However, I don't think it means much if you're telepathic and just not speaking. That's not really mute.
One solution is to communicate through another PC through sign language. Basically pass them notes to read for you. If you can find a PC willing to be your accomplice with a tied backstory, this can actually prove to be very rewarding roleplay and provide some good party cohesion.
First, It wont let me +1 you as I must have done it recently, so let me just say +1 on the above
You are 100% right, Telepathic whilst avoiding physical mutism does cheat based on what my core motivation is, which is to not talk (they would hear me talk in their heads)
I do like the other ideas posted about having someone speak for me.
The reason I got the idea in my head is from watching an Episode of Babylon 5, watching the Gaaim talking in their Breen-Stylie suits and it translated for them... the idea that the Gaaim COULD learn the language but chose not to is an interesting idea.
I think I need to determine what sub-set of this mutism I want to follow
a) Selective mutism, acts like a snob and either refuses to learn the language (knows only his race language, not common) or refuses to speak to people not worth it.
b) Natural mutism, either through injury or born with. I would need to figure out a clever way to talk to people as the NEED to talk will be there but the ABILITY to talk would be unavailable.
I think roleplaying the first option is far too CE for my liking. And since we arent ALLOWED to be CE 
, doing my impression of Edwin, the Red Wizard of Thay from Baldurs Gate probably wont cut it with my fellow players.
I do think that the natural mutism would work. I would have to ignore the idea of shardmind, as whilst they a naturaly mute - since their telepathy bypasses the need for it I wouldnt be playing a disadvantage, i would just be playing a Shardmind!
So... now I am torn between 2 things
1 : Having someone to talk for me
2 : Having a way to communicate non-verbally
If I want someone to talk to me, I am going to have to rely on semaphore, sign language or some kind of visual rather than aural cues and mannerisms. I suppose this is doable but considering that I would still need to SPEAK to the players IRL, telling them that I am waving my hands around and you understand that as "I will flank them from this position" seems a bit redundant.. cute for the first session but massivly annoying after.
However if I can find something to talk through, that would mean I would just be saying things like "Salvon's blue magic says - I, Flank, here"
So narrowing that down further I am torn between the method to do this.
1 : Shaman, spirit guide is linked telepathicaly to the Shaman and talks for him
2 : Beastmaster who has 2 creatures, a talking bird and the normal attacking animal. The bird talks for him (just like a pirates parrot!)
3 : A device that talks for me
4 : An NPC that accompanies me everywhere and talks on my behalf using telepathy (Just like Tok, the servitor from the Babylon 5 episode where Ivanovva has fake sex with the Diplomat from the new civilization). He is unwilling to attack and during battle will hide. He can die and would basically be a (enter my level here) minion for combat purposes but does not fight. Should he die, I will no doubt find another hireling who will do so for me... there must be some kind of ritual I can perform that allows me to impart a pyshic link between me and this other person.... perhaps in instances where I am without the servitor, I can perform the ritual to become linked to another PC
I do like this last one, to make it seem like I am losing something for the value of having a servant walk around with me (even if he wouldnt fight for me, others may see it as some kind of special treatment... why can't "I" have a lacky!) --- to make it seem fair, I would sacrifice 10% of my gold to pay for his services, it is assumed that he levels as I do or is replaced with a new servitor of higher level each time I level... so although 10% of my gold at 1st-2nd level is not much, at 20th it may seem like a fortune but the trade off is that I have a stronger minion to accompany me.
I suppose some advantages of this, considering he won't fight may be that occasionaly he will be attacked by monsters and this distraction could be seen as unfair, so the gold penalty seems a good counter
I am conflicted and could use some further suggestions?!?!
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