In Rikus' last fight with Umbra, the shadow giant grumbles a lot in a language Rikus cannot understand, and often at strange moments, and of course during a battle scenario:
CL, 163: The shadow creature was peering down at Rikus and speaking in a deep, rumbling voice. The mul could make no sense of the words.
Right after this, Rikus, badly injured, begins to fall unconscious. Nothing seems to directly hint this, but is this possibly a spell Umbra is casting on Rikus?
More importantly however is when Umbra returns to the fight on pages 166 and 167, for the shadow giant holds a flame in his hand after being away from the scene for a short while:
The mul looked toward the shadow creature's voice and saw that Umbra had returned. In the palm of his good hand burned a brightly flickering flame.
At first Rikus was puzzled, though less by how Umbra could hold a burning flame in the palm of his hand than why the shadow giant would want to. The mul could not imagine that such a phantom was incapable of seeing in the dark, but that seemed the only explanation...
From where does Umbra get this fire? Could his extremely cold body even hold a small flame without snuffing it out? Is this evidence of some sort of low level fire spell? If he is a fire cleric, than why is there no evidence of Umbra's use of such powers anywhere else in the CL?
This question is of course part of the larger question regarding the classes and levels of the other shadow people, for, as the reader of the PP will recall, upon Rajaat's emancipation from the Hollow, the surviving shadow people (now full halflings) are murdering surviving Draxans in their shattered streets. Are they all fighters? Are any of them clerics, or even druids? We may doubt that any of them are psionicists, given that this clan of halflings harkens back to the Blue Age and do not seem to have been adulterated by the Green Age (Rajaat would not likely have looked kindly upon such corruption, or would he..?), but could there be any? Were there multi-classed halflings? Were there surviving life-shapers (life-benders?) for that matter, or people at least with surviving rudimentary knowledge of such abilities? I would imagine that a good write-up of the Shadow Giants in the monstrous compendiums would consider such issues, and perhaps the question involving Umbra might aid us in finding the answer to these questions...
Any responses would be welcome.
As for the other halflings, I'm guessing they were more fighter-types given their brief descriptions in the PP and elsewhere (they were referred to as "Rajaat's guard" or something similar, IIRC). Given what we know about life-shapers I doubt any of them were, at least not beyond having a small amount of knowledge about it. Definitely could have been some clerics though, and part of the reason why I say this is that it could help explain how Rajaat, trapped away in "nothingness" for 2000 years could have developed such a connection to the elemental plane of water; perhaps he was being taught, in a way, about it by some of the shadow people...?
This, I think, ought to be added to all shadow giant entries (ToA and DA), so they can manifest themselves during the night! I can imagine a bunch of shadow giants, nearly halfling size, coming unto a group of sleeping PCs camping near the Tower...and every shadow giant has a flame in his hand casting shadows!
From where does Umbra get this fire? Could his extremely cold body even hold a small flame without snuffing it out?
Umbra's cold body would not snuff out that fire; lack of oxygen or too much wind would. ;)
Penn's idea about this being a way for the shadow giants to manifests themselves is quite appropriate, after all the SG could have found many ways to appears after centuries of being composed of shadows.
Can't a simple light spell do that?
Yes, but I isn't "light" wizard only? (non-clerical) One important thing to keep in mind here is that the shadow giants wouldn't use arcane magic - period. They are very susceptible to raw arcane energy, and as halfings might not have been able to cast arcane spells to begin with.
But if it were some "divine" or "shadow" based supernatural or spell-like ability...I see no real probs with that, at least from a "how's he do it?" standpoint. The only issue I do have, however, is that in the PP I recall at least one scene where Umbra was summoned during the night and he complained about the lack of lighting (rather than making his own light, as this thread would suggest), and his destruction could have easily been averted if he were capable of creating a light source on a regular basis. The fact that, from what we know, the shadow people don't like the dark leads me to believe that they don't have a "common" method of counteracting it - if they did, I don't think you'd ever see them complaining about what time of day it was, or dying because they "accidentally" wandered into an area of total darkness (or were relying on someone else's light source, as in the PP IIRC)...especially in Umbra's case, since he *was* the sachem at the time and all. To me that'd be like someone who can't swim going out to the middle of the sea without a life jacket, riding in a two-man boat that they're sharing with someone who wants to kill them; if Umbra could generate a constant source of light, or even if it wasn't constant but it was a "normal" ability for shadow giants, you'd think that he would have generated one every time he was in a near-dark situation. The way it played out it indicates either sheer stupidity (hard to believe) or else limited resources when it comes to light-generating capabilities.
