The Ayleids – Tamriel’s Forgotten Empire: Lore Guide

The white stone ruins across Cyrodiil are all that’s left of the Ayleids, an ancient elven race who ruled the heartland of Tamriel for thousands of years. These Wild Elves mastered magic beyond what modern scholars can understand, harnessing starlight itself through Welkynd and Varla stones. Their civilization combined breathtaking beauty with horrifying cruelty. When the humans they’d brutalized rose up during the Alessian Slave Rebellion in the First Era, they destroyed nearly every trace of Ayleid civilization—except the imperishable ruins that stand today.

This article covers:

• Who the Ayleids were and where they came from
• The rise and fall of their empire
• Their complex religious beliefs and practices
• Mastery of aetherial magic and starlight
• The brutal reality of Ayleid slavery
• Their impact on Tamriel’s history

Who Were the Ayleids?

The Heartland High Elves

The Ayleids were the first race to establish a true empire in Tamriel. They ruled Cyrodiil for millennia from their capital at the White-Gold Tower.

Their civilization was a collection of independent city-states united under a loose alliance. Each kingdom maintained its own culture and religious practices. This diversity created both strength and internal conflict that would contribute to their downfall.

The Ayleids descended from the Aldmer who left Summerset Isle during the Middle Merethic Era. Many left to escape the strict religious laws of their homeland, particularly the prohibition against Daedra worship.

Origins and Appearance

Ayleid skin tones ranged from light tan to dark bronze, making them darker than the golden-skinned Altmer but lighter than the ash-gray Dunmer. Like all mer, they had pointed ears and angular facial features, with a thin, lean build.

They arrived in Tamriel after explorers like Topal the Pilot charted the continent. The Ayleids found Cyrodiil inhabited by mysterious Bird Men. These natives disappeared from history—possibly enslaved by the arriving elves.

The Ayleids spread beyond Cyrodiil, establishing settlements in:

• Black Marsh (the Barsaebic Ayleids)
• High Rock (including the Wrothgarian Mountains)
• Valenwood (coastal fortresses)
• Elsweyr (limited presence)
• Hammerfell (scattered outposts)

Their influence shaped central Tamriel for millennia.

Ayleidoon: The Ayleid Language

The Ayleids spoke Ayleidoon, a language closely related to ancient Aldmeris. This wasn’t just communication—it was a magical language that preserved Dawn Era magic and ancient Ehlnofey runes that other elves had forgotten.

Common Ayleidoon phrases reveal their worldview. “Av molag anyammis, av latta magicka” translates to “From fire, life; from light, magic.” This shows their belief that light—starlight—was the source of magical power.

Their language appears throughout their ruins on inscriptions, altars, and magical devices. Modern scholars struggle to translate many texts. The language contains magical concepts that don’t exist in contemporary understanding.

The Ayleids believed that “in the caverns of lore, ugly and obscure, shines the gold of truth.” This philosophy drove their pursuit of forbidden knowledge, regardless of the moral cost.

The History of the Ayleid Empire

The Merethic Era: Forging an Empire

During the Middle Merethic Era, Ayleid civilization flourished around the White-Gold Tower. Though they owed tribute to the High King of Alinor, the vast distance between Cyrodiil and Summerset Isle gave them practical independence.

The Ayleids built cities that were architectural marvels. Nenalata, Abagarlas, and countless others rose from the jungles of Cyrodiil, their white stone gleaming with captured starlight. They constructed the fortress of Ilayas in Valenwood, home to the Stormwardens—an ancient order of lightning wizards who defended the coast using the Sphere of Storms.

Not all Ayleid kingdoms shared the same values. Some, like Delodiil, worshipped Meridia and the Aedra. Others turned to darker powers.

This religious divide would create weaknesses that led to their downfall. By the late Merethic Era, Daedra worship had spread throughout Ayleid lands. What started as tolerated fringe cults became mainstream, endorsed by kings and aristocrats.

