[Chapter 1: The Voyage of the Sorcerer]
The war between the Imperium and the allied Vyrgothian Kingdoms had raged
for years. Beginning as minor disputes over border territories, the conflict
had swiftly escalated into a full-scale bloody war, a vast series of epic
campaigns, fervently perpetua ted by the Emperor Koord and the Over-King of
Vyrgothia, both eager to smite their traditional ancestral foes and to win
great glory and the adulation of their people by seizing victory in battle.
Recent months had seen the forces of the Imperium display a staggering degree
of tactical mastery and battle prowess, contemptuously crushing the Vyrgothian
armies in a series of great battles, 'til at last, following the slaughterous
Rout of the Fields of Kai-Vorg, The Empire's finest fighting force, the fame
d and far-feared Legion of the Ebon Tiger, stood unopposed not five day's
march from mighty Gul-Kothoth, the greatest and most ancient fortress-city in
all the Vyrgothian kingdoms. The Legion of the Ebon Tiger could not easily
count their numerous and r esounding victories, and their commander, the
legendary warlord Baalthus Vane, made it clear to the Emperor that he was
eager to press on deep into the enemy's lands and seize the prize which
awaited him; the siege and capture of ancient Gul-Kothoth! And yet the Emperor
Koord did not order the Legion to march, for disturbing information had of
late been relayed to him by his spies in the Vyrgothian Royal Court... Dire
rumours abounded that the Vyrgothian mages had at last discovered the ancient
arcane r ites which would unlock the aeons-fettered power of the dread
Obsidian Crown, a fearsome mystical artefact countless thousands of years old,
a black-jewelled circlet believed once to have been borne upon the immortal
brow of the legendary Shadow-King him self! And it was written in legend,
that should the ancient spells of might entwining the artefact be reawakened,
then incredible near limitless ruinous power would thus be bestowed upon any
army carrying the Crown into battle... Had the mages of Vyrgoth ia truly
ascertained the time-lost conjurations required to empower the Obsidian Crown,
hidden for centuries deep within the marble vaults of its ebon citadel? Eager
to know the truth, the Emperor dispatched his most powerful sorcerer across
the great In land Sea to the Court of the Over-King, under the pretence of
offering the terms for the Vyrgothian surrender. He was bade use all his
sorcerous skills to discover the truth... a truth soon made clear by the
disdainful refusal of the Imperium's terms, an d the grimly fearsome message
given the sorcerer by Vyrgothia's Master Wizard, with which to return to the
Emperor: And lo, when the Imperium marches against Gul-Kothoth, then dark
sorceries shall enshroud the Citadel of the Obsidian Crown...
[The Wizards of Vyrgothia:]
Darkly bejewelled circlet of night,
Crown of the Elder King,
Unfettered at last the Trinity of Might,
The sceptre, the sword, and the ring.
[The Sorcerer:]
I stand upon the oaken planks of this great ship, (the splendid flagship of
the Imperium's navies)
Gazing at moon-gleam dancing on the vast, dark sea...
(And in my mind I behold) black crystals gleaming... ensorcellment!
I am enthralled by this nighted spell...
For I know that the slumbering sorceries
Of the Shadow-King's crown shall soon be reawakened...
And as I return to my emperor (shackled to such woefully grim tidings),
My spirit is borne upon the leathern wings of a great sorrow...
[Chapter 2: The March of the Imperium]
[The Emperor:]
Call forth the Ogre-Mage of the Black Lake
And the Swordmaster of Kyrman'ku,
Let them speak the Words Which Unfetter...
Enshrined for countless centuries, within its darksome citadel,
Five score and ten against the Tiger, (curse) the black crown of the
Shadow-King!
By all the dark gods, I swear I'll not be dethroned!
A seething forest of blackened blades,
A churning sea of ebon war-chariots,
A searing storm of flaming shafts,
All this havoc and more shall I unleash against my foe...
Into battle! The Legion shall march... the fall of Gul-Kothoth is nigh!
The Legion of the Ebon Tiger... six thousand elite warriors of the
Imperium, the pride of the Emperor's forces... Bolstered by heavy cavalry, and
a squadron of deadly scythed chariots... further reinforced by the Imperial
Frontier Army of one hundred tho usand highly trained spearmen and archers...
and never has this force met its match in battle or siege...