I do not think the reference to Rikus falling unconcious was a result of any magic. To me spell casting is not implied by an uneducated Mul failing to recognize the language of a many thousand years old creature.
At the time the PP was written, there was a light priest spell. I think produce flame would be a better fit, however. I don't see any reason Umbra could not have been a low-level fire cleric. He could aslo have been using a ring of spell storing or some equivalent magic item.
Given that shadow people really don't have physical forms, I doubt it was a magic item...keeping that ring on would be a *****.
Unless...Umbra handpicked the fire from a real bonfire. The flames might not be magical in nature. This would be good actually.
I'd be curious to ask Denning on this... I can make little sense of it.
Terminus Vortexa has also mentioned psionics. Although psionics is a Green Age phenomenon, I see no reason the Pristine Tower halflings could not eventually learn such abilities, even though I imagine Rajaat would prefer to keep them on the straight and narrow away from such abilities. If the Chronicle is right however in stating that clerics existed in the Blue Age, priestly magic is more of an option, it would seem to me, even though it is very strange that Umbra would not cast any other spells. If he was a fire cleric (or even druid?? associated with fire), it would seem that he was quite low level, even though I originally imagined him as a warrior. In 2nd edition terms, I was closer to imagining him as 9th/9th level fighter/fire cleric, but the fire cleric class seems especially unwarranted.
Umbra was a single-classed 3rd level fire cleric?
I wish the 2nd box people would have properly solved these irritating issues for us, especially since all the "shadow" people have emerged completely from the Black since Rajaat's emancipation from the initial imprisoning spells cast by the Traitors. If any somehow survived Ur Draxa and the Cerulean Storm, or were for some reason at other locales during these events, they would be full "regular" halflings now, and in game play they would have to be managed as such (for evidence of this CS, 320-321). We need to know their level and class tendencies if they are not Black monsters anymore...
Given that shadow people really don't have physical forms, I doubt it was a magic item...keeping that ring on would be a *****.
They have physical forms, those forms are simply in the black.
I feel if they can carry people through the black, they could pull an item into the black and equip it.
They have physical forms, those forms are simply in the black.
I feel if they can carry people through the black, they could pull an item into the black and equip it.
Well...not really, no. Prior to the end of the CS, they are able to "make" themselves solid, to an extent, and thus can interact with entities on Athas...but there is nothing to indicate (AFAIK) that, when they have manifested themselves on the PMP, they "leave behind their bodies" in any way in the Black. What it really boils down to is that they *are* the Black - they're the absence of "stuff" but, as creatures created through the use of the Pristine Tower (and thus, through a form of "sun magic") they are connected to sun. That's probably the only reason why they are even able to manifest on the PMP, and my guess is that it was an unintentional side-effect that the Champions, not really understanding what they were doing, were unaware of. In fact, I recall Umbra or Khidar explaining at some point about how "the sun/light give us form" and we definitely see that demonstrated when Umbra attacks the Crimson Legion...again it doesn't kill the idea that they don't have physical bodies, but I think it supports the idea that if they do it's not something constant enough that wearing a ring would be a likely answer.
And even if they could, somehow, wear a magic ring while in the the Black, or even while manifested as a "solid" entity on Athas, I don't see how they could keep the thing on as they flittered back and forth between the realms. Or when they turn to mist form. Etc. Besides, arcane magic is anathma to them - I can't imagine that wearing an arcane magical item would be "acceptible" to them, and it probably wouldn't feel very nice either. None of these arguments are at all definitive, and of course it could be a divine item, but if so then it means they've got access to clerical magic somehow, and if that's the case then wouldn't it just be simpler to suggest that they are capable of picking up cleric levels and resolve the issue that way? Another example of KISS, I think - proposing that the flame was a result of a magical item just gets way more kludgey and complicated than the idea that Umbra was a low-level cleric.
Dirk00001 has made a good point about the absence of light at a crucial moment for Umbra's survival...yet, Dirk, is there something in the chapter where this happens that suggest who could have provided a flame for Umbra?
Unless...Umbra handpicked the fire from a real bonfire. The flames might not be magical in nature. This would be good actually.
