Iblis (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

For the canonical depiction of this character, see: Iblis.

Count Iblis is an ancient enemy of the Lords of Kobol and the founder of the House of Iblis, a dark entity who exists as "the absence of spirit, an abyss where a human soul once thrived."

History

Origin

Count Iblis and his brother—Adama's distant ancestor—were both in line to succeed the retiring elder as Council Head of the House of Kobol. Despite a deep fraternal bond as profound as that between Apollo and Starbuck, Iblis harbored intense jealousy toward his gifted older brother. Though a scientific genius, Iblis could never understand why his accomplishments were valued less than his brother's wisdom, charisma, and strength of character. From his corrupted perspective, their parents had always favored his brother, denying Iblis proper recognition. When the elder brother was awarded the position of council head, Iblis plotted to murder him—a crime nearly unheard of on Kobol. The new council head discovered the conspiracy and was willing to forgive, but the council forced him to discipline Iblis.

Just after Kobol was settled, Iblis—a man who lacked the purity of his brothers and wanted power more than wisdom—was censured by the other Lords of Kobol. He broke ranks and founded his own dynasty, attracting followers through his sharp tongue and devious wit to establish the House of Iblis.

Iblis eventually left Kobol with all his followers, committing horrors the Lords of Kobol are forbidden to discuss. His experiments to create a master race were discovered, forcing the Kobollians to banish him to Cylon. Generations later, the Kobollian forefathers formally cast Iblis and his followers out of the House of Kobol, exiling them to Cylon—the most hostile and uninhabitable planet in the galaxy—where they were expected to die.

Upon death, Iblis was "accelerated" like all Lords of Kobol, transported to a higher plane of existence. However, his soul was so twisted and filled with hatred that he did not become one of the Lords. Instead, he exists uniquely as "a leech, sucking the fear and death of countless planets into himself for his sustenance." (RH: Armageddon, Resurrection)

Creation of the Cylons

Iblis is revealed to be the human who genetically and technologically manipulated the Cylon race millennia ago, with his only goal being the extermination of his own race, which he despised. When Apollo realizes this connection, Iblis responds proudly: "It could be no other. They are my creatures, my beautiful creations. And yet like any benevolent god, I have left them to their own devices. They have almost forgotten me, but they are still in my power. They are puppets, and I hold their strings."

The Cylon Imperious Leader is later revealed to also be called Iblis, though whether this represents the same entity or a separate manifestation remains unclear. Lucifer overhears his master speaking to a pool of blackness that swirls like a maelstrom, and the darkness addresses the Imperious Leader as "Iblis." (RH: Armageddon, Warhawk)

Confrontation on Hephaestus

In 7360, as Apollo prepares for a suicide mission aboard Hephaestus, he senses a horrible presence—a dark shape blacker than shadows, undulating with nightmare images, described as "the absence of spirit, an abyss where a human soul once thrived. A black hole, torn from the fabric of heaven, hungrily devouring light and love and hope." The blackness shimmers with red eyes burning like embers, then alters itself to wear an ethereal mask Apollo recognizes.

Apollo greets him: "Count Iblis. Welcome." When Iblis expresses surprise at being recognized, Apollo explains that Zac warned him of Iblis's coming. Apollo's mention that Zac is now one of the Lords causes Iblis to growl and convulse. Iblis acknowledges Apollo is more knowledgeable than expected and calls him "a worthy opponent," revealing he wants only to corrupt the House of Kobol and tempt the pure-blooded descendants of his ancient enemies.

When Apollo asks how Iblis would defeat the Cylons if Apollo agreed to his terms, Iblis smiles and responds, "I would not need to defeat them," revealing his continued control over the Cylon race. Apollo defiantly declares his belief that Iblis cannot kill him due to his pure Kobollian blood, and states that the House of Iblis was thrown out and dismissed as unworthy. This shatters Iblis's calm arrogance. Apollo continues: "I defy you, Count Iblis. The Cylons have done their best to eradicate humanity from the universe, but here we are! We still survive! And we'll continue to do so. As long as the fleet lives, the Cylons have lost and so have you! It's happening to you again, Iblis. But this time, it is I who find you unworthy. I dismiss you!" (RH: Armageddon)

Warning from the future

Adama warns Apollo through a vision that the Fleet faces extermination and their decisions will seal their futures forever. Though the Lords of Light led them back to Kobol, victory is not guaranteed. Adama instructs Apollo to "trust your inner vision, no matter what appears to you." Zac similarly warns during a vision aboard a lightship that Iblis will attempt to test and corrupt Apollo, though the timing remains uncertain. (RH: Armageddon, Resurrection)

Disguise as Segis

Iblis orchestrates the Fleet's return to Kobol by disguising himself as Segis, the apparent leader of Kobol's underground mirror city caretakers. When Apollo confronts "Segis" during a Cylon attack, stating "You were behind it all... not Baltar. You masterminded our return to Kobol," Segis denies this reasonably while maintaining a smile. When Apollo fires his laser, her body crumples bonelessly to the floor like a sack of flesh—merely robes, not a real body. Standing where Segis had stood is a shadowy creature that swallows light and radiates darkness, its body rippling with nightmare images—the Void given shape: Count Iblis.

