Ayleids

The Ayleids, also known as the Heartland High Elves, were an ancient elven civilization native to Tamriel’s central region, especially Cyrodiil. They arose after the arrival of the Aldmer and established a network of city-states and grand temples, becoming noted for monumental architecture and magical prowess. Their political center was the White-Gold Tower, a symbol of their power.

Ayleid society was urban and aristocratic, with a strong tradition of enchantment, gemworking, and craftsmanship. They built elaborately decorated palaces and temples across Cyrodiil, often of pale stone with stained glass and luminous interiors. The Ayleids spoke Ayleidoon and left inscriptions and artifacts in their script, many of which surface in ruins throughout the province.

Religion and culture combined reverence for ancestors with devotion to elven deities and ceremonial law, reflecting a society that valued ritual, order, and magical enhancement. They were skilled enchanters and makers of artifacts, using magic to power city defenses, waterworks, and everyday life in their urban centers.

The Ayleids fell from power during the rise of human-led realms in the early First Era. The Alessian Order’s influence and widespread revolts led to the conquest, destruction, or abandonment of many cities. Surviving Ayleids retreated underground, were dispersed, or assimilated into other populations, leaving behind a legacy of ruins across Cyrodiil.

Today, the Ayleids are remembered largely through these ruins and their depiction in The Elder Scrolls games. Their architectural and cultural imprint persists in lore about Tamriel’s elven peoples and in the exploration of Ayleid sites within the series.