It was a long arduous journey; so why then- finally there, was I overcome with a daunting sense of anxiety, perched under an old building in my own Kingdom? They say The Ascent is one of the most important rituals of a warriors life. But I am no simple warrior. I am Prince Arcane, son of King Arcanesius, Commander of the Endless Horde. Anxiety is for the weak, an I am no weak man. As worries clutched onto my thoughts and fatigue tugged on my muscles, I closed my eyes to focus on my breath. If there is anything I had learnt about anxiety from my frail, pathetic excuse of a man - my brother - then it was that anxiety was merely a compass, an indication to continue on, a sign that we are close to conquering a fear. The deeper we are in our fears, the greater we bloom when we break free of them. So, equipping my anxiety as an ally rather than a foe; I began The Ascent.

Millions of warriors have attempted The Ascent, few have reached the top. Our custom states that no man - should he succeed or fail - can ever speak of what he witnesses on this path. As such, I am daringly marching into the unknown.

Approaching the foot of the hill, whispers began to creep into my ear. The voices are familiar, yet I can't quite pinpoint the mouths they belong to. Then the faces came, brutalised faces of women, children, and men. Their marks were well known to me. They were marked with the unique crest of the Endless Horde. I knew my men were committing such atrocities, as did my Father. My orders were to take the lands of our ancient oppressors with no regard for the innocent citizens. I stressed with my generals that 'simply following orders' has been the main excuse for enacting genocide since the Time of Men began. It was no luck, I either follow orders or lose the morale of the men, the trust of my Father, trust of the King, and ultimately, the war.

I push on. The faces and whispers had grown into full blown mirages playing through rain that takes the skin of your arms. The whispers somehow still louder than the crashing thunder, their voices sliding in and out of my ears like determined serpents. All around me I see my men raping, torturing, and murdering innocent souls that have only ever asked for the chance to live.

It was at this point I knew.

If the Gods wish to destroy you, first they make you mad. They were baring my sins, regrets and horrors of my past naked in front of me. It was mental torture. Whether it was a means to correct my ways, or a means to destroy me, I had no idea. Maybe it is for me to decide? Maybe this is where my anxiety came from?

I remember who I am: Prince Arcane, Commander of the Endless Horde. I push on, albeit - for the first time ever - with tears in my eyes and my heart in my throat. What happened next I am unable to disclose as per our custom. Nor would I wish to tell you, Men of the Endless Horde, what atrocities I have committed that our Gods deemed fit to torture me with that night.

But I will tell you this. When I finally completed The Ascent, I was no longer just the mighty Prince Arcane, Commander of the Endless Horde. I was a man, human again. I went from a beast who berated his own blood - my brother - to a tender sibling who showed him how to utilise his anxiety and summon its powers. My powers now lie not in my ability to cast spells through my staff or the blood I spill with my sword, but with my ability to love, forgive and above all: the pride and dignity I earn by standing for what is RIGHT!

So as you stand before me, preparing for battle against my Father and his Guard, his allies with the rotten, foul Half-Men of the west, know this:

Wether we will be floating on clouds in the heavens, burning in the fiery pits in hell, or lingering in the thoughtless abyss with the atheists, or return to this world reincarnated as a fucking cockroach, then we will begin that journey as we mean to go out... WITH OUR PRIDE AND OUR DIGNITY INTACT! NO INNOCENT SOUL WILL BE HARMED ON OUR WATCH, NOT BEFORE WE DIE!

CHARGE!

CHARGE!!!