The Ayleids were descendants of the Aldmer that emigrated to Cyrodiil (from Summerset Isle). At one point they controlled the entirety of what is now the Imperial Province of Cyrodiil, and enslaved the indigenous Cyrodilic and Nordic populations. These slaves were used in various ways: to build and maintain roads and temples and to drain fields. Some Ayleids are even said to have tortured slaves for amusement. During the Slave Rebellion of 1E 242 the nearby human kingdom of Skyrim lent help to their enslaved relatives in the Ayleid Empire, which played a part in the Ayleids being overthrown by the Slave Queen Alessia and her supporters, and the subsequent shift in power from Mer to Men on Tamriel.
It also appears that Alessia’s rebellion coincided with a civil war within the Ayleid Empire which led to many rebel Ayleid lords joining forces and aiding her in her rebellion. Though the Ayleids would continue to have a presence in Cyrodiil for several hundred years more, they were never again a major military or political power. This event signaled the beginning of the Late Ayleid Period. Their greatest fortress, White Gold Tower, was turned into the Imperial Palace by Alessia and her descendants, and it remains so to this day. The last of the Ayleids who opposed Alessia held out at a village in the vicinity of modern day Bravil and it took Alessia’s forces, led by Bravillius Tasus, four attempts to finally defeat them.
In 1E 393 the Alessian Order sacked the ancient Ayleid temple of Malada in their attempts to eradicate all Elven presence in Cyrodiil. Ayleid culture lingered in the city-states that survived as client kingdoms of Alessian Cyrodiil, but most of the Elven population was finally driven into exile (largely to Valenwood) by the intolerance of the Alessian Order. The last kingdom of the Ayleids was last heard of in 1E 482 at the Battle of Glenumbria Moors.
Though the most recent reported sightings are over 1000 years old, it is possible that some tribes of Ayleids may continue to live deep within the forests of Cyrodiil even today. These Ayleids, or Wild Elves, are at best a rarity and may not have actually survived into the Third Era. The Ayleid Sage Tjurhane Fyrre talked and wrote extensively of the state of the Ayleid culture in the late First Era and early Second Era. According to Fyrre, the Ayleids of this time lived in a tribal society, with each “tribe” being substantially different from the next.
Ayleid Characteristic Baseline
Traits
Weakness (Magic, 1)
Weakness (Y,X)
Characters with this trait are weak to a certain damage or effect type. They increase damage of Y type by X after any other mitigation and suffer a -10 penalty per X to tests made to resist non-damaging effects of this type. If this trait would stack for a single damage type, instead only apply the highest value of X. Different values of Y damage type are considered different traits. In cases where the character is not making the Y related test, but rather a Y related roll is being made against one of their Characteristics, decrease that characteristic by 10 times X for the purposes of resolving that roll.
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Power Well (5)
Power Well (X)
Characters with this trait have more magicka than usual. The size of their Magicka Pool is increased by X. If the character would receive this trait twice, combine the X values.
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(Racial) Empowered by Starlight
Empowered by Starlight (Racial Trait)
Ayleid characters treat their Willpower Bonus as being 2 higher for the purpose of spell restraint while under direct starlight. The Ayleid can choose to forfeit this bonus as a Free Action for the rest of the night in order to absorb some of the radiating magicks, regaining 15 Magicka Points instantly.
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(Racial) Flesh Shaper
Flesh Shaper (Racial Trait)
When an Ayleid uses any Restoration spell that regenerates a target’s health, they can choose to inflict the specified amount as Magic damage instead. Any spells used in this way count as if they had the Attack attribute instead of the Instant attribute. Additionally, an Ayleid can use the Stabilize spell to Treat wounds.
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Other
During character creation, Ayleid characters can choose to begin with the Restoration or Enchanting skill trained to Novice rank for free.