In 1994, Arkady he escaped Russia to seek aid from House Wyrmfoe against the enemies that dominated Eastern Europe, but he was denied. Some say he had a madness of his own, an ambition to free his motherland that caused him to lose all sense of honor in its pursuit. With the death of King Jacob Morningkill, Arkady manipulated events to become king himself, and even managed to defeat Jonas Albrecht in a duel (albeit through the workings of the Wyrm).