Daemons

A corporation is literally a daemon: a non-human being that performs deeds or oversight on behalf of another. It is a true supernatural being. A corporation is immortal. It does not sleep. It can be in many places at once. It can destroy entire forests and alter the course of rivers. It can plant false ideas in people’s minds. It can drive them to despair and even suicide.

At first, you think getting dividend cheques is pretty cool. “These daemons are getting other people to work for me!”

Toward the end of your civilization, you start thinking, wow — there are a lot of daemons now.