The Thalmor's Shadow - Taliesin (Custom Voiced Follower)
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
🖼️ Gallery (3 images)
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.3% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #34 of 64 Followers & Companions mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
A collaboration between two fans of Skyrim to bring a unique Altmer follower.
M
EET
TALIESIN.
Every awakening begins after hitting rock-bottom.
A once-proud Thalmor soldier with a tragic backstory, Taliesin is more attuned than his peers. During a routine order to clear out some Talos Worshippers, this Mer has a change of heart and wants out. But escape can be perilous, and old habits die hard.
His truth is cloaked in riddles and innuendos. Getting him to open up will take some work.
Perhaps having an ex-Thalmor in your pocket could be beneficial?
You'll find him at a hidden statue of Talos near Lake Illinalta.
Forgot a health potion? No worries.
Poor fool forgot he has a pack right next to him with one in it.
Surely this bodes well for your journey together...
WHERE TO FIND HIM:
Taliesin will tell you he led a contingent of Thalmor to a Talos shrine just south of Lake Ilinalta.
The plan was to give a speech and persuade the worshipers to abandon Talos.
What happened next surprised him.
You'll find Taliesin clinging on for dear life among the remains of the skirmish.
He puts up a front at first. Be on the lookout for some notes and a journal for clues about who he is.
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FEATURES:
- A standalone follower with a custom voice (VA: Pat Mahoney)
-A progressive, ever-evolving story of a villain-turned-ally.
-Romance! (Finally!)
-Custom Frame work unaffected by the AFT mod.
-A rest system. Let this Mer relax in an inn while you explore.
- Over 1900+ lines of dialogue, written by the voice actor and mod creator. More to come in the future.
- Commentary on misc. quests and the Main Story line (wip).
-A Summon Spell; Helps reset him as well.
- Don't worry about needing to buy a horse. Taliesin has one, her name is Neighomi. Yeehaw.
A Word from Tally's Voice Actor
(and Co-Author):
Villains, heroes, and allies have one th
Adds Taliesin, a custom voiced Thalmor follower with a redemption arc, voiced by Pat Mahoney. He provides information in exchange for pellets. A popular follower mod with over 4,000 endorsements and 1.4 million downloads, last updated in November 2025.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community trust: 4,154 endorsements and 1.4 million downloads.
- Custom voice acting adds immersion, a big plus for follower mods.
- Unique gameplay hook with the pellet-information mechanic.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in November 2025, but no compatibility notes for the latest Skyrim version.
- The pellet mechanic might feel gimmicky if you're not into micromanaging followers.
For Skyrim players who want a morally complex follower with a redemption story and custom voice acting. If you enjoy unique follower interactions and don't mind a bit of roleplay, this is for you. Skip if you prefer silent or vanilla-style followers without special mechanics.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 to install and manage this follower mod easily.
- Check the mod's page for any patches if you use other follower overhauls or mods that affect Thalmor NPCs.
- Make sure your Skyrim is up to date, as the mod was updated recently and may rely on the latest game version.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- Vanessa M and Pat Mahoney
- Version
- 1.05
- Downloads
- 1,402,701
- Endorsements
- 4,154
- Category
- Followers & Companions
- Created
- 6/15/2023
- Updated
- 11/27/2025
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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