[quote=@Host]
<Snipped quote by souleaterfan320>

The latter.
[/quote]

Ok, well, the shadows themselves can be 'switched' on and off, for example:

If Mordric wants to impale you, he 'switches it on', and it acts like matter.

If he wants to use it to hide himself, he 'switches it off', and melts into a nearby shadow, as if he were never there.

If you want a more in depth explanation, I don't have one yet, haven't gotten much chance to toy with it yet.