Testimonials on Mushroom Towers Content . The Telvanni , the most mysterious of the Great House in all respects , features one of the most looming curiosities — both literally and figuratively — the mushroom structures which they live and work within . The House has never given an official statement about their choice of architecture , and most are too frightened by Telvanni ' s vast power to ask . It ' s common knowledge that the Telvanni Magisters value their privacy , but why not build a tower of stone or wood ? I decided to ask the common folk their theories . Names have been changed to protect the speakers from Telvanni attention . I first talked to local merchants who weren ' t officially affiliated with the House , but often sell wares to its members . A rather exasperated Dark Elf named Verna was happy to explain her theory : " It ' s the smell , that ' s what it is ! They ' re obsessed with this Three - forsaken stench . Can ' t get enough of it . I think there ' s something about their biology , something different from other Dark Elves . Makes them just crave the smell of mushrooms , so much so that they magicked them into towers . I ' ve heard they sit up there all day and just inhale the fumes . Me ? I just get headaches . What ' s wrong with the fresh scent of pine , or stone , or any other honest building material ? Sometimes I think I ' d rather see the towers made of silt strider dung than of moldy old mushrooms ! " An Argonian inn - keeper , Makes - Some - Waves , believed that the purpose was more functional : " Well , we all know that the Telvanni are isolationists . They can ' t even be bothered to attend the inter - council meetings . My guess is that they eat the mushrooms , to save on trips to the market . Only makes sense , doesn ' t it ? Mushroom stew , mushroom pie , mushroom gravy ! There ' s a lot you can make with bits of mushroom . We just don ' t notice because their slaves gather the stuff discreetly . Wouldn ' t want to ruin their image by being mushroom fanatics , would they ? Well , more fanatical I suppose than simply having your entire house built out of the stuff . " A rather friendly Dark Elf merchant by the name of Hader had a vastly different opinion of what the mushrooms were used for : " I ' ve heard that mushrooms are a powerful aphrodisiac . Really makes you wonder what those Magisters do all day up in those towers . I ' ve thought about taking up my own collection , for purely studious purposes , of course . But I ' d rather not attract the attention of the homeowners . Telvanni mages aren ' t very giving Dark Elves , even when well pleased . And I suspect they might be pleased more often than they let on , if you catch my drift . By the way , you did say that you were changing my name for this , didn ' t you ? " The merchants who cater to Telvanni were interesting sources of material and raised many questions for me to consider , but I found myself drawn to those who worked directly for the House . Though most slaves were unwilling to speak to me , I found an Orc hireling who had this to say : " Well , who else is using [ the mushrooms ] ? If they ' re there , they ' re there . Might as well make some use of them . Only useful decision the Telvanni ever made , truth be told . " Maybe the truth was that simple . The Telvanni found this native flora and simply wished to make use of it . A matter of convenience seems to be the most plausible theory I had heard , but was it the truth ? I had but one more source I could find who would speak their mind , a Khajiit trader by the name of Rumoc , who explained : " This one always thought the towers were built to intimidate outlanders . Rumoc was most unsettled when he set up business in [ retracted ] . Having such a strange tower looming above you . Perhaps it represents the Telvanni themselves , yes ? Imposing , mysterious , almost haunting . The Telvanni do not wish to welcome ones such as us to their lands . It is in their best interest to keep us frightened . " I could get no official comment from a member of House Telvanni , other than a few strongly worded requests that I cease my inquiries . But my curiosity cannot be contained by mere threats , and the mystery of the Telvanni is something I will always find myself attempting to unravel . I take heart in the fact that even under the House ' s oppressive eye , so many shared with me their thoughts and theories , each more interesting and thought - provoking than the last .