Pennarin I think though is right to guide us to look, if indeed it is possible to find, a more mundane answer. I do not really recall any fires going on outside Borys' citadel, although I suppose some after effect of Caelum's sun magic might be present. Of course, we must recall that Umbra can essentially teleport to anywhere he wishes via the Black. To me however, even if he collected mundane fire from some person or locale, it does not answer how he was able to maintain the flame without any fuel, as he certainly is not holding a torch or anything... Denning essentially clarifies this.
Unless someone can find something out of the novel that indicates otherwise, I actually like the idea that the flame was completely mundane, now that it's been mentioned. I don't recall where he would have gotten it from, but IIRC Rikus *did* have a torch with him - that was how Umba ended up dying, wasn't it? (Torch went out...?) I also recall there being some source of light within the wraith's tomb...and IIRC those were torches as well. Someone please confirm or deny all of this.
By the way, Phaaf - as you originally quoted, Denning's wording doesn't technically exclude it from being a mundane flame:
"...In the palm of his good hand burned a brightly flickering flame.
At first Rikus was puzzled, though less by how Umbra could hold a burning flame in the palm of his hand than why the shadow giant would want to."
If that's all it has to say about this, then there are a lot of mundane explainations for this. You can start a fire on a piece of freezing cement, as long as there's a fuel source, so I don't see what the problem is with him holding it (the flame would die down more quickly since Umbra would theoretically be "absorbing" some of the heat, but we're also taking a supernatural, fantastical creature here...so who knows). If it was, say, the end of an oil torch, or if he'd even just cupped some lamp oil in the palm of his hand, it could have given an effect like this. More so, as a mundane torch it makes explaining his death much, much easier - it'd be easily extinguishable, it wouldn't be "attached" to Umbra in any physical way (so he could drop it), it indicates that Umbra was crafty enough to expect that Rikus might figure out that he was directly connected to light and try and kill him by removing it (...if he didn't think that, wouldn't he have just relied on Rikus' light the entire time?), etc.
Penn does have the best idea here - someone should skim through that chapter and look for related quotes that could either confirm or deny it being a mundane, as opposed to magical, flame. I think the idea that "he could have gone anywhere to get the flame" is a little far-fetched - especially since doing so would require him to pass through the Black, which I'm pretty sure *would* extinguish a flame - but if there were any in the area, that he could "walk" to, I think we've got our answer.
Well...not really, no. Prior to the end of the CS, they are able to "make" themselves solid, to an extent, and thus can interact with entities on Athas...but there is nothing to indicate (AFAIK) that, when they have manifested themselves on the PMP, they "leave behind their bodies" in any way in the Black. What it really boils down to is that they *are* the Black - they're the absence of "stuff" but, as creatures created through the use of the Pristine Tower (and thus, through a form of "sun magic") they are connected to sun. That's probably the only reason why they are even able to manifest on the PMP, and my guess is that it was an unintentional side-effect that the Champions, not really understanding what they were doing, were unaware of. In fact, I recall Umbra or Khidar explaining at some point about how "the sun/light give us form" and we definitely see that demonstrated when Umbra attacks the Crimson Legion...again it doesn't kill the idea that they don't have physical bodies, but I think it supports the idea that if they do it's not something constant enough that wearing a ring would be a likely answer.
And even if they could, somehow, wear a magic ring while in the the Black, or even while manifested as a "solid" entity on Athas, I don't see how they could keep the thing on as they flittered back and forth between the realms. Or when they turn to mist form. Etc. Besides, arcane magic is anathma to them - I can't imagine that wearing an arcane magical item would be "acceptible" to them, and it probably wouldn't feel very nice either. None of these arguments are at all definitive, and of course it could be a divine item, but if so then it means they've got access to clerical magic somehow, and if that's the case then wouldn't it just be simpler to suggest that they are capable of picking up cleric levels and resolve the issue that way? Another example of KISS, I think - proposing that the flame was a result of a magical item just gets way more kludgey and complicated than the idea that Umbra was a low-level cleric.
This depends on how the black works. I'm not sure on what they changed with the interaction of planes and such in 3E, but in 2E it was perfectly possible to carry items (or a lit torch) into the ethereal, the demiplane of shadow, or the grey and back to the prime again with no problems. Also, incoporeal entities like ghosts, and specters, were fully solid on the ethereal.
I was assuming that the black was a largely similar principle. In this case an enchanted item would be a very simple explanation.
However, if the black does work differently, then Umbra being a low-level fire cleric would would perfectly well.
