Basically, they are an East Continent or Atamaran style realm plopped down on Dwilight where they don't fit the mold.
Dwilight realm's are very different in that they, at least more so than realms on other continents, shy away from the "your realm is a team" kind of play. Aurvandil doesn't, they embrace it to the extreme. Pooling all resources, etc. for the good of the realm. I think this is the big difference.