The Ayleids made pacts with Daedric Princes for power, magical knowledge, and armies of Daedra to enforce their rule.

The Rise of Daedra Worship and Slavery

The Ayleids didn’t just worship Daedra—they built their entire society around these dark pacts. Unlike the Chimer, who distinguished between “good” and “bad” Daedra, the Ayleids venerated them all. Molag Bal, Mehrunes Dagon, Hermaeus Mora, Meridia, and Sanguine all received mass worship.

This Daedric power enabled systematic enslavement of the Nedic peoples. What began as occasional captives became an institution that defined Ayleid civilization.

The Nedes who fled south from Skyrim found themselves trapped in bondage, forced to:

• Build and maintain Ayleid infrastructure
• Work agricultural lands
• Serve as entertainment for their masters
• Endure horrific “art-tortures”

The cruelty wasn’t just functional—it was ceremonial. Ayleid kingdoms became famous for specific torture methods.

They practiced:

• Flesh-sculpture: Magically reshaping living bodies
• Gut-gardening: Creating grotesque “gardens” from entrails
• Wailing wheels: Devices designed to maximize suffering
• Drug-induced hallucinations: Forced consumption of psychotropic substances
• Tiger sport: Nighttime events involving burning children alive

The worst abuses occurred in kingdoms devoted to the most malevolent Daedric Princes. Sanguine, known to the Ayleids as Blood-Made-Pleasure, inspired the most depraved practices.

Not all Ayleid kingdoms practiced such cruelty. The Barsaebic Ayleids who worshipped the Aedra treated their subjects more humanely. But enough engaged in these practices that “Ayleid” became synonymous with monstrous cruelty in human folklore.

Civil War: The Narfinsel Schism

Not all Ayleids accepted Daedra worship. The Barsaebic Ayleids continued worshipping the Aedra and Magnus, creating a fundamental split in Ayleid society.

This tension exploded in the Narfinsel Schism, a civil war spanning from the late Merethic Era to 1E 198. The conflict peaked in 1E 198 during the Scouring of Wendelbek. King Glinferen of Atatar unleashed an army of Daedra on the Barsaebic Ayleids.

The Barsaebic Ayleids were driven from the Heartland, fleeing to Black Marsh and other regions. This marked the end of organized resistance to Daedra worship in Cyrodiil. It weakened the empire just decades before the slave rebellion would begin.

Another major conflict erupted between Delodiil (devoted to Meridia) and Abagarlas (devoted to Molag Bal). King Anumaril of Abagarlas created the Mortuum Vivicus, a weapon designed to drain all life from Delodiil and convert its citizens into undead servants.

Meridia warned her followers, who struck first, destroying Abagarlas from within. The city was then obliterated by divine lightning.

These internal wars left the Ayleids divided and vulnerable.

The Alessian Slave Rebellion and the Fall of White-Gold

In 1E 242, everything changed. A Nedic slave named Alessia received visions from Akatosh calling her to rebel.

Joined by her lover, the demigod Morihaus, and the warrior Pelinal Whitestrake, Alessia gathered an army. Pelinal was a force of destruction. He slaughtered Ayleid kings and razed their cities across eastern Cyrodiil.

When an Ayleid lord killed one of his companions, Pelinal’s rage drove him to destroy Narlemae and Celediil completely.

The Ayleids made a desperate pact with Meridia, gaining her Aurorans as defenders. Umaril the Unfeathered became their champion. But when Pelinal faced Umaril at the White-Gold Tower, the Ayleid champion fell.

The Ayleid kings killed Pelinal and cut him into eight pieces, but the damage was done.

The rebellion succeeded for several reasons:

• Nord support from Skyrim provided military strength
• Ayleid allies who worshipped the Aedra joined Alessia
• Daedric abandonment after Akatosh created the Amulet of Kings
• Internal division from decades of civil war

In 1E 243, the White-Gold Tower fell. Alessia became the first Empress of Cyrodiil, founding the Alessian Empire.

