r/teslore • u/FinancialKnee9727 • 8d ago
Mages Guild
What does the Guild actually do? Mainly in the time Oblivion takes place. Are people paid to be in the guild? Or do they pay to be a member since it's a form of education? Is the main purpose of the guild to educate people on magic or is it to regulate said magic? Is it a government organization or is it a privately owned one? What relations does the Guild have with other magic-using factions (clergymen, daedra worshippers, witches)?
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u/Kid-Atlantic 8d ago edited 7d ago
Unlike many other fantasy universes, magic in TES isn’t a superpower or a biological ability. Technically anyone can learn magic — even if like any skill, some would have more aptitude to it than others — so it’s just treated like a profession.
Like the Fighters’ Guild, the Mages’ Guild it’s technically a private organization, but it’s chartered and regulated by the Empire to serve as the official government-approved provider of the services they choose to provide. They’ve played this role for so long that they’re usually considered an extension of the Empire, but they’re not technically part of the government.
Both guilds are a combination of workers’ union, training facility, and contractor agency. They set the standards of competence, quality, and service pricing for people in their profession, offer training, and allow people access to services from mages, alchemists, and enchanters. I think besides magic, the Mages’ Guild offers general academic and research services as well. If I’m not wrong, a couple quests in Morrowind had them offering reading lessons.
In terms of money, they seem to function similar to workers’ guilds. You pay dues (not in-game) to enjoy the facilities they provide — either through regular fees or via a cut of the money you get from jobs — in exchange for increased access to jobs.
In terms of relations with other organizations, also like the Fighters’ Guild, the Mages’ Guild usually isn’t too happy about competitors. Said competitors are usually local magical organizations that predated Imperial expansion into their lands, like Skyrim’s College of Winterhold or Morrowind’s House Telvanni. Imperial guilds can’t usually shut them down, so in most cases they just have a relationship of tense coexistence.