Ayleids

Mer is the definition of elves. Almost all of the elven races have it in their name, like the

Aldmer - First Folk or Elder Folk
Altmer - High Elves
Bosmer - Wood Elves
Chimer - Changed Ones
Dunmer - Dark Elves
Dwemer - Deep Ones
Falmer - Snow Elves
Maormer - Sea Elves
Orsimer - Corrupt Elves

As far as I know, the only elven race that does not include -mer in their name are the Ayleids, the Ancient Elves. It was they whom were the first race to build a civilization in Tamriel. They are the founders of the Imperial City of Cyrodiil and built the White Gold Tower where the Cyrodiilic and Tamrielic emperors have reigned since Saint Alessia overthrew the Ayleids during the human slave rebellion in 1E 242. By then the Ayleids had built a large empire throughout the Cyrodiilic region, and the ruins of the great civilization can still be found in Cyrodiil. The Ayleids originated from Summerset Isle but moved to the mainland somewhere around Merethic Era (please correct me if i am wrong). They were devoted Daedra worshipers and they were feared amongst men. Judging from the size of their doors, and Umaril the Unfeathered, they were quite tall and intimidating.

As mentioned before, there was a slave rebellion. The human races had been enslaved by the Ayleids for a long time before Saint Alessia gathered the rebel army and destroyed the Ayleids empire. The remaining elves fled south and the last recorded event where an Ayleid was spotted was over a thousand years ago, and there are probably no more left in Tamriel. Possibly in Summerset Isle, hopefully someone will have written a book about it during the years before the event of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim so we may read about it there.

I was never a big fan of visiting the Ayleid ruins in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion because they were too creepy and i am a bit of a coward when it comes to the undead. They ruins do however look very clean and i imagine that when they where in use they were very beautiful and well lit. How the welkynd stones lit up the large underground cities i still don't know, maybe they were stronger back then.

/R