The Late Ayleid Period and the Diaspora

The fall of White-Gold didn’t immediately end Ayleid presence in Cyrodiil. Some Ayleid lords continued ruling as vassal kings until 1E 498, granted territory in exchange for loyalty.

But resentment grew. The Alessian Order, founded by the prophet Marukh, preached monotheism and human supremacy. By 1E 361, they controlled the empire and enforced the Alessian Doctrines, abolishing Ayleid lordships entirely.

This triggered the Ayleid Diaspora. Refugees fled in all directions:

• North to Skyrim: Slaughtered by Nords led by Vrage the Butcher
• Black Marsh: Atatarics rejected by Barsaebic Ayleids, dying in Elsweyr
• Valenwood: Many clans accepted, forced to adopt the Green Pact
• High Rock: Joined the Direnni Hegemony, including King Dynar

King Laloriaran Dynar of Nenalata faced an ultimatum in 1E 372-374. He led his people to High Rock, founding the city of Bisnensel on the shores of Halcyon Lake. But even there, they found no peace.

By 1E 498, organized Ayleid civilization had ended. The few who remained were absorbed into Bosmer and Breton populations. Their distinct culture faded within a few generations.

Culture and Society

A Civilization of City-States

Ayleid society functioned as an alliance of independent kingdoms, each centered on a fortified city. The White-Gold Tower served as the symbolic heart of their civilization. They called it the “Temple of the Ancestors” and built it to mirror the Adamantine Tower.

Inside the temple, they housed the Ten Ancestors, sacred statues made of meteoric iron with shards of meteoric glass at their centers. These represented fundamental aspects of Ayleid religion and culture.

During the siege of White-Gold, the statues were scattered to other settlements for protection. They weren’t reunited until the Third Era.

The Ayleids had a documented obsession with the number eight. This influenced everything from their architecture to their magical practices. Some scholars believe Saint Alessia created the Eight Divines pantheon to appeal to this Ayleid cultural trait.

Each kingdom developed its own character. Some focused on magical research, others on military conquest, and others on religious devotion. This diversity made them adaptable but prevented true unity.

The Art of Cruelty: Slavery and Torture

The darkest aspect of Ayleid culture was their treatment of slaves. This wasn’t simple forced labor—it was systematic brutality elevated to an art form.

Historical accounts, passed down by their former slaves, describe horrors that shaped human hatred of elves for millennia.

Daedraphile Ayleids (those who worshipped Daedra) derived what they called “art-pleasure” from torture. Different cities specialized in different methods. The worst practices occurred in kingdoms devoted to Molag Bal and Sanguine.

Ancient manuscripts describe Ayleid “artists” being guided by these Daedric Princes in perfecting their cruel techniques.

Not all Ayleid kingdoms practiced such cruelty. The Barsaebic Ayleids who worshipped the Aedra treated their subjects more humanely. But enough engaged in these practices that “Ayleid” became synonymous with monstrous cruelty in human folklore.

Ayleid Architecture

Ayleid cities were constructed from pale white stone that seemed to glow with internal light. Their architecture showed clear Altmer influence—both cultures shared common Aldmer ancestors—but the Ayleids developed their own distinct style.

Common architectural features include:

• Labyrinthine layouts that confused invaders
• Magical lighting using captured starlight
• Underground expanses reaching deep beneath the surface
• Defensive traps both physical and magical
• Aetherial fountains that provided water and power

Cities ranged from small settlements to massive metropolises. The largest featured multiple levels, sophisticated plumbing, and climate control systems powered by Great Welkynd Stones.

Their ruins dot Cyrodiil thousands of years later. The white stone has proven nearly indestructible, though the magical systems have mostly failed.

Modern adventurers find these ruins filled with Daedra, undead, bandits, and ancient guardians—all drawn to the residual magical power.

The ruins contain valuable treasures: Welkynd Stones, Varla Stones, enchanted weapons, and ancient texts. But exploring them remains dangerous even after millennia.

