Skyborne — descendants of night elves from the floating islands — have arrived in World of Warcraft: Forever as a new playable race. Here's what players need to know: where they live, how their society works, and which classes are open to them.

The new race of World of Warcraft: Forever is the Skyborne, a branch of night elf descendants who departed for the floating islands. In the game they have their own corner of the world — three islands, two of which have their own cities, their own school of magic, and their own spiritual tradition.

By lore, the Skyborne are descendants of the Highborne, that branch of night elves that left for the floating islands. Ever since the air elementals disappeared, their three islands lost contact with each other, and each developed its own way of life.

The main island is Zephras Isle, with the supreme elder Talaanis Shadowsong. Zephras' council includes, for example, Aetheen of the Gales. The other two islands are Anvilas and Siroccas, with the cities of Shen'dramar and New Eldre'naar. In the Shen'dar Highlands stand ancient standing stones — a sacred site of elemental magic guarded by Windshaper shamans.

The Skyborne have their own spiritual life: the Windshaper shamans are the spiritual leaders of the race, and Elune is not mentioned at all on Zephras. Because of this, unlike the Nightborne and blood elves, Skyborne cannot be priests. But their magic is their own: the High Order mages are heirs to the Highborne tradition, whose power withered over the millennia and which they are now trying to restore.

In daily life, Skyborne use windstones — blue stones filled with concentrated wind energy, white crystals of memory used for audio recordings, and hippogryph feathers in their hair. When a young Skyborne comes of age, they are presented with a relic from a predecessor, and after death, the ashes are scattered to the wind.

In practice:

• Shaman and mage are the natural classes for Skyborne: the race has its own line of priesthood (Windshapers) and its own school of magic (the High Order).
• Priest is unavailable, and that's a key difference from the Nightborne and blood elves.
• The main island is Zephras; Anvilas and Siroccas are loosely tied to it, so expect different local stories and quests on each island.
• Quests like "Coming of Age" and "Harvesting Windstones" give a direct introduction to the race's traditions.