This depends on how the black works. I'm not sure on what they changed with the interaction of planes and such in 3E, but in 2E it was perfectly possible to carry items (or a lit torch) into the ethereal, the demiplane of shadow, or the grey and back to the prime again with no problems. Also, incoporeal entities like ghosts, and specters, were fully solid on the ethereal.
I was assuming that the black was a largely similar principle. In this case an enchanted item would be a very simple explanation.
The only place I know of where the Black is really "explained" is Preservers & Defilers, and it really didn't say much about how it works, as far as game mechanics go. Basically all we've got to go on is fluff, in that it's "full of nothing" and extremely cold (likely because there's nothing in there). Although somehow you can still breathe, or at least, I haven't read anything saying you *can't* breathe, and if you can breathe then a torch should work... My only argument against light-in-the-Black is that the Black is described as the absence, or opposite, of light, so I doubt any light source would work in it...although that doesn't mean that a torch would necessarily be extinguished, either...
So I guess I dunno, it's just my opinion that a torch would go out if bought into the Black, I guess.
First of all, we must be clear that Rikus did not carry a torch into Bory's juggernaut (the giant wheeled stone structure they fought in). Indeed, the only light inside the structure seems, with almost utter certainty, to be simply off-light reflected in from the outside via portal ways and open over-hangs. There is no reference at all to torches, either lit or unlit, in all the chapters or text dealing with the juggernaut mortuary. The only unnatural light "native" to the place is that which shines from the soul-crystals of the wraiths.
Therefore, Umbra, it would seem again with almost utter certainty, did not take a torch from Borys' citadel.
As to the shadow peoples' ability to make contact with physical things, there is some flavor of uncertainty. However, of the instances where we may learn something about this in the PP, perhaps one of the best is the example of Khidar grasping Sadira when she stands in the Steeple of Crystals, and indeed proceeds to levitate her up to the actual circle of geodes. We imply from this and similar occasions that the shadow people can "move" physical objects. Hence "holding" fire is perhaps possible.
Without a "torch" however, I do not see how Umbra could maintain a normal fire in his hand. Fuel is necessary, and there is absolutely no mention of anything like fuel (a wood torch's handle, etc.).
Also, Dirk, if I understand you correctly, it seems that you believe that Umbra "dropped" his "torch." This is not the case. Rikus cuts off Umbra's last hand, which holds the fire, and thus the fire falls with it. It is not dropped, and again, for extra clarification, Rikus does not bring his own torch.
The concept of an "oil lamp" seems possible I suppose, but how extraneous are we to become? Indeed, for it to be possible, the lamp would have had to vanish upon Rikus cutting off the hand, disappearing into the Black or some such. It would seem much more probably that, had there been a lamp, Rikus would have seen it when it fell, and more certainly would have soon after felt it when he dived upon the fire, burning himself. There is no mention of his chest ramming into some lamp, or torch brand for that matter.
Indeed, considering all this, although I am trying, it seems to me essentially impossible for us to conclude, pending further evidence, that the fire has nothing to do with some supernatural effect. It is either a spell, a power of his, or maybe even psionics. ...It seems almost impossible to conclude that the fire was solely mundane in origin and especially in maintenance.
Furthermore, Denning seems to make some effort to imply that the fire is supernatural, especially as it can be seen from the quote from the text you offered Dirk:
"At first Rikus was puzzled, though less by how Umbra could hold a burning flame in the palm of his hand than why the shadow giant would want to."
(CL, 166-7, italics added)
To me, it seems probable that Denning himself might not have had a clear conception of how indeed Umbra did hold the fire. Whatever the case, he certainly emphasizes the mysteriousness of it.
3rd edition makes the happy conclusion of "fire cleric" an easy solution, for even if Umbra were a higher level warrior (8th-11th, etc. ???), he could have adopted another class, even psionicist, and just have only a level or two in it, to accomplish this fire trick. In 2nd edition however, the matter is more confused, for multi-classing would be the only option, and we might imagine he would not be so low level, either if single or multi-classed. Of course, Denning is one to have higher level spellcasters not cast too many spells, but it would seem to me that Umbra would have likely blasted down the pit Rikus fell into with walls of fire and spells of flame had he really been a higher level fire cleric (druid?).
Could this be a psionic wild talent? Could he really be only a few levels into fire cleric (5th/5th fighter/cleric in 2nd edition)? It seems that something along these lines would have to be the conclusion. Hopefully however, we have deducted here that mundane fire sources are, pretty much, not a possibility.
