Ishbaneer was born Isaac Schatten, the eldest son but middle child of a Lordaeronian peasant's family. His father, Christoph, was a footman in the second war while Isaac was but a child, and was re-conscripted to defend Lordaeron when Arthas returned as a Death Knight. His older sister, Janine, had already married and moved out of the home by the Third War, and had born Isaac twin nieces before they were all slain by the Scourge.