Windwarrior Windwarriors are elite windrider s . Once , long ago , warriors fought on foot , with nothing but their own bodies and weapons to determine the outcome . Then people domesticated animals , and discovered they could ride the larger beasts , giving them both height and speed unmatched by any landbound foe . Thus mounted combat began . Now warriors on horse , panther , wolf and other beasts are a common sight , and many learned to ride almost as early as they learn to walk , reveling in the speed and ease of such travel . But riding on a beast , watching the ground flash past just below , pales against the thrill of riding an aerial mount , soaring through the air , feeling the wind tugging at your cheeks and lashing at your hair . And , in combat , warriors mounted on such airborne steeds have a clear advantage , swooping in to attack and then sailing safely beyond reach again . Few can master such creatures however , and fewer still have the discipline , the grace and the calm to forge a bond with their mounts , becoming less warrior and rider than a single creature united in purpose under the sky . These are the windwarriors . A windwarrior is more than a mounted warrior . He is a child of the air , a brother to the gryphon , an enigma to the landbound . He has become one with his steed and together they soar ever higher , exulting in the freedom of flight . Windwarriors fight because it is required , but they fly because they must , because without such speed and altitude they would surely perish . Which is not to say that windwarriors are not formidable foes . Anyone who has ever faced one can attest to their martial prowess . Yet fighting is only one aspect of being a windwarrior . Speed , agility , freedom , and the bond with their mounts are the core of the class , the heart of their brotherhood . Anyone who lives to fly is a brother , and anyone who does not appreciate flight will never understand . Most windwarriors are Wildhammer dwarves , as they are the most comfortable both in the sky and riding winged mounts . Many others also become windwarriors , however , since the most important requirement is not race but inclination and ability . Windwarriors often form their own organizations within their societies , though it is a loose fraternity rather than a rigid military unit or formal hierarchy . Many windwarriors remain with their tribe ( or city , or village , or whatever ) and perform various tasks and services for them , functioning as a combination scout , messenger , hunter , and guardian . Others take contracts with various groups , individuals , or even governments . In several cases windwarriors banded together to form mercenary units , hiring out for military missions to anyone who can pay them . These units rarely last , however , as most windwarriors prefer their freedom and eventually get tired of obeying others . Wildhammer dwarves respect windwarriors and consider that occupation one of the highest possible . Wildhammer children learn to ride gryphons shortly after walking , climbing and swimming , and many train with windwarriors as youths . For them , the windwarriors are part of the community and far and away the most exciting and adventurous members of the tribe . The Alliance leaders also value windwarriors , and have relied upon them for reconnaissance , communications , retrieval , rescue and attack . Though few in number , the windwarrior ' s speed and maneuverability makes them immensely valuable in any combat , particularly when facing landbound forces . Despite all this , most windwarriors are humble . They know well enough that they are only aloft thanks to their mounts , and in many ways it is the mount who is truly important . This attitude keeps windwarriors from growing too arrogant , especially since they each care for their own mounts personally . Windwarriors rarely desire riches or fame , anyway . They are far more interested in their own freedom to fly as they choose , where they wish and when they want . Windwarriors need to be flexible and quick to handle sudden shifts in flight . They empathize with their mounts to win the beasts ' trust , loyalty , and eventually love . Every windwarrior learns to appreciate his surroundings , his mount and his own abilities , and learns to use these gifts wisely . Windwarriors must endure punishing winds , harsh temperatures , and the general fatigue caused by travel . They use their strength for tugging on reins and lugging supplies . Most windwarriors are Wildhammer dwarves , and Wildhammer dwarves are staunch allies of the Alliance , thus most windwarriors are as well . Windwarriors usually take flying animals or magical beasts as mounts . Windwarriors and their mounts form a mystical bond which allows the two to learn and improve together far beyond the limits of either species . Over time , windwarrior and mount learn to work together during combat to minimize risk and exposure . Windwarrior and mount can communicate as effectively as if they shared a common language , though other creatures cannot understand the communication without magical help . the windwarriormount bond is so strong that the windwarrior can communicate with others of the mount ’ s species . The windwarrior ’ s mount does not allow anyone else to get near it unless the windwarrior has already vouched for the individual . It does not let anyone but the windwarrior mount it without specific approval by the windwarrior . The windwarrior has an empathic link with his mount out to a distance of up to 1 mile . The windwarrior cannot see through the mount ’ s eyes , but they can communicate empathically . Note that even intelligent mounts see the world differently from humans , so misunderstandings are always possible . Because of this empathic link , the windwarrior has the same connection to an item or place that his mount does . The windwarrior can close his eyes and see through the eyes of his mount , and vice - versa , provided they are within 1 mile of each other and are both conscious . The windwarrior carves a small totem of his mount . This must be done by the windwarrior alone , and it must be crafted from wood , stone or clay . Once the totem is complete , the windwarrior cuts both himself and his mount and dips the totem in the mixed blood . The item is now bonded to both of them permanently . The windwarrior can concentrate on the totem and know whether his mount is alive and healthy , and approximately how far away the mount is from his current location . The windwarrior uses his carved totem to deepen the link between him and his mount . The totem functions as a gryphon lure when the windwarrior touches it and mentally calls to his mount , though the windwarrior need not be a Wildhammer dwarf and the mount need not be a gryphon . The windwarrior can send his mount a telepathic message through the totem . Windwarriors can merge their mounts into the totem . The windwarrior must touch the totem to the mount and concentrate . The mount vanishes and the totem gains a faint glow and a gleam to its eye , as if it were alive . The mount can remain within the totem . It does not need to eat , drink , sleep or breathe in this state . The windwarrior can summon his mount from the totem . Windwarrior Styles . Every windwarrior loves flying , loves the sky , loves freedom , and loves his or her mount . But other details may differ , not the least of which is personal style . Some windwarriors consider themselves knights of the air . They wear heavier armor than most windwarriors , and carry an axe , sword or mace plus a lance or glaive . Many carry shields slung across their backs or hanging from their mounts . These windwarriors favor strength and speed over subtlety . Others are the opposite . These windwarriors favor stealth , working from above where no one would expect them . They wear little or no armor and carry only melee weapons and smaller ranged weapons . Their great gear is dark and they carry little ornamentation - everything is about speed , stealth and surprise . A third faction favors the lighter weight but not the stealth . These windwarriors wear brightly colored clothing and light armor , and wield lighter , faster weapons . They scoff at the so - called " knights of the air " but do admire their sense of drama . These windwarriors have their own drama , dashing across the sky and leaping down to confront foes and creating an image of enthusiasm , playfulness and careless skill . Windwarriors have other styles as well . Some belong to organizations or groups with shared ideals , while some are loners , just a man and his mounts . One major element of windwarriors is the choice of mount . Gryphons are the most common , particularly for Wildhammer windwarriors , but they are by no means the only mount available . high elves and blood elves favor dragonhawk s , while night elves select hippogryph mounts ; orc s choose wyvern s , and troll s favor vampire bat s . Those who pick different creatures for their steeds may develop a different style and appearance based upon their mount ' s relative size , speed , agility and aggression .