But the Telvanni Isles? (and almost the entire southern peninsula!)
Lost during the eruption? this seems unlikely. (Solstheim is not below)

Bethesda could not be more clear?
The information in Skyrim Dragonborn are imprecise and contradictory. (brand-shei and Neloth)

Where's the contradiction? Telvanni the family was wiped out by Argonians. The Great House recovered. The Isles were possibly damaged by tidal waves or otherwise overrun by the invaders, leaving Vvardenfel as the majority realm of Telvanni.

What family? Has there been a single character in any TES game with the last name of Telvanni? I don't know if there's a contradiction, but it's definitely confusing.

Until Skyrim, many people claimed House Telvanni was destroyed.
In Skyrim, if you only encounter Brand-Shei, that will confirm the belief.
But then there's Brelyna and Neloth.

Both obviously refute the the extinction claim. Also, dialog from both of them implies that House Telvanni is doing fine. There's no implication of any unusual troubles or a struggling House. UESP lists the journal of Brand-Shei's father as a contradiction (to known facts), but not an error because Lymdrenn couldn't have known that others survived.

So we seem to know that:
- House Telvanni is doing fine, but not as politically strong as in previous eras
- House Redoran is now the single preeminent House
- House Hlaalu is in bad shape, but still has money

House Telvanni the last name might very well be gone, while House Telvanni the political institution (or rather, people who are/used to be part of it) lives on.

Tonas Telvani was a shipmaster/ fast travel npc in Tel Mora.

Yes, there was a family Telvanni. At least one NPC in Morrowind had that surname. I imagine the names of all the Great Houses either are or were family names at some point. Brand-Shei's letter specifically mentions the family being ruined with him as the last living heir. That doesn't mean every member of the Great House died. Dragonborn confirms this. Neloth states it's an extant House with the remainder of its power and holdings on Vvardenfell. Apparently Sadrith Mora was either damaged during Red Year, though, because Neloth moved.

House Hlaalu is gone, they were exiled.

Yeah. It was replaced on the Coincil by House Sadras. Presumably a minor ally of Redoran which got promoted.

Indoril isn't really a thing any more either. It exists, nominally, but Indoril are relegated to the priesthood exclusively.

It can be guessed that Dres took heavy blows during the Argonian invasion as one of the major slaving Houses.

So basically Redoran runs the show. They're the defacto leaders and nobody really challenges them.

We don't know the condition of Indoril.

Actually we know that they've basically become the priesthood.

woops, my bad then.

And this is why you don't doubt the dog headed man. Woof.

Exiled to where?

It's stated (and shown) in Dragonborn that they still have financial resources. They're able to hire a group of Morag Tong, and to engage in two long-term schemes to take control of Solstheim. I think it's also said that they've lost most of their political power, but I thought that the House was still around (in Morrowind) but that they're more or less pariahs.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I honestly want to know the situation.

I think they all went to northern cyrodiil and skyrim since there are a few Hlaalus in skyrim but otherwise I have no clue.

As far as them having property on the island, a house of super-wizards really don't care how uncomfortable the outside is when they can make it comfortable as they see fit inside.

We don't know that they were exiled, just that they are no longer considered a Great House, and are no longer on the council. There are other minor houses in Morrowind besides the Great ones- (presumably) Sadras before the Red Year is one example.

I'm pretty sure nothing in Dragonborn mentions them being exiled from Morrowind.

Not exiled, just cast down and hated by all sides.

As early as Oblivion, NPCs talk about "House Haalu and House Dres picking apart the carcass of ruined Indoril" or something to that effect.


As for where Hlaalu would have gone, I would assume Cyrodiil - the Indarys Counts of Cheydinhal were affiliated with House Hlaalu, that's how they got their crown.

We know they were removed from the Morrowind Grand Council and stripped of their status as a "Great" House. No reason to think they aren't still a House. Nor is their any reason to think they were exiled.

They clearly still have money and organization. They hired the Morag Tong and prior to that attempted a coup to seize Raven Rock. Since the Morag Tong are in Morrowind, I would guess the Hlaalu are still there as well.

Honestly I found it frustrating that Dragonborn forced us to side with House Redoran. Why couldn't I aid the Hlaalu assassins instead and help them take over Solsthiem?