1. The Sun Burns Bright on Blighted Lands

The old gray god is past his time.
The land he ruled has changed its clime.
His city's streets are choked with grime,
And the dust blows.

The old priests chant is heard no more.
The temple gate is an unused door.
The old true faith is gone of yore,
And the dust blows.

The old gray god sits on his throne.
His wise old eyes were only stone.
Brooding still, he sits alone,
And the dust blows.

In his elder days he did dream
Of a land now barren waste
Once gold and honey, and yellow sun
Now gone beyond a trace.

Its cities were great cities
That reached up in the sky,
And its towers were great towers
That stood a thousand meters high.

But the years have turned to eons
And the cities turned to dust.
Those mighty marble towers
Have lost their skyward thrust.

The honey's gone, the gold is gone
The sun burns bright on blighted lands.
And all that's left and all that's real
Are tumbled stones in desert sands.

The old gray god sits on his throne.
His wise old eyes were only stone.
Brooding still, he sits alone,
And the dust blows.



2. Shining Sword

The darkest warrior marches on
All his comrades lost and gone
Grimy serpents fogged in grey
Entwine themselves about his way

His shining sword is sheathed in rust
His iron might has turned to dust
His haunted eyes are filled with death
His eagle cry is a whimpering breath

He asks of life with hand unsure
And asks of death a quicker cure
His soul is burnt by dead desires
And all his dreams are dying fires

He bares his soul, he burns his heart
He tears his inner self apart
He is the soldier, darkest one
He is Hell's forgotten son

He shall seek and shall not find
And seek again with broken mind
He is the soldier filled with dust
With broken mind and broken trust

His banners bright are ripped and torn
His shining armor's scarred and worn
His solemn glories are gone to Hell
And all his hopes are gone as well

And though his every dream is gone
This darkest warrior marches on



3. The Call of The Raven King - Part I

Their bellies taut with hunger,
The ravens called upon their King.
Their nests were filled with hatchlings,
Hungry young forever needing food.
Distraught, the ravens called upon their king.
The times are all too good,
Death's harvest runs too thin.
The kings of men are all at peace;
They wage no wars to feed our young.
Thus cried the ravens to their King.
The ravens were unhappy;
The Raven King was sad.
A King must do what he must do
To keep his people fed.

And so he took the Form of Man.
Unseen by hostile eyes
They rode along that path
Their hearts were filled with hopeful greed
And songs of war were on their lips.

On they rode and down they rode
From mountain heights into a land
Of crystal springs and verdant vales,
It was the land of men.

No force of soldiers barred their way
No hand was raised as they went by
Until they sacked a village
And raped the maidens found within.

Across that land, to and fro
The raven's martial company
Pillaged gentle folk and stole
Their honor, wealth, and lives.
It were noble deeds they did.



4. The Call of The Raven King - Part II

Maidens passed from man to man
Children gutted for bloody sport
Temples sacked for gilded dross
Green fields running free with blood.
So many a noble deed was done.
The king of men called forth the guard
The farmers armed themselves with scythes
In battle the ravens killed and killed
And lost their company, one by one.

Back they went onto the high road,
Back they went, laden fat with wealth
Back they went, their weapons ripe with gore
Back they went to their nests.
No beast nor gate would bar their way.
The clouds were black behind their back,
The pretty valleys darkened as they passed
The beauty fled from such as they
These bloody crows turned men.

Back they went to their nests
One returned for every three
The Raven King was now content;
He didn't need the Form of ....Man.....
Their bellies now were full,
The ravens called upon their King.
Their nests were filled with hatchlings,
Hungry young forever needing food.
The ravens hailed their king.