Terror in the great hall

Iblis's true likeness cannot be captured by simple technology. Occasional subliminal flashes appear on screens too quickly to register consciously, but these images burrow into viewers' brains and souls, driving those who look too long to madness. He declares he has been "watching and playing with you and the colonials for aeons," waiting for the right moment to guide them back to Kobol. Only on Kobol, "in the land of my birth, and death, so to speak," does he possess the power to reclaim his physical body and soul while destroying theirs. He identifies himself as "the nightmare that has been following you and your ancestors all your life, Apollo, the face at the edge of the shadows in your sleep chamber, the voice in your ear corrupting your better judgment."

Iblis's eyes glow brighter and his body grows blacker as twin beams stab from his eye sockets and strike Apollo. The force staggers Apollo, but the Star of Kobol around his neck flares and absorbs the light. When a Warrior shoots Iblis from behind, the laser blast enters his body but does not emerge—"a black hole in human form." Iblis crushes the Warrior's throat, snaps his neck, and throws the body aside.

Iblis commands Apollo to remove the Star of Kobol, threatening to banish Apollo and Athena to "the oblivion that is my existence" while perhaps convincing the Cylons to spare some of the Fleet. When Apollo refuses, Iblis systematically murders civilians. He kills a Gemon woman with a wave of darkness that devours her from within, reducing her to a paper-thin husk that collapses into dust. He then erases a father trying to shield his child with ruby light, declaring, "I can keep this up forever. Every second you delay in giving me what I want, I'll take one more life."

Torture of Apollo

Iblis forces Apollo to relive his pain through rapid mental images: Iblis and Adama's distant ancestor as brothers competing for Council Head, the deep fraternal love, the intense jealousy, and the elder brother's consistent superiority until being awarded the council head position. The visions show Iblis's murder plot, the council head's willingness to forgive, the council's forced discipline, Iblis's experiments to create a master race, and the eventual banishment to Cylon.

Iblis tortures Apollo with eye beams, promising, "You're going to beg as I did all those long yahren ago; you're going to renounce your heritage, the House of Kobol, even your very father, before I let you slip away from this life." When Athena grips Apollo's hand to lend strength, the circuit of pain expands to envelope her. Starbuck shouts "We have to form a shield!" and runs forward, gripping Athena's hand. More Warriors and civilians join hands until they form a living circle surrounding Iblis, each link feeding strength to the next in a unification such as the divided fleet had not seen for many yahren. (RH: Resurrection)

Influence on Cassiopeia

Baltar reveals in a posthumous recording that Cassiopeia has been impregnated by Iblis rather than carrying a human child. Baltar warns Apollo to "protect her" and "help save her from the dark forces that threaten to consume her without her knowledge." (RH: Rebellion)

Characteristics

Count Iblis appears as a man-shaped abyss—a dark shape blacker than shadows with a human form undulating with nightmare images. His eyes burn like red embers where a face should be, though he can alter his appearance to wear an ethereal human mask. His voice slithers in shadows with a damp echo, like decay or the death of love and hope, crawling inside one's brain whispering sick, crazy things.

Iblis radiates unnatural dread he forces upon others, described as "a black hole, torn from the fabric of heaven, hungrily devouring light and love and hope." His true likeness cannot be captured by technology—only subliminal flashes appear that burrow into viewers' subconscious, driving those who look too long to madness.

He possesses devastating powers: firing twin beams from his eyes, sending waves of darkness that devour victims from within, erasing beings with ruby light, mentally sealing doors, and absorbing laser fire into his body like a black hole. The Star of Kobol provides some protection against his powers.

Iblis is quite mad though nonetheless dangerous, existing as a leech sucking the fear and death of countless planets into himself for sustenance. He is spiteful, bitter, and power-hungry, seeking to corrupt the House of Kobol and taint the pure Kobollian bloodline.

Notes

• Iblis's connection to the Cylon Imperious Leader suggests he may exist simultaneously in multiple forms or dimensions.
• His inability or unwillingness to directly kill Apollo suggests limitations to his power when confronting pure Kobollian blood.
• The Star of Kobol serves as a protective talisman against Iblis's powers, able to absorb and neutralize his energy attacks.
• Iblis's brother, who became Council Head of the House of Kobol, was a direct ancestor of Adama, making Iblis a distant relative of Apollo and Athena—which explains his obsession with destroying "the last of the direct descendants of the House of Kobol."
• The fraternal relationship between Iblis and his brother mirrors the deep bond between Apollo and Starbuck, making their conflict a tragedy of jealousy and failed reconciliation across millennia.