Bal-Sagoth - To Storm the Cyclopean Gates of Byzantium Lyrics

Spring, 196 AD (C.E.)

Centurion DECIANUS VARUS: Alea iacta est!
Emperor Publius Helvius Pertinax has fallen victim to the assassin's blade
As I stand gazing out across the massed ranks of our Pannonian legions
Septimus Severus duly strives to consolidate his newly acquired control of the Empire
Pescennius Niger is slain, his forces expelled from Cyzicus, Nicaea and Issus
And yet Clodius Albinus has sailed from Britannia and is raising an army in Gaul in his own bid to seize the throne
Severus intends to engage that northern host at Lugdunum once his campaigns here in the east are concluded
Behold Byzantium! We now prepare to lay siege to this ancient and splendoured city
Strangely, the order has been given that the Byzantine library is to be searched thoroughly following our victory
Rumour has it that Severus's aged soothsayer Angsaar is searching for a collection of arcane scrolls said to be of the utmost importance
Scrolls which are reputed to be hidden somewhere here in Byzantium
Something about that wizened old shaman unnerves me
There is something strangely unnatural about him, something, sinister
Feh! What are those scrolls supposed to be called again? Ah yes, The Chthonic Chronicles