
From the Botany questline you learn that at some point, there was peace between Gridania and the Ixal, much like Gridania has with the Sylphs. Â Obviously something happened to sever that peace, but it's never explained what.
Ixal are referred to as "cursed," and I believe it's implied that they once had wings and could fly, and that the curse is the reason they can't anymore. Â That's why they build their balloons and whatnot.
Whatever actually happened, the Ixal seem to feel they got the raw end of the deal, and there's an element of betrayed rage to their behavior and interactions (at least from my point of view). Â They seem to have a particularly personal hatred of Gridania, possibly blaming them for whatever happened.
Ixal are referred to as "cursed," and I believe it's implied that they once had wings and could fly, and that the curse is the reason they can't anymore. Â That's why they build their balloons and whatnot.
Whatever actually happened, the Ixal seem to feel they got the raw end of the deal, and there's an element of betrayed rage to their behavior and interactions (at least from my point of view). Â They seem to have a particularly personal hatred of Gridania, possibly blaming them for whatever happened.