Primer

Introduction
Whether you're new in town or are reviewing the basics, let me say we're glad to have you. Now we've got a lot of ground to cover as not only is there not a lot of actual canon regarding the Ayleids to go on (and thus we've had to make up a lot of our own), but our Ayleids, being isolated for roughly five and a half thousand years are quite a bit different from their long lost kin.

Still, I've done my best to pair this down to just the need-to-knows and made it as short as possible. With that said, read on!

~ Agaruasil

Origins
During the time of the Architects, the masterminds behind and first inhabitants of Mitaiabaluis, the Ayleid Empire was at its peak. It was an association of kingdoms who had conquered all of modern day Cyrodiil, enslaved its people, along with many beastfolk, and worshiped the Aedra as well as the Daedra in equal measure.

This was somewhere around the last millennium of the Merethic Era.

The Architects foresaw the downfall of their empire and the ruination of their people, but ironically not at the hands of an uprising of the races of man which actually was responsible for this fate, but instead they saw the end come in the form of civil war between the Aedra worshipers and the Daedra worshipers.

Regardless of this unknown mistake, they realized that Ayleid culture, society, and blood had to be kept safe. Thus Mitaiabaluis was created.

Four Dynasties
Although the initial idea of Mitaiabaluis was to be rather egalitarian, quickly ruling dynasties emerged. About the first dynasty, the Arvarid Dynasty, not much is known as few records remain from that time. The vast majority of the most complex and powerful magical constructs, systems, and artifacts, however, date from this time period.

The second dynasty was that of the Sornid Dynasty and it was, by far, the longest lasting and most politically and socially stable period in Mitaiabaluis' history. Lasting for nearly two thousand standard years, its greatest emphasis was on the preservation of traditional Ayleid ideals. Perhaps its greatest accomplishment was the start of the tradition involving the Keeper of Memory.

Most modern noble families can trace their lineage to the third dynasty, the Balayid Dynasty which saw a definite class structure begin to appear and feudal politics and systems take the place of more complex earlier ones.

The fourth and final dynasty, the Emerid Dynasty, saw a sharp decline in population due to a famine that lasted nearly thirty standard years and from which the population has still not recovered. It was during this time that the remaining people turned to the supernatural for salvation, thus bringing about the end of their unity.

Schism
Approximately one and a half thousand standard years ago two rival factions, the Kyndlorid and the Gandrayid, fought to be the next great dynasts, but they held very different philosophies. The Kyndlorid believed that the summoning of minor daedric beings was but a means to an end, that they were tools, and though they still worshiped many of the Daedric Princes, they did not worship them all as they did the Aedra.

The Gandrayid, however, were completely under the sway of numerous Daedric Princes, acting as servants to them even in reward for great power and lost magics while worshiping only one of the Aedra, Auri-El.

Soon philosophy turned to politics, politics turned to violence, and there was all-out civil war. Ever since then the two opposing factions have waged a slow but bloody feud with an eye-for-an-eye mentality, striking out from their strongholds at opposite ends of the mostly abandoned city.

Physiology
Having lived shut off from the sun for so long, the Ayleids of today's Mitaiabaluis are quite different than their ancestral kin who resembled the Altmer most.

Yet still, of all the Mer currently known to be on Nirn, they are the tallest and most heavily muscled, while still retaining some of their inherent elven leanness and grace. They are not as tall as their hugely tall ancestors were, however, who were commonly up to 270cm in height. These Ayleids, though some rare individuals do reach their ancient height, average between 200cm and 230cm.

The most striking change, however, is that their once burnished gold skin has turned silvery, not white like the pale Falmer, but silver, like a strange form of elven albinism. Both pale grey eyes and sickly pink or red eyes are common and from birth most grow straight silky hair of grey that turns to white with age, although a rare few are born with golden hair instead.

Fashion
Typically, Ayleids of all walks of life, gender, age, etc. wear for clothing nothing but a simple silk sash and matching loincloth around the waist and are otherwise naked, though occassionally a shawl is added as well. The main way they adorn themselves is through magic jewlery, especially long strands of enchanted beads and feathers worn round the neck.

Another way they stand out is by painstakingly applying full body makeup to accentuate their natural facial features and musculature. In addition, subtle pigments and body paint as well as piercings are often common. Typically the only time one sees an Ayleid fully dressed is when they are in full armor.

Magic
Magic is everywhere and the lifeblood of the Ayleid way of life. From childhood, every Ayleid is taught at least a few basic spells, and they tend to specialize in the schools of Alteration, Illusion, and Conjuration. Generally, if it can be done with magic or enchantment instead of some other way, it is.

Daedra
Summoned and bound Lesser Daedric creatures such as scamps, clannfear, dremora, etc. are used for virtually every mundane task, as slaves, servants, assistants, guards, etc. Only tasks requiring a truly keen mind are performed by the Ayleids themselves.

Feuding
Although it is, on occasion, possible for an Ayleid to live up to one thousand years, most only make it to half that. Thus no Ayleid remains who was present at the great schism and the hatred for the other faction is drilled in to each and every Ayleid from birth, making raids, ambushes, and other such violence commonplace.

It is very rare, however, for the entire army of one faction to march on the fortress of the other.