Masters of Arcane and Aetherial Magic

The Four Elements and Starlight

The Ayleids believed Nirn consisted of four elements: earth, water, air, and light. This differed from High Elf religion, which used earth, water, air, and fire.

The Ayleids replaced fire with light because they considered fire a weak, corrupt form of light associated with base magical principles.

This philosophy shaped everything they built. Their cities used lamps, globes, pools, and fountains of pure magic. The light in Ayleid ruins doesn’t come from combustion—it comes from captured magical energy stored in stone.

For the Ayleids, Meridia personified light itself. They called her Merid-Nunda and depicted her with wings and a cowl, a representation of illumination and revelation.

The most sublime form of light was starlight from Aetherius. Stars represented the direct connection between Mundus and Aetherius, the plane of magic. Fragments that fell from the sky—meteoric iron and glass—became their most valuable magical materials.

This focus on aetherial magic made the Ayleids fundamentally different from other magical traditions. They didn’t just use magic—they captured and stored the essence of creation itself.

Welkynd and Varla Stones

The Ayleids’ greatest achievement was forging stones that stored starlight. Welkynd Stones (meaning “sky children”) were cut pieces of meteoric glass that could hold magical energy.

A mage could drain a Welkynd Stone to restore their own power, making them invaluable for extended magical work.

Varla Stones (“star stones”) served a different purpose—they recharged magical enchantments on weapons and armor. Where Welkynd Stones restored personal power, Varla Stones maintained magical items.

Some Welkynd Stones held more than just energy. They could store:

• Spells for defensive purposes
• Memories that could be read directly
• Binding magic that trapped Daedra in specific locations
• Destruction spells triggered by intruders

The creation process for these stones remains unknown. Modern attempts to craft new ones have all failed. Research on existing stones often causes them to crumble to dust.

This was Dawn Magic—techniques preserved by the Ayleids but lost to everyone else.

At the heart of each major Ayleid city sat a Great Welkynd Stone, a massive piece of enchanted meteoric glass that powered the entire city’s magical systems. These were gradually stolen over centuries due to their immense value. Only a few remained by the Third Era.

Ayleid Wells and Other Creations

Scattered across Cyrodiil are Ayleid Wells—standing stones that harness starlight to provide magical energy. These wells have several unusual characteristics:

• They recharge completely at midnight
• Anyone with magical talent can use them
• They’re not associated with any specific settlements
• Their placement follows no obvious pattern

The logic behind where the Ayleids placed these wells remains a mystery. Some scholars believe they were creating them in natural caves just before the slave rebellion, suggesting they planned to expand the network.

The Ayleids created magical pillars that responded to specific spells. Cast shock magic on certain pillars while carrying a Welkynd Stone, and they would grant you a powerful new spell. This shows sophisticated understanding of magical triggers and resonance.

Their weather magic was advanced. In Valenwood, Ayleid Stormwardens created the Sphere of Storms, a device that controlled waves and weather. In Rivenspire, they transformed barren soil into fertile land through landscape alteration magic.

Some scholars believe the Ayleids maintained Cyrodiil’s subtropical jungle climate through the White-Gold Tower. When they fell and the Tower changed hands, the climate shifted to something cooler—more suitable for human rulers.

The Ayleids founded the school of Alteration magic, developing spells for:

• Levitation
• Shapeshifting
• Waterbreathing
• Reality manipulation (in advanced cases)

This magical knowledge represented thousands of years of accumulated research and experimentation.

A Faith Divided: Ayleid Religion

The Aedric Pantheon

Ayleid religion began with veneration of the Aedra. The word “Aedra” itself means “ancestor” in their language. The Ayleids honored their divine forebears with devotion.

Auri-El held a central position in early Ayleid worship. Statues throughout Cyrodiil depicted an eagle lifting a figure carrying a bow and shield from ensnaring ground. This symbolized Auri-El’s role as savior and guide.

