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.

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's origins trace back to the time just after the planet Kobol was settled. Within the Lords of Kobol, there was a man who lacked the purity of his brothers—a spiteful, bitter, angry man who wanted power more than wisdom. When he was censured by the other Lords, this man broke ranks and founded his own dynasty. While the others remained the House of Kobol, a portion of the population fell prey to his sharp tongue and devious wit. With them as his followers, he founded the House of Iblis.

Iblis eventually left Kobol, bringing all his followers with him. What he did after that constituted such horrors that the Lords of Kobol are forbidden to discuss it. When Iblis died, he was "accelerated" just as all the Lords of Kobol were—transported to a higher plane of existence. However, his soul was so twisted, so horrible and filled with hatred of his human brothers, that he did not become one of the Lords. In all the universe, Count Iblis is totally unique: "a leech, sucking the fear and death of countless planets into himself for his sustenance." (RH: Armageddon)

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 the Hephaestus

In 7360, as Apollo prepares for a suicide mission aboard the Hephaestus, he senses a horrible presence. A voice slithers in the shadows, and Apollo turns to find a dark shape blacker than the shadows, its human form undulating with nightmare images. It is 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 where a face should be, then slowly alters itself until it wears an ethereal mask of a face Apollo remembers from their previous meeting. Apollo greets him warmly: "Count Iblis. Welcome." When Iblis expresses surprise that Apollo recognizes him, Apollo explains that his brother Zac warned him of Iblis's coming. Apollo's mention that Zac is now one of the Lords causes Iblis to growl and convulse, revealing Apollo has scored a small triumph.

Iblis acknowledges Apollo is more knowledgeable than expected and calls him "a worthy opponent." He wants only to corrupt the House of Kobol, to taint the bloodline, to 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 control over the Cylon race.

Apollo defiantly declares he believes Iblis cannot kill him, either because Iblis is unable or unwilling due to Apollo's pure Kobollian blood and fear of what Apollo would become. Apollo also states his belief that the House of Iblis did not split off from the House of Kobol due to hatred, but rather that Iblis's faction was thrown out, excommunicated, and dismissed as unworthy. This shatters Iblis's calm arrogance, and 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 is facing extermination and that the decisions and choices they make will seal their futures forever. He states that the Lords of Light have led them back to Kobol, but this does not guarantee victory. Adama tells Apollo to "trust your inner vision, no matter what appears to you."

Zac also warns Apollo during a vision aboard a lightship that Iblis is going to try to test and corrupt him, 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 the caretakers of Kobol's underground mirror city. 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 at Segis, her body crumples bonelessly to the floor like a sack of flesh—revealing it was not really a body at all, just robes. Standing where Segis had stood is a shadowy creature that swallows light and radiates darkness, its body rippling with nightmare images. To look upon this monster—this shape cut out of negative space—would be to know true despair and result in gibbering, irretrievable madness. It is the Void given shape: Count Iblis.

Terror in the great hall

Iblis's true likeness cannot be captured or contained by simple technology. Occasional subliminal flashes of the Count appear on screens, too quick to register consciously, but these images burrow into the brain and soul of viewers, driving those who look too long to madness.

Iblis 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. He states that only on Kobol, "in the land of my birth, and death, so to speak," does he have the power to reclaim his physical body and soul as he destroys 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 corona of light begins to fade as the Star of Kobol around Apollo's neck flares and drinks the light into itself. When a Warrior attempts to shoot Iblis from behind, the laser blast enters his body but does not emerge, as if Iblis swallowed the light—"a black hole in human form." Iblis crushes the Warrior's throat and snaps his neck, throwing 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 begins systematically murdering civilians. He kills a Gemon woman by sending a wave of darkness that devours her from within, reducing her to a paper-thin husk that collapses into dust. He then kills a father trying to shield his child, erasing the man with ruby light. Iblis declares, "I can keep this up forever. Every second you delay in giving me what I want, I'll take one more life." (RH: Resurrection)

Influence on Cassiopeia

Baltar reveals in a posthumous recording that Cassiopeia carries no human child, but rather has been impregnated by Iblis. 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 that undulates with nightmare images. His eyes burn like red embers where a face should be. He can alter his appearance, wearing an ethereal mask of a human face when he chooses. His voice is described as slithering in shadows, with a damp echo, like decay or the death of love and hope—a voice that crawls inside one's brain in dark hours whispering sick, crazy things.

Iblis radiates an unnatural dread that he forces upon others. He is 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, with only subliminal flashes appearing that burrow into viewers' subconscious, driving those who look too long to madness.

He possesses devastating powers including the ability to fire twin beams from his eyes, send waves of darkness that devour victims from within, erase beings with ruby light, mentally seal doors, and absorb laser fire into his body like a black hole. The Star of Kobol provides some protection against his powers.

Iblis is described as quite mad, though nonetheless dangerous. He exists 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.