When Waal grew up, he became a Lakam - a standard bearer who was an ambassador to a Mayan community - and helped to negotiate an alliance between two major Mayan dynasties in 726 CE - although this alliance later failed.
But it was not all smooth sailing throughout Waal s life, despite what the message on his tomb claims.
Excavations of El Palmer, a small plaza in Mexico, revealed hieroglyph-adorned stairs leading to Waal s tomb which talk about his crowning achievements only, such as the alliance Waal created between the king of Copán, 350 miles away in Honduras, and the king of Calakmul, near El Palmar.