He was the father of their race, the one who led the Aldmer through the Dawn Era.

Magnus, the God of Sight, Light, and Insight, received particular reverence. The Ayleids built temples in his name, recognizing him as the architect of Mundus and the source of magical power. When Magnus tore open the sky to escape creation, he left behind the sun—the greatest source of light and magic.

Other Aedric deities included:

• Mara (goddess of love and compassion)
• Stendarr (god of mercy)
• Trinimac (warrior god)
• Xarxes (god of secret knowledge)
• Y’ffre (spirit of the forest)

The Ten Ancestors statues in the White-Gold Tower represented the core of Ayleid ancestor worship. These figures were believed to be the first Ayleids, semi-divine beings who established their culture.

The Barsaebic Ayleids maintained these traditions throughout their history, even after being driven from Cyrodiil.

The Allure of the Daedric Princes

In the last millennium of the Merethic Era, Daedra worship spread through Ayleid society like wildfire. What started as fringe cults became mainstream religion, endorsed by kings who saw the Daedric Princes as sources of power.

The Ayleids didn’t distinguish between “good” and “bad” Daedra. All offered advantages worth pursuing. This fundamental difference from other cultures showed their willingness to sacrifice morality for power.

Daedra worship brought tangible benefits:

• Armies of Daedra to conquer and control
• Magical knowledge beyond mortal understanding
• Powerful artifacts that enhanced their capabilities
• Extended lifespans through dark pacts
• Political influence backed by divine power

Kings who embraced Daedra worship gained advantages over their more traditional rivals. This created pressure on other kingdoms to follow suit or risk being conquered. The Narfinsel Schism resulted from this escalating tension.

The shift to Daedra worship coincided with the expansion of slavery. Daedric Princes like Molag Bal encouraged domination and suffering, providing both justification and tools for systematic cruelty.

By the time of the Alessian Rebellion, Daedra worship had become so central to Ayleid culture that losing access to Daedric armies crippled their ability to resist.

Notable Daedric Cults

Molag Bal (called Mola Gbal by the Ayleids) became patron deity of Abagarlas. King Anumaril received knowledge to create the Mortuum Vivicus and commanded an army of undead. The worship involved domination, corruption, and death—principles central to Molag Bal’s sphere.

Meridia (Merid-Nunda) was revered in Garlas Malatar and Delodiil. Though a Daedric Prince, she represented light and purity to the Ayleids. King Narilmor devoted his entire city to her worship, receiving the Guiding Light as a gift—a beacon visible for miles that illuminated the city with her power.

Mehrunes Dagon found followers who built the city of Varsa Baalim around the Nefarivigum, Dagon’s trial construct. Those who passed his test could claim Mehrunes’ Razor.

But the Ayleids believed they could control who accessed the blade. A vampire infiltrated the city, spreading undead infection until Varsa Baalim mysteriously vanished into the mountains.

Sanguine (Blood-Made-Pleasure) inspired the most horrific practices. Ayleid flesh-sculptors and gut-gardeners followed his guidance in creating “art-tortures.” Ancient manuscripts describe Sanguine personally overseeing the creation of the “Messenger Beast Redeemed” and other abominations.

Hermaeus Mora (Hyrma Mora) gained followers in Bisnensel after King Dynar’s exile. High Priest Uluscant established a congregation that attracted the learned and influential. They turned the city into a shrine storing forbidden knowledge that could manipulate reality itself. This cult deposed King Dynar.

Mephala answered Princess Anurraame of Erokii when betrayed by her lover. The Daedric Prince transformed the princess’s tears into an artifact of such power it destroyed both attacking armies and Anurraame’s entire city.

The Fall and What Came After

Remnants and Survivors in Later Eras

The Ayleid presence didn’t immediately vanish after 1E 498. Small populations survived in hiding, living in tribal societies far from human settlements.

