Tamriel:House Telvanni

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Traditionally isolationist, most House Telvanni of Morrowind wizard-lords pursue wisdom and mastery in solitude. But certain ambitious wizard-lords, their retainers, and clients have entered whole-heartedly into the competition to control and exploit Vvardenfell's land and resources, building towers and bases all along the eastern coast. The Telvanni think that wisdom confers power, and power confers right. MW Prophecies

House Telvanni is mainly a house of highly egocentric and ambitious wizards. Here, it is common to rise through the ranks by eliminating or otherwise 'indisposing' other members. Of the Telvanni lords, only Master Aryon of Tel Vos - the youngest and newest councilor - seems able to look beyond the end of his own nose and at the concerns of other people, the rest want little more than to be left alone to their research and ambitions. The rest of the members are similarly isolationist in outlook and do not intend to be presided over by any of the other institutions, predominantly the Guild of Mages.

House Telvanni is among the staunchest defenders of slavery, which they see as an ancient Dunmer right. Their ideals and desires, evidently not concerning themselves, are left to the slaves to obey. However, both Khajiiti and Argonians, the two most common slave races, may join House Telvanni and advance with the same level of respect as other races. Many of the towns, notably Sadrith Mora and Tel Aruhn, house slave markets. Telvanni holdings are also worked by slaves, whereas the other Great Houses prefer to use generic workers. Telvanni are, therefore, strong enemies of abolitionists.

All of the Telvanni Councilors live in great towers which require levitation to ascend; one leader in each of their main towns: Sadrith Mora, Tel Aruhn, Tel Vos, Tel Mora and Tel Branora. All of the Telvanni towns are distanced of the Silt Strider routes - the only transport available to them is the boat; except for Sadrith Mora itself - which, being the only Telvanni town with a significant Imperial presence (located at nearby Wolverine Hall), can be reached by Guild Guide from another Mages Guild. House Telvanni area include Firewatch east of Tel Mora, and Port Telvannis on the Telvanni Isles that extend east into the Padomaic Ocean.

Areas of Vvardenfell controlled by Telvanni house (brown areas).

Sadrith Mora is the real capital of the Telvanni lands, even though the Archmagister, Gothren resides in Tel Aruhn, and hosts the Council Hall, in which each Telvanni lord is represented by a lieutenant with the title of "Mouth". In general, the actual lords themselves live in their own towers and do not attend the Council. Even Master Neloth of Tel Naga, who resides nearby in Sadrith Mora, does not attend the Council. Some great Telvanni have opted out of the rat race for power within the Council entirely due to their isolationism. But, among those that actually care about who is the leader, the ever-procrastinating Archmagister Gothren of Tel Aruhn, few ever voice their opinions.

The Telvanni, in general, do not relate among other Houses or Guilds. Nor do they have many enemies save for Abolitionists and the Imperial Mages Guild - the Telvanni would rather have a monopoly on magical power in Morrowind. (Nevertheless, it is possible to join both, and complete all the quests for them other than one mage guild quest that doesn't need to be done.) On the other hand, the Telvanni do not convey the usual hatred of Vampires that most other factions have, and some of their lords and Mouths are willing to speak to them; wizards do not fear vampires nearly as much as others do.