I think i read to much into:

[quote] The heroes, however strong, could not find it in themselves to step forward, or to raise a weapon[/quote]

and tried to avoid breaking that aura of dread to hard. Also I wandered of into crack theory territory before also just rejecting said theory before i even finished the post but wanted to get it out for people who where waiting. 

defiantly not my best work but I guess I'll leave it as it stands to avoid disruption. maybe he's gone soft hanging around with heros for a whole 20 minuets lol.