Count Belial de Ardyn was a red mage from Maar Sul and the leader of the Order of the Black Rose. He ended up getting involved in the forming of the new Grand Alliance but proved himself to be a valuable asset to the heroes during the turbulent times in the unstable Kingdom of Remon. His mission was to make the Order of the Black Rose grow strong again and to stop the insidious plans of the mysterious Totenkopfs. Although his actions were never altruistic, he wanted to help the Grand Alliance because it would also benefit his Order. Belial was assassinated by his niece Desdemona de Ardyn who turned out to be an agent of the Totenkopfs. He was later revealed to be the father of Khalid al-Saif and Sumrah Brown.