[b][u][h3]The Jagged Mountains[/h3][/u][/b]
As soon as the collective of heroes started their downwards charge to the village it seemed as if the strange shapes moving among the flames froze. They did this for several moments, almost tricking the eye into thinking they had never been there in the first place, that was until every single one of them seemed to collect themselves and return the charge. However unlike the heroes, they did not seem restricted by space and within only a single breathe, they were upon them! They were creatures that had never been seen before this very moment - living shadows that stood as tall and proud as any warrior, their forms shifting in an ever-blurry darkness as if they were a twisted mockery of life. They even held shadow-like blades as they lunged forward and swung their blades, some of the creatures hitting their mark while other heroes were able to dodge or deflect their attacks. The heroes that had been bit by the sharpness of this strange darkness felt a strange, alien pain. The shadow blades sliced through skin much like any other blade, but it was almost as if their skin opened up by itself than any actual physical metal cutting them.
[color=33BB00][h3][u][i]Cerylia[/i][/u][/h3][/color]
It was easy for her hawk-like eyes to catch the freeze in the shadow's movements, causing her to halt her movement down the slope, her gaze snapping back to the woman with a giant tower shield. The ranger had heard of these Stalwarts before, but if they were all legends then she must've been the [i]'Fireblood Woman,'[/i] the one who held fire for blood. She did not get long in her thoughts though as she caught the massive movement from the corner of her eyes. She had just enough time to draw a single arrow - even with her speed - before these creatures were advancing on them with dark blades in hand. She shifted, deciding to trust her gut feeling, so that her aim was not only dead-set on her own attacker, but Cornelia's own in the distance. It was a strange gamble, but she figured that these were just shadows so it made sense that their forms would not stop an arrow, right?

She let loose the projectile and her bet paid off. The arrow shot through the head of her attacker and fell through where the heart would be of the Stalwart's shadowy enemy. They both dissipated for a second before reforming, however it seemed as if their forms were weaker than before, less solid and more chaotic almost as if trying to will their shadowy bodies to stay together. Perhaps another strike would do these creatures in, though to survive such normally fatal blows... they definitely weren't human.
[b][u][h3]Southern Port[/h3][/u][/b]
The port seemed as peaceful as ever, if one could call it that, with the yelling of merchants and the bellowing of sailors coming in from the sea. Still, it was as normal as any other day, however a sharp yell broke the waves of normalcy that would even catch Tylan's attention. Quickly a spreading commotion spread across the entire port and people looked, ran, and pointed out towards the sea - there was one of the fishing ships, caught fully in flames. How no one had saw it until now was beyond reasoning, but it was so engulfed that by the time any ship could reach it, it was more than likely the ship would find it's grave at the bottom of the ocean.

Then suddenly, a ship seemed to appear from behind the flames, sailing towards the port in what could only be described as a lazy quickness. It held a white sail but it was completely unmarked meaning it was not pirates or at least not any that would proud enough to display the common skull and bones of the seas. The guards then set into motion, yelling orders as they gathered onto their galleys and preparing to bring down this ship that dared threaten the port town so boldly. Chances are, the ship would never make it to shore, but something in the back of Tylan's mind gave him a strange feeling that it just might.