Dirk, I see that you have ventured into what the nature of the Shadow People really are, and so forth. What are their bodies? How exactly did they suddenly regain their native halfling forms when Rajaat's prison was destroyed? How exactly were they imprisoned in the Black in the first place, and how did they come to have their current forms, and not simply die in the Black? These and other questions are somewhat difficult to answer. I am working on a 2nd edition write-up of the shadow people, which, as you can imagine, is also linked to a write-up on Sadira. If you or anyone else is interested in such things, say so and perhaps I shall post it up. ...I may do so anyway.
Errata:
-Preservers and Defilers is to me an inferior work and rip-off of Dragon Kings. Its usefulness in translating into game terms the Gray and the Black is quite limited, and I do not believe it should be used too much in establishing how those realms might really function in game... The rules offered in that publication do not mesh well with the PP and in actual game use.
-Dirk has a good point with the magic item issue... they very well could be uncomfortable with holding an arcane item. More so however, it does not seem that none of the shadow people ever really carried anything with their shadow forms at all, for there is never a hint of this anywhere.
-you are probably correct Dirk... indeed how could a mundane flame be brought through the Black?.... it is interesting to ponder on however.
The mul looked toward the shadow creature's voice and saw that Umbra had returned. In the palm of his good hand burned a brightly flickering flame.....
I think the fact that Umbra returns to the scene (meaning he had to leave), lends credence to the idea that the light is not of any magical or psionic nature. If it was, why'd he have to go get the light source? Wouldn't it be much easier just to summon forth the light right where he was?
Note that Umbra is already a specialized type of shadow giant, see the DA part III Greater Shadow Giant monster entry for the differences. A unique ability could be added to those creatures, or to Umbra himself.
Many a novel-based character from the FR setting have abilities that, when translated to 3E stats, end up being unqiue abilities that do not fit at all within the CR system.
However.
Your preference for the psionic wild talent does seem more of a possibility. Even the rhul-thaun, who we may surmise are of similarly "conservative" bloodlines when it comes to similarity to the Blue Age halflings, are considered by 2nd box to have "psionic potential" and indeed "many" are supposed to "possess wild talents" (WroftJC, 15). We might assume, however close to the Blue Age Rajaat would have preferred his servants, that the halfling clan(s) at the Pristine Tower would have likely not been immune to the passing of millennia, and would have changed in certain ways with the times, and therefore their own possession of psionic wild talents is perhaps not too far fetched. Especially by the time of the PP, the shadow people may have become rather interested in such powers. The other matter is that Rajaat may not have, and I emphasize may, desired his imprisoned servants to become familiar with degenerate Rebirth powers such as psionics. Even if they eventually evolved and found themelves with psionic talents, Rajaat may have forbidden them to pursue such abilities professionally, i.e. the psionicist class. This is conjecture however, and indeed, on the other hand, in the interest of power and survival, Rajaat may have allowed professional psionics to be pursued, or indeed, this all too useful aspect of the Rebirth (psionics) may have been overlooked. Furthermore, the issue of clerical magic with the Tower halflings is also troublesome for many of the same reasons, the main one being that priestly magic is mentioned as existing in the Blue Age only in the 2nd box Wanderer's Chronicle. I favor this 2nd box conception, but for hard-core conservatives, perhaps even priestly magic may have been forbidden by Rajaat as Green Age apostacy.
3rd edition makes the happy conclusion of "fire cleric" an easy solution, for even if Umbra were a higher level warrior (8th-11th, etc. ???), he could have adopted another class, even psionicist, and just have only a level or two in it, to accomplish this fire trick. In 2nd edition however, the matter is more confused, for multi-classing would be the only option, and we might imagine he would not be so low level, either if single or multi-classed. Of course, Denning is one to have higher level spellcaster not cast too many spells, but it would seem to me that Umbra would have likely blasted down the pit Rikus fell into with walls of fire and spells of flame had he really been a higher level fire cleric (druid?).
Could this be a psionic wild talent? Could he really be only a few levels into fire cleric (5th/5th fighter/cleric in 2nd edition)? It seems that something along these lines would have to be the conclusion. Hopefully however, we have deducted here that mundane fire sources are, pretty much, not a possibility.