Tjurhane Fyrre (1E 2790 – 2E 227) was one of the last known Ayleid sages. He founded the University of Gwylim and studied his people’s history extensively.

His writings, including “The Wild Elves” and “Nature of Ayleidic Poesy,” provide most of what modern scholars know about late Ayleid culture. He died at age 357.

King Laloriaran Dynar survived the longest of any Ayleid. After fleeing Nenalata and founding Bisnensel, he served as a tactician for the Direnni.

When he returned to Cyrodiil in 1E 482-484, Molag Bal trapped him in Coldharbour. He remained imprisoned for over 3,000 years until freed by the Vestige in 2E 582. Dynar died shortly after, defending the Hollow City during the Planemeld.

He’s considered the last true king of the Ayleids.

Some Ayleids assimilated into other cultures:

• In Valenwood: Adopted the Green Pact, breeding only with Bosmer
• In High Rock: Joined the Direnni, strengthening their hegemony
• In Black Marsh: Small populations may have persisted longer
• As tutors: Some served human nobility in early Cyrodiil

By the Third Era, sightings of pure-blooded Ayleids were over 1,000 years old. If any survived, they remained completely hidden from civilization.

The Ruins and Artifacts They Left Behind

Ayleid ruins define the landscape of Cyrodiil. These white stone structures have withstood thousands of years with minimal decay, showing the quality of their construction.

What you’ll find in Ayleid ruins:

• Welkynd Stones for restoring magical energy
• Varla Stones for recharging enchantments (rare)
• Ayleid weapons and armor with unique enchantments
• Ancient texts in Ayleidoon
• Traps both magical and mechanical
• Undead guardians and bound Daedra
• Bandits and other squatters using ruins as bases

Some ruins contain specific treasures. The Crown of Nenalata and Crown of Lindai were royal artifacts of such power that Third Era collectors killed for them. The Great Welkynd Stone of Miscarcand was used to open a portal to Mankar Camoran’s Paradise.

Natural deposits of Welkynd Stones exist in caves like Bramblepoint, suggesting the Ayleids were beginning to cultivate them in natural environments before their fall.

Dark Welkynd Stones served as defensive weapons, releasing destruction spells when triggered. These function in many ruins, making exploration dangerous.

The architectural knowledge alone represents incalculable value. Modern builders cannot replicate Ayleid construction techniques—their ability to create stone that captures and holds light.

Lessons from the Ayleid Empire

The fall of the Ayleids teaches several lessons that resonate throughout Tamriel’s history. Their story appears in scholarly texts as a warning about power and pride.

Unchecked power corrupts completely. The Ayleids’ magical abilities and Daedric pacts gave them dominion over Cyrodiil. That power encouraged cruelty rather than wisdom. Their treatment of slaves wasn’t necessary for their civilization—it was a choice enabled by their strength.

Arrogance blinds you to danger. The Ayleids believed their empire would last forever. They never imagined their slaves could threaten them, let alone overthrow them. This complacency prevented them from seeing the rebellion until too late.

Internal division destroys empires. The Narfinsel Schism and other civil conflicts weakened the Ayleids for decades before the Alessian Rebellion. By the time humans rose up, the empire was fractured and vulnerable.

Moral foundations matter. The Barsaebic Ayleids who maintained ethical principles survived longer and found acceptance among other cultures. The Daedra-worshipping kingdoms that practiced systematic cruelty were targeted for extermination.

As one scholar wrote: “The true enemies of the Ayleids were not the slaves who revolted… No, it was the arrogant pride of their achievements, their smug self-assurance that their empire would last forever, that doomed them to fail and fade into obscurity.”

The Ayleids achieved magical feats that remain unmatched thousands of years later. Their architecture stands when everything else has crumbled. But their name is remembered not for their brilliance, but for their brutality—a reminder that civilization requires more than just power and knowledge.

Their ruins across Cyrodiil serve as monuments to both their genius and their failure, teaching each new generation that even the mightiest empire can fall when it forgets the principles of justice and mercy.