The Twelve Colonies of Kobol

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Twelve Colonies of Kobol

The Twelve Colonies of Kobol are twelve distinct and sovereign worlds (there are many smaller "colonies" of the Colonies), located in a remote part of the galaxy known as the Cyrannus Cluster (AKA Colonial Space). The Cluster includes four star systems: Helios Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.

The Twelve Colonies of Kobol were founded and settled by the Twelve Tribes of Kobol. (Do you sense a pattern here? Do you also see the Biblical connections?) Humans once lived on Kobol together with the gods who were known as the Lords of Kobol (more on the gods can be read here). 2000 years ago, the Twelve Tribes left Kobol in the Great Exodus (the current years is 2003 A.E., after exodus). Kobol itself is shrouded in religious as well as scientific mystery. Some doubt even that it existed although the history of Kobol and the Exodus are recorded in the Sacred Scrolls.

For the past 2000 year, the descendants of Kobol have called the Twelve Colonies their home. For most of the two millennia that these worlds have been inhabited, the Twelve Colonies consisted of multiple sovereign states, but during the last fifty-two years leading up to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, all twelve comprised a single federal entity known as the United Colonies of Kobol.

The Colonials eventually gave birth to a race of cybernetic lifeforms, known as Cylons. Soon after their creation, the Cylons waged a devastating war on their creators' home planets, in a conflict that lasted for twelve years. The First Cylon War ended in a stalemate that lead to an armistice treaty. After the armistice the Cylons retreated across the Armistice Line and out of Colonial Space. The humans of the Colonies have had no contact with them for the past forty years.

[Roger Davis]

Aerilon

Demonym: Aerilon/Aerilonian
Language: Caprican
Population: 1.2 Billion
Capital City: Gaoth
Major Cities: Gaoth, Promethea
Attractions: University of Aerilon, Promethea A&M
Patron God: Demeter
Nickname: The Food Basket of the Colonies
Pyramid Teams: Threshers, Golden Horns

Location: Aerilon shares an orbit with the gas giant Hestia and Canceron, sitting in the L4 Lagrangian point in the Helios Delta System, the system where Aquaria is also located.

Geography: Aerilon is primarily a temperate agricultural world. It is considered to be the "food basket" of the Twelve Colonies and is ranked among the poorer Colonies. The climate on Aerilon is mild with reliable seasons. Rains are plentiful enough that fresh water is readily available from wells and catch basins, despite the rarity of rivers and lakes. The land masses of Aerilon are in temperate zones. There are a few inland waterways, such as the Euclid River, and the shorelines are almost exclusively rocky bluffs, or, near the equator, mangrove swamps. The seas are hostile and it has no useful harbors. The land masses are open and rolling with very little variation. Aerilon's capital was Gaoth.

People: The mannerisms of Aerilon's natives are considered rough and rude, at least by Caprican standards. Aerilonians are generally more religious than Capricans but don't come close to approaching the fundamentalism of the Gemenese. The people of this world also speak Caprican but with a noticeably distinctive accent when not intentionally concealed (similar to an Irish brogue or Engish Yorkshire accent). Aerilon natives are disproportionately found in the military both from an inherent sense of duty in their culture but also as a way to get away from the farming life that is so prevalent on the planet.

[Roger Davis]

Aquaria

Demonym: Aquarian
Language: Caprican
Population: 75,000
Capital City: Heim (unofficial)
Major Cities: None
Attractions: Kyros Summerfest, Heim Scientific Research Center
Patron God: Hermes
Nickname: The Ice Colony
Pyramid Teams: None

Location: Aquaria is located in the Helios Delta System with Aerilon and Canceron.

Geography: Aquaria is a "frigid" world with only one major land mass: Kryos, a crescent-shaped continent with volcanoes at both ends. Aquaria is widely known for its vast oceans that cover the rest of the planet. Heim is the largest settlement and the only thing resembling a city on the planet though small groups of individuals do live outside the city is scattered communities doting the countryside.

Aquaria is notable as the least populous Colony, by far. It has 1/100,000 the population of Canceron (the most densely populated) and lags behind Scorpia (the second least populous) with 1/6000 of that Colony's population.

People: A small center of scientific research, this remote world has also attracted a small (75,000 permanent) but sturdy population known for stubborn independence, social tolerance, and a unique barter system. However, the population of Aquaria (primarily just Heim and the surrounding area) can swell to as many as a one million during the annual Summerfest, which features music, dance, theater and epic poetry and draws crowds from all across the worlds.

Despite the lack of an official capital city, the government holds weekly community meetings in Heim that are open to both citizens and non-citizens. Issues are addressed and passed by simple majority vote. Even the election of the colony's Prime Minister is done in this pure form of democracy.

Anyone who disrupts the social balance of the small, tight-knit Colony will find themselves permanently banished to another world with a simple two-thirds vote, usually finding themselves in exile on Scorpia, or on trial on Libran, never to come back.

[Roger Davis]

Canceron

Demonym: Canceron
Language: Caprican
Population: 6.7 Billion
Capital City: Hades
Major Cities: Hades, Prommos, Mangala
Attractions: Prommos, Ruby Range, Kor Yaz Glacier
Patron God: Hephaestus
Nickname: The Largest Democracy
Pyramid Teams: Hydras, Vice, Krill

Location: Canceron orbits Helios Delta along with Aerilon and Aquaria.

Geography: Canceron has two great landmasses both have popular beaches, large cities, fertile plains and in the far north very tall mountain ranges. The climate has warm southern beaches, hot and steamy in the inland south, highly temperate and farming friendly in the north, with the frigid Ruby Ridge mountains with the Kor Yaz (Turkish for "summer corps") high altitude glacier. Canceron is also known for its vast mineral deposits of coal, iron, and silver.

The capital city is Hades in the Great Valley and was the site of growing immigration. Hades has a security zone for powerful people called "New Hades". The third city is Mangala, a former trading port, known for fine art and museums. Mangala is also the site of many poor settlers who live in makeshift shanties that extend to the very edge of seaside cliffs. The resort town of Prommos is known throughout the colonies for its five-star hotels, casinos, and pristine beaches.

People: Canceron is the most populous planet in the Twelve Worlds. Prior to the First Cylon War, Canceron was a very overpopulated and poor colony (and still is to a great extent). Canceron's major cities such as Hades and Mangala were known to have large sprawling slums. Its large population earned Canceron the nickname "The Largest Democracy" within the Colonies, though some believed the government was nothing more than a corrupt Oligarchy.

[Roger Davis]

Caprica

Demonym: Caprican
Language: Caprican
Population: 4.9 Billion
Capital City: Caprica City
Major Cities: Caprica City, Delphi, Phoebus
Attractions: Delphi Museum of the Colonies, Atlas Arena, Caprica Interplanetary Spaceport, Graystone Industries, Apollo University, Pantheon Bridge, Ionian Islands, Orpheus Park
Patron God: Apollo
Nickname: The Capital of the Colonies
Pyramid Teams: Buccaneers, Legion, Suns

Location: Caprica is in the Helios Alpha star system, and has a twin planet called Gemenon that is only 493,000 kilometres (306,336.0 mi) away and shares a common barycenter. The twin planets share a mutual orbit where each planet trades places with the other every 28.2 days. Caprica also shares its star system with Picon and Tauron.

Geography: Caprica is a lush blue-green planet, covered by large oceans and continents. Gemenon can often be seen in the skies above the Caprican landscape. Depending on its orbit, the Caprican night can almost be negated by intense planetshine from Gemenon, although not