Dirk, I see that ventured into what the nature of the Shadow People really are, and so forth. What are there bodies? How exactly did they suddenly regain their native halfling forms when Rajaat's prison was destroyed? How exactly were they imprisoned in the Black in the first place, and how did they come to have their current forms, and not simply die in the Black? These and other questions are somewhat difficult to answer. I am working on a 2nd edition write-up of the shadow people, which, as you can imagine, is also linked to write-up on Sadira. If you or anyone else is interested in such things, say so and perhaps I shall post it up. ...I may do so anyway.
Why does Umbra need a warrior class at all? I had always assumed that the Shadow People, in their current state, simply had the statistics and powers in the monstrous compendium entry.
I'm inclined to make Umbra nothing more than a low-level fire cleric (and shadow giant, of course), as produce flame, or firelight, seems to be a simple and workable explanation.
I just noticed something. Earlier I stated that I did not think the drowsiness that Rikus felt was related to spellcasting on Umbra's part. After reading the rest of the paragraph in question again, I would swear that Rikus was experiencing a suggestion or command type spell. This could jsut be a coincidence, but I can't overlook the similarities to descriptions I have used for the effects of such spells in my own games.
Also, concerning 2e multi-classing, it was not unheard of for there to be significant level differences between the classes. Individual class exp awards can skew things quite a bit.
The mumbling does seem like spell activity. I stress seem. Reading one of Denning's interviews, I do not completely exclude the possibility that Denning was simply being somewhat vague here as he often is with the subtler things in the PP, but nevertheless has a wink and nod to what is really going on (clerical magic???).
It is very difficult to tell for sure however.
As for the class for Shadow Giants... you are right Dirk, it is not too necessary. It is mostly only necessary to establish this for when, in game session, the Shadow Giants are freed from the Black and become normal halflings again. In such cases stats and levels become more necessary.
You are right also oralpain that 2nd edition multiclassing certainly allows for level variety, but not by too much. Only the druid, thief and defiler classes level up significantly faster towards the beginning, leaving the other classes possibly more than one level behind. But differences such as 3rd/8th level are impossible. I have forgotten where it is, and been unable to relocate it, but I believe there is something in CL or AE that mentions that Umbra is a warrior (or alludes to facts), and must compete for the position of Sachem. I sort of prefer this... but...
In reality, we are grasping at straws a great deal. Even if they had character classes in the Black (and perhaps, after several generations, they didn't, and reverted to, as you push for oralpain, simple monster stats (and thus simple halfling stats without classes), how, as Shadow Giants, would they gain experience as warriors or whatever? It would be terribly skewed. Still, it would seem possible to me for them to "level up" as shadows, but just at a much slower rate when compared to standard characters.
As sachem he should be higher... 8th/8th... feel free for anyone to do their 3rd ed. translation. At around such a level he couldn't really cast too powerful fire magic anyway... his shadow abilities would be much more effective. For myself, until we hear from Denning (sigh...), I'll probably just side with something along those lines, 8th/8th fighter/cleric (druid?), because it fits with what I might imagine would be required by one of their sachems.
The psionic wild talent option remains Pennarin, but then again, I can see no direct reason why individual shadow giants could not worship the elements. Save for sorcerers, I imagine their character classes could have run the full gamut of the 2nd edition basic list, although some would be much rarer than others, and most would be simple "monster" halflings.
Whether it's clerical, supernatural ability or psionic, however, I can't say for sure. However, I am going to lean towards clerical because of the bit that Squidfur pointed out - that Umbra "left the scene" before returning with the flame. If it was a psionic or supernatural ability, there would have been no reason to do so. If it was clerical, however, we've got a perfect reason for this: Umbra would have likely needed to be in the sunlight to cast a sun spell, just as the other sun clerics in the PP "involved" the sun in the casting of their spells. Unless someone has an example of a PP sun cleric casting a spell in the dark (...more research...;)), and given the overall ambiguity of this, I think that's probably the best indirect evidence we have.
As I pointed out earlier, the fact that Umbra must depart the scene in order to "aquire" his flame, it seems rather foolish to explain the source of the fire as a supernatural effect. Also, as others have pointed out, the presence of any supernatural ability to create light effectively alleviates the threat of "complete darkness".
I do have an idea, however. What if the supernatural ability is not to create light, but sustain it, ie. he is indeed literally holding a flame, fueling it with his own power. Simply provide Umbra with this ability and this eliminates the need for him to be a spellcaster altogether.