Iblis' brother

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Iblis' brother (name unknown) was an ancient Lord of Kobol and Council Head of the House of Kobol, serving as a distant ancestor to Adama and his children. His relationship with his younger brother—the man who would become Count Iblis—defined one of the most significant schisms in human history, ultimately leading to the creation of the House of Iblis and the Cylon race.

Early Life and Relationship with Iblis

The elder brother and Iblis shared a deep and powerful love in their youth, as profound as the bond Apollo felt for Starbuck. Both brothers were in line to replace the retiring elder and assume the position of Council Head of the House of Kobol, representing the leadership of humanity's most advanced bloodline.

Despite their close bond, a fundamental difference existed between the brothers. While Iblis was a scientific genius who pursued knowledge through experimentation and technological achievement, the elder brother possessed wisdom, charisma, and strength of character that their father valued more highly. This disparity in their father's regard became a source of intense jealousy for Iblis, who felt his scientific accomplishments never received the respect they deserved.

The elder brother continued to best Iblis in every possible way throughout their lives, despite Iblis' repeated attempts to outdo him. From Iblis' biased and corrupted point of view, their parents had always favored his brother, never affording Iblis the recognition his achievements warranted.

Appointment as Council Head

The final blow to the brothers' relationship came when the elder brother was awarded the position of Council Head of the House of Kobol. This appointment, which Iblis viewed as the ultimate insult, drove him to plot in dark secrecy something almost unheard of on Kobol—the murder of his own brother.

The new Council Head discovered his brother's murder plot, revealing both his wisdom and his access to the mental abilities characteristic of the Lords of Kobol. Even after learning of the assassination conspiracy, the Council Head was willing to forgive his brother, demonstrating the depth of his love and the compassion that had made him worthy of leadership. However, the council itself forced him to discipline Iblis, as the crime was too serious to overlook regardless of their fraternal bond.

Discipline of Iblis and the Schism

The Council Head's discipline of his brother marked the beginning of the great schism within the House of Kobol. After being censured by the other Lords, Iblis broke ranks entirely. A portion of the population fell prey to Iblis' sharp tongue and devious wit, becoming his followers in what would become the House of Iblis.

The Council Head later discovered that Iblis had been conducting horrific experiments—work so terrible that the Lords of Kobol were forbidden to discuss what he had done. These discoveries left the Kobollians with no choice but to take more severe action against Iblis and his followers.

Role in Iblis' Exile

Generations after the founding of the House of Iblis, the Kobollian forefathers—following the precedent set by the Council Head's original discipline—cast Iblis and his followers out of the House of Kobol entirely. They were exiled to the most hostile and uninhabitable planet in the galaxy, Cylon, where they were expected to die.

While the sources do not explicitly state whether the original Council Head was still alive at the time of this final exile, the decision reflected the principles he had established—that certain crimes against the House of Kobol could not be tolerated, even when perpetrated by one's own brother.

Legacy

The Council Head's lineage continued through the millennia as the pure-blooded line of the House of Kobol. His descendants ruled Caprica for millennia until the Cylons came, with his bloodline eventually passing through many generations to Adama and his children Apollo, Athena, and Zac.

The Council Head's decision to discipline his brother—despite his love and willingness to forgive—established a precedent that certain principles transcended even familial bonds. His choice demonstrated the fundamental difference between the two brothers: one sought wisdom and placed the good of humanity above personal ambition, while the other pursued power and harbored resentment that eventually consumed him entirely.

The conflict between the two brothers echoed across millennia. Iblis sought revenge against the Council Head's descendants, viewing Apollo and Athena as "the last of the direct descendants of the House of Kobol" who must die "to avenge the deaths of millions of my tribe." This statement revealed that Iblis' vendetta was not merely against his brother personally, but against the entire lineage that stemmed from him—a blood feud spanning countless generations.

Character and Philosophy

The Council Head embodied the ideals of the House of Kobol—wisdom over mere knowledge, compassion over pride, and the good of humanity over personal ambition. His wisdom, charisma, and strength of character made him the natural choice for leadership, representing the values that the Lords of Kobol had cultivated through millennia of meditation, concentration, and inner vision.

His willingness to forgive his brother even after discovering a murder plot demonstrated extraordinary compassion, yet his acceptance of the council's decision to discipline Iblis showed his understanding that leadership sometimes required painful choices for the greater good. This balance—between personal mercy and necessary justice—reflected the sophistication of Kobollian philosophy and the burden of leadership within the House of Kobol.

The Council Head's legacy lived on not only through his bloodline but through the principles he upheld. Where his brother chose to corrupt the genetic code of an entire species and breed hatred into the Cylons, the Council Head's descendants continued the work of the Lords of Kobol—seeking to improve themselves and aid their less evolved counterparts across the universe.