[Baalthus Vane:]
Our banner flies ever glorious, undefeated we stand, steeped in victory.
The Iron Phalanx, six thousand strong, our ever-honed blades, the Tiger's
gleaming claws.
Pride of the Empire, Scourge of the Vraii,
Masters at Turonium, and Kai-Vorg.
Smiters of the Southern Host, Routers of the Horde, Bane of the Over-King, we
march to war!
And so, the Emperor himself rides to rendezvous with Baalthus Vane,
accompanied by his sorcerous aide. The Legion of the Ebon Tiger reaches
Gul-Kothoth at dusk on the fifth day of their march from the fields of
Kai-Vorg, halting upon the great arid plan which stretches before the city,
the huge dust cloud sent up by their massed arrival obscuring the dying embers
of the setting sun. As the vast army begins to make camp, arraying their
splendid tents and banners, and assembling their gargantuan siege-wag ons,
the Emperor stands gazing at the huge brooding walls and colossal cyclopean
gates of the city-fortress before him, vowing that a torrent of red slaughter
shall befall Gul-Kothoth, regardless of any sorcerous trinkets the Vyrgothians
may possess, and that the Over-King shall pay dearly for his sublime
arrogance. And twelve leagues distant, an army of five score and ten, bearing
the Obsidian Crown, approaches the city...
[To be continued in Chaper 3: The Wizards Do Battle]
[Lyrics: Byron]
[Music: Jonny and Chris Maudling]
And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown
Bal-sagoth
Purchase "And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown"
Purchase Entire Album
Email Video to Friends Play Youtube "And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown" Video
Play Spotify "And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown" Song
View Wikipedia "And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown"
Entry
Receive Emails for Future Bal-sagoth Lyrics
Link to "And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown"
Share on Facebook, Twitter, and more
See Recommended Lyrics For You
Share:
Copied!
Loading...
Lyrics by Bal-sagoth
A Black Moon Broods Over Leumria A Tale From The Deep Woods And Atlantis Falls... And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-koth... Arcana Antediluvia As The Vortex Illumines The Crystalline Walls Of K... At The Altar Of The Dreaming Gods (Epilogue) Atlantis Ascendant Battle Magic Behold the Armies of War Descend Screaming From th... Behold, The Armies Of War Descend Screaming From T... Behold, The Armies Of War Descend Screaming From T... Beneath the Crimson Vaults of Cydonia Black Dragons Soar Above The Mountain Of Shadows (... Blood Slakes The Sand At The Circus Maximus Callisto Rising Chronicle of Shadows Crystal Shards Draconis Albionensis Dreamer in the Catacombs of Ur Dreaming Of Atlantean Spires Enthroned In The Temple Of The Serpent Kings Epilogue Ghosts of Angkor Wat In Search of the Lost Cities of Antarctica In The Raven-haunted Forests Of Darkenhold Into The Silent Chambers Of The Sapphirean Throne Invocations Beyond the Outer-World Night Journey To The Isle Of Mists Journey To The Isle Of Mists (Over The Moonless De... Naked Steel (The Warrior's Saga) Of Carnage and a Gathering of the Wolves Prologue Return to Hatheg-Kla Return To The Praesidium Of Ys Shackled to the Trilithon of Kutulu Shadows 'neath The Black Pyramid Six Keys to the Onyx Pyramid Six Score and Ten Oblations to a Malefic Avatar Spellcraft & Moonfire (Beyond The Citadel Of Frost Spellcraft & Moonfire (Beyond The Citadel Of Frost... Spellcraft & Moonfire (beyond The Citadel Of F... Splendour of a Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath th... Star-Maps of the Ancient Cosmographers Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ult... Summoning The Guardians Of The Astral Gate The Awakening Of The Stars The Chronicle of Shadows The Dark Liege Of Chaos Is Unleashed... The Dreamer in the Catacombs of