Council of Shadows

Somewhere far away, a titanic humerus bone hung far above the desolate ashen wasteland like a floating mountain chain. It was the right arm of the dead deity that connected Godgrave to the distant Moonriver Plain, as well as to the road leading to Ravenheart. 

Not long ago, it had been covered by the scarlet jungle. Now, however, the jungle was gone — the vermilion forest had been obliterated by the soldiers, and the white slope shone blindingly under the radiant, overcast sky.

Then, there was movement.

A small bird suddenly fell clumsily from that sky, colliding with the bone surface at full speed, head-first. The black crow bounced off the ground, rolled a couple of times, then jumped to its feet and shook its tiny head dazedly. 

Then, it remained motionless for a while before suddenly bursting into a tide of shadows. 

Those shadows surged and formed into the menacing figure of the Lord of Shadows.