Bel Riose was the last great general of the Galactic Empire, serving under Cleon II. He dreamed of glory and often expressed a negative opinion towards the Empire's cultural and technological decline. Riose learns of the Foundation from Ducem Barr, a noble of the planet Siwenna. Correctly interpreting Barr's tales of "magicians" as the remnants of science in the Periphery, and witnessing some scientific advances made by the Foundation itself in the form of a personal force-shield, he decides to conquer the Foundation and utilize its scientific resources to revitalize the dying Empire. En route to the Foundation, he captures one of its Traders, Lathan Devers, and holds him hostage alongside Barr in an attempt to gain intelligence over the Foundation.