all openly discuss what I just saved you all from?"

The Chariman was also a little woozy after having another mind jump in and out of his own so quickly, but he agreed.