A new era dawns in the hour of ruin The collapse of empires The eclipse of civilization A bitter wind sweeps the spectral remains of A barren world From the ashen debris emerges a shapeless entity The anointed one Cloaked in garments unearthly, a nebulous aura The symbolic figure Amorphous in semblance, demigod in flesh An arrogant being of magnificent countenance Temples of false council erected in praise Seeding the contrivance of this upheaval The esoteric conception of The divine order of Babylon Serving the monarchy through magistrates Pawns of the priestcraft Appointed as conduits to the almighty Implementing admonitory rituals Viciously inculcating the apocryphal parable Suffusing the paradigm Manipulating belief through fear The shepherd and flock are one