I want to have a go at role playing a Telvanni character. But I want him to be as much "Telvanni-ish" as he can possibly be.
So for this I need to know how they act and how they react. (I never really had much contact with them up till now)

So this is the info I have amassed up until now:

-Believe in killing, so long as you are not caught, then it's up to you and the imperial (scum).
-Hold in contempt anyone who is not Telvanni (and sometimes even the Telvanni)
-Magic and Alchemy is the only skills worth knowing.

That's about it for the moment.
I was wandering if they were religious? (Temple)
Do they only use Magic? Or do they learn something a bit more physical just in case?
Well I'll be off to the Library to find out more if I can, however I would rather use all the sources I have at hand for a maximum of information!

Those are classic Telvanni maxims, but your understanding is a bit unpolished if you hold them up as universal maxims to be followed by all Telvanni. Play through the Telvanni house first, and you'll understand the varying attitudes of it's members are almost the same as the way members of other house also have varying attitudes in relation to it. Ayron and Gothren, for example, are completely different but are also quite similar.

For your mage lords, they won't be physical guys, that's for the poor and lowly hirelings. You are most likely not going to be religious, for they pretty much think only of themselves, have no real qualms about necromancy, and usually are a lot more reckless with their experiments and magic. The mainland Telvanni are quite xenophobic, as compared to the ones in Vvardenfell, and all Telvanni believe in the principle of "you don't bother us, we won't bother you." And it's not that they believe that killing is okay, as long as you are not caught, it's more like if there is an argument or some sort of conflict, and you kill the person you are in conflict with, your argument was clearly superior. Failed test subjects or minions dying from accidents doesn't matter since they're too below you (literally and figuratively once you have a mushroom tower). It's Hlaalu that states it's okay to steal, as long as you are not caught.

Here's what the recruiter says when you ask them about the rules:

With those rules, it pretty much allows a myriad of personalities to enter, usually more crazy and eccentric though. Talking with most of the mage lords and their magical underlings will give you a good idea of what they're like.

I'd imagine Machiavelli would fit right at home with the Telvanni. If he had an ounce of magic in him.

I think the Telvanni are more machiavellian than Machiavelli.

Oh, he wouldn't last a minute!

Dude, machiavelli as a Mage? Holy mother of Pearl! Just imagine the things he would do!

Murder everyone and say it was for the greater good?

Indeed! :chaos:

I don't think it would be unpossible for a Telvanni to practice blunt and use a staff, especially an enchanted ebony or daedric one. Skills should be unarmored, destruction, conjuration, alteration, mysticism...pretty much a pure mage, maybe sneak because they are treacherous. Purchase any slaves you can, practice magic on them. If you have restoration you could hurt them then heal them, not have to buy new ones...prolly would need illusion magic then to keep them from trying to kill you.

But yea, basically a magical jerk. Should be fun.

Not really a jerk but...amoral

He was a diplomat who was also in charge of the local town militia. He fought against the establishment and helped create a republic in the city, before the Pope gave him the smackdown. Mac didn't really act like he recommends in the book. His friend Cesare Borgia was the inspiration for The Prince, he is the one to fear. Especially once he started going crazy.

One trait of the Telvanni I really like is their willingness to advance knowledge as they experience with magic and Dwemer technology a lot. Of course stay far from them while they are doing that.

Baladas Demnevanni and Divayth Fyr are the only ones that take any interest with dwemer technology.

It seemed to be more widespread to me as you even receive a Centurion as reward on one of the Telvanni quests. But there is some time since I last played it so my memory can be a bit foggy.

Baladas Demnevanni from the quest Dahrk Mezalf

Master Aryon has a (small) Dwemer museum

Looks like I stand corrected. Been some time since I rolled with Telvanni

With regards to the religion bit, why should the Telvanni revere someone who is their equal? That is why they don't believe in religion, they don't want to be told what to do by someone they view as an equal.
Hellmouth got it right with the argument bit.
The contempt for outside cultures is just egocentrism. They look down upon the other factions, as they feel that they are inferior.
They mostly use magic, but if they need something done physically they'll A) summon a daedra or B) use an underling to do it.

It should be noted, of course, that the Telvanni are not a hive mind and there is a large range of temperaments, attitudes, personalities, viewpoints and even religious attitudes among the Telvanni.

Divath Fyr is a very different person from Mistress Dratha, for instance. While a love of sorcery, secrecy, privacy and powerful artifacts is certainly something they all covet, their scruples and hobbies vary widely from person to person.

I play a Telvanni and they're my favorite part of all of Tes so here's what I can offer you.

To Telvanni, money and Magick are everything.

No one EVER think Telvanni are funny except for other Telvanni and completely uninvolved Onlookers.

There are three telvanni rules: Rule 1 is in easy terms "If you can't protect what's yours...you don't deserve it" Rule 2 is "If have an arguement and you kill your foe with spells...your side of the arguement had more merit." And last but not least Rule 3 : "A Telvanni always get's her way."

Telvanni are very sardonic and crafty and they plot. A plot a Telvanni isn't sure of...anyone else would except it as foolproof.

Everyone else is beneath you and you and you're schemes are the only ones that matter.

If you are assassinated or are killed for not killing your enemy...you deserve to die because you were stupid.

Stupidity is punishable by death.

Learn to have eyes on the back of your head...the one time you don't check for an assassin, they're will be one.

Telvanni attract Envy and enemies...so don't trust anyone for long

there is a good chance your family will try to murder you...kill them first.

Destroy anyone if they have even the slightest chance of becoming a problem...

And always make sure you have enough gold to buy information. It the most important thing to a Telvanni.

Learn how to use low level spells to great effect (Ie: A low power dispel spell to untie the bindings that's keeping that dremora bound to that conjurer)

Make sure everyone thinks exactly what you want them too.

AND....always oppose the Mage's Guild.

Thanks for help guys! :foodndrink:
So I suppose that the Temple that can be found underneath the counsel is just to keep the Tribunal from winging?

It's a nod to the Tribunal, accepting that they are the ultimate authority on Dunmeri matters, just like Fort Firemoth at Telvanni's capital, a nod to the Imperial authority. I'd imagine that a small amount of lower-ranked Telvanni are religious too and wanted some place to worship.