Ur The Empyreal Lexicon The Epsilon Exordium The Fallen Kingdoms of the Abyssal Pain The Fallen Kingdoms of the Abyssal Plain The Ghosts of Angkor Wat The Hammer of the Emperor The Obsidian Crown Unbound The Ravening The Scourge Of The Fourth Celestial Host The Sixth Adulation of His Chthonic Majesty The Splendour Of A Thousand Swords The Splendour Of A Thousand Swords Gleaming The Splendour Of A Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneat... The Thirteen Cryptical Prophecies of Mu The Voyagers Beneath the Mare Imbrium Thwarted By The Dark (Blade Of The Vampyre Hunter) To Dethrone The Witch-queen Of Mytos K'unn To Storm the Cyclopean Gates of Byzantium Unfettering the Hoary Sentinels of Karnak When Rides The Scion Of The Storms Witch-Storm
Related Songs
Imperium III - Current 93
Imperium I - Current 93
Siege at the Golden Citadel - Crimson Dawn
Imperium V - Current 93
The Obsidian Conspiracy - Nevermore
Tenskwatawa - Songs: Ohia
Vengeance For Withered Hearts - Darkmoon
Of a Past Forlorn - Disma
The Obsidian Age of Ice - Demoncy
The Obsidian Eternity And Anguish - Obsidian Gate
Her Ebony Slumber - Ancient Ceremony
Her Ivory Slumber - Ancient Ceremony
Eyes Of Obsidian - Cage
Friday 13th - Horns Of Hattin
Imperium IV - Current 93
Iniquitous Yoke - Arcane Grail
Bring Me The Head Of Metatron - Jaldaboath
Savage Mortician - Debauchery
Those Now Sleep Forever - And Hell Followed With
Conqueror - Aversions Crown
Bursting - Anne Clark
Deliver Me From Mine Enemies...
Lustmord And Wargasm (The Relicking Of Cadaverous ...
The Sahara's Storm - Orphaned Land
As The Bell Of Immolation Calls - Limbonic Art
Lustmord And Wargasm (the Lick Of Carnivorous Wind...
Lustmord And Wargasm Ii (the Relicking Of Cadavero...
Escaping Nepthon / Sneak-Break-Kick - Citadel
Bring Down The Witching Hour - Illnath
Citadel - Crüxshadows
Into The New World - Battlelore
Victoria - Krypteria
Cypher King - Horns Of Hattin
The Flowers Of Evil - Marilyn Manson
English Curse - Frank Turner
The Wealth of Darkness - Keep of Kalessin
The Curse of Woe - Dragonlord
Obsidian - Vampire Rodents
Citadel - The Cruxshadows
Industrial City - Zavod
Catastrophic Light - Fanisk
As Soon As I Get Home - Anne Clark
Death of a King - Amorphis
Gas Hed Goes West - Live
Bavaria - Ostara
End Of The Book - Michael W. Smith
The Citadel - Lipona
Blutrache - Marduk
A Restless Heart and Obsidian Skies - Avantasia
Dead End Messiah - Abaddon Incarnate
2nd War in Heaven - Bilocate
Diamond in My Crown - Patty Loveless
Glimlight Tourist - Code
Onward To Destroy - Astaroth (Aut)
The Aquilonia Suite - Domine
Obsidian Sun - Gigan
Time Marches On - David Cook
Diamond In My Crown - Emmylou Harris
Ride On Tears - Charon
The Sacrament of Blood and Ash - Baptism
Astral Blood - Wolves In The Throne Room
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Wildwood Flower - Loretta Lynn
Lustmord & Wargasm (The Lick Of Carnivorous Winds)...
Fyrgenstréam - Wodensthrone
Defenders of the Crown - Epicrenel
Montségur - Iron Maiden
The Rage Of Attila - Dyluvian
Master Of Confusion - Blood Ceremony
Time Marches On - David Cook
This is the law of the plague...
This Sacrament - Nevermore
Obsidian Halo - The Autumn Offering
Snow And Ice And Demonmight - Battlelust
Dark Mistress - Akhkharu
The Inmost Light - Current 93
Montsegur - Iron Maiden
Immortal Black Art - Ceremonial Castings
Bring Flowers Of The Rarest - James Kilbane
Wildwood Flower - Jim Reeves
Wildwood Flower - Bob Dylan
Wildwood Flower - Reese Witherspoon
Wildwood Flower - Merle Travis
Wildwood Flower - Hank Thompson
The King Beneath The Mountains - Rivendell
The Assembly - Galloglass
Mors Imperium Aetheriam - Argentum
Viscera Eyes - The Mars Volta
Hymns to the Scourge of Heaven - Averse Sefira
Southern Gul - ERYKAH BADU
Espana - Laibach
All Roads Lead To Rome - The Stranglers
Three Voices of Fate - Jag Panzer
Their Wheels as a Whirlwind...
