To have an opportunity to strike at your opponent in their weakest moment was the desire of every nation that fought. As the rebel leader Achaenas' army grew in size, the peace proposals sent to the Khergit Khanate and the Kingdom of Swadia were met with only the fiercest of displayed determination to take as much land from the decaying Rhodoks as possible.

It was exactly as Achaenas had hoped, as once again the foul and corrupt lords from all over Calradia displayed their true faces. He was to end them all and bring a new age, a new hope for every young child, for every mother and father, everyone who wanted to have better lives. Looking forward, the sun itself smiled at the young leader.

The War, later renamed the First Calradian War, due to its
immediate effects, started with the first battle near a forest, east
of the capital.

An army of 25000, led by Lord Laruqen himself, marched out to meet
Achaenas' army, which was significantly smaller. And as much confidence
was displayed by Achaenas, an equal amount of arrogance was displayed
by Lord Laruqen.

What the Lord did not realize however was that he was precisely following
Achaenas' plan. Beginning with small skirmishes, the overly confident
Rhodok troops started pursuing the horsemen into the forest. It was at
that moment that Lord Laruqen himself saw the mistake he made. He
underestimated his opponent.

The sky was said to be filled with screams from dying soldiers ambushed by
the less numerous, but better prepared soldiers of Achaenas. It took nearly
a half hour before a small group of spearmen ran out of the forest in an attempt
to reach safety, only to be shot from behind by what seemed to be dozens of
arrows.

The once great army had been reduced to a mere number of cavalry and some archers
who didn't rush into the forest. It was Vinkus the Wise who gave Achaenas' tactic the name
Guerilla Warfare around 300 years ago.

Surprisingly however the battle didn't end there as reports indicated that Lord Laruqen
and his remaining soldiers were ambushed mere hours later, with Laruqen himself
being captured by his enemies.

"So I have been bested by my opponents." The soldiers standing guard looked nervously at the seemingly calm Lord sitting behind bars. It was not necessarily fear, but rather the man himself that made them nervous. This was Lord Laruqen, on the only Lord kind enough to share his grain with some of his villages in time of famine.

He out of all should have understood why they fought. He felt sorrow as he gazed upon the nervous soldiers, mere peasants armed with weapons and armor, yet well disciplined enough to defeat them. It was not until that one man entered the small tent that he looked at him. What he saw wasn't some hairy, arrogant rebel, but a young charismatic man with a smile that could make almost anyone trust him instantly.

"And thus I finally meet the Lord who hasn't been corrupted yet." The smile disappeared as fast as it seemed to appear when the eyes of the two met. And as the two started talking, Laruqen learned more about Achaenas, only to see how wrongly he was informed. From the tales he heard, he assumed this rebel sought only to take the crown for himself, to be a ruler, but he couldn't have been more wrong.

His desire was not power. It was paradise that he desired. To prevent the suffering he experienced to be felt by others. To stop the corrupt Lords that so eagerly exploited their already suffering villagers. And much to his own dismay, Lord Laruqen found himself questioning his own loyalty. Was he truly fighting for a righteous cause? King Graveth often spoke highly of his skills, but he witnessed the King speak lowly of the villagers and peasants.

And as the two kept talking, it was inevitable that eventually Laruqen confessed to Achaenas his doubting heart. And to this, the young leader took much interest. If such lies were spread across the lands about him, then surely things would be more difficult. However, if he were to have a capable general next to him, one who already conquered the hearts of the people a long time ago, things, would be easier.

But what were the true intentions of Laruqen? It was to be seen over time. For now it was worth the risk. And as foolish as some might believe it was, he offered Laruqen a chance to redeem himself and fight for a truly honorable purpose. Surprised, the Lord considered it and eventually accepted the kind proposal made to him.

The rebellion of Laruqen had proven to be a most fatal strike for the
Kingdom of Rhodoks. As King Graveth raged, the war had begun to create a
worse fate for every battle fought. With the combined experience of Achaenas
and Laruqen, many of the battles were fought with ease.

Finally, after three years of intense campaigning, the army, once humble and
small, marched on the capital itself. Roughly 52 years ago scholars found what
appeared to be King Graveth his diary. Most of it gave the scholars a good
idea about the King's personality.

The most informative piece however, were the last lines written:

"Alas, once I was king of a great realm. As my ancestors struggled and freed
themselves from their corrupt Lords, I have failed to see the corruption and
poverty spreading in my lands. Many have died, and I had shown no sympathy.

Even now, the words I spoke about peasants being expendable, ring through my mind
and burden my soul. My vision is clouded and my hope has been drained of all there was.
I have brought this unto myself and others. I can only pray now, pray that I might be forgiven
for my actions. Pray that I will not be remembered as a monster."