Life Marches On - Live
Alone Against The World - Countess
Citadel - Anna Nalick
Towering Grief Behemoth - Tales Of Dark
Dark Angels' Ascension - Avrigus
Mankind's Last Dream - Abaddon Incarnate
Tomorrow's Kings - Dragonforce
Tomorrow King - Dragonforce
Tomorrow’s Kings - Dragonforce
Oh Merry-Go-Round - Current 93
Loud As Ears - Kelly Joe Phelps
Rituals Of Love In The Passage Of Genocide...
Citadel - The Rolling Stones
Citadel - Rolling Stones
The Lion-head - Deathchain
Faith - Arsafes
Countless Corpses - Vengeance Rising
Death Of God - Crown Of Thorns
Morningstar Rising - The Crown
Set Triumphant - Nubti - Acherontas
Glory To The King - Iron Fire
Scumbag Blues - Them Crooked Vultures
Crime Scene, Pt. 1 - The Afghan Whigs
Crime Scene Part One - The Afghan Whigs
Jerusalem Of Gold - Religious Music
The Devil's Orchard - Opeth
Wildwood Flower - Bill Frisell
Lo Mejor Que Te Escuche - Ana Barbara
Love Is Lost - L'ame Immortelle
Psalm 27 - Indiana Bible College
Blood Of The Lambs - Dark Spectrum
Lake Ablaze - Hate Eternal
Gas Head Goes West - Live
Wildwood Flower - 10000 Maniacs
Wildwood Flower - 10,000 Maniacs
Triumph Of The Sinners - Entrails
The Dark Half - Endjoy
Thunderhead - Forced Entry
Two Rings - The Ice Choir
Spellcraft moonfire beyond the citadel of frosts...
Great Depression - Soulfly
Empress Of The Dark - Silentium
Ravenhair - Falconer
Crumbling Imperium - Revocation
Sullivan's Letter - Audra Mae
Shoulders - Austin Lucas
Utopian Blaster - Cathedral
He's Able - Indiana Bible College IBC Choir
In Search Of Kaledon - Kaledon
The Devils Orchard - Opeth
The Devil's Orchard - Opeth
the halcyon - Patrick Wolf
Jerusalem (Live) - Bruce Dickinson
Jerusalem - Bruce Dickinson
Dimensions of Mammon Enshroud - Abominator
Azucar Moreno - Azucar Moreno
The Dark Hills - Day Of Fire
White Eyes - Black Peaks
Obsidian Currents - Of Montreal
Upon This Rock - Kristin Chenoweth
Deceiver Of The Gods - Amon Amarth
Eerily Howling Winds - Ancient
Day Of Suffering - Behemoth
You're The Why...
Warrior soul - Kiuas
Everything - Heather Nova
Shirt - Bill Anderson
Soul Darwinism - Ancient Ceremony
Carbonized In Cruciform - The Black Dahlia Murder
Queen Of Love - The Incredible String Band
Inception - The Unguided
Among the Giants - Vallendusk
A Star Stood Still (Song Of The Nativity)...
#27 - Nicole C. Mullen
27 - Nicole C. Mullen
Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?...
Ghost Dance - Robbie Robertson
Ghost Dance - The Band
Ghost Dance - Band, The
God Is On Our Side - Eartha
The Sailor's Wife - Birdeatsbaby
Citadel Of Dreams - Garden Of Shadows
Rage Hard [Stamped] - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Rage Hard [Broad] - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Rage Hard - Atrocity
Rage Hard - Atrocity
Rage Hard - Atrocity
Rage Hard - Atrocity
Rage Hard - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Everytime - Heather Nova
Thunder's Cannonade - A Forest Of Stars
Coronation - Damnation
Svart Visdom - Helheim
Time Marches On - Byrd Tracy
Occupy - Petra
Horsey - Current 93
To Drink From The Lake Of Sadness...
Styled By Dr. Roberts - Frog Eyes
The Obsidian Fate - Damned Spring Fragrantia
Beneath the Obsidian - Death of Kings
Weeping Inside Plagued Mirrors - Castrum
Time Marches On - Deal's Gone Bad
The Soul Grave - Sigh
O Holy Child (Hosanna to the King) - Cardiphonia
Will There Be Stars In My Crown? - George Jones
I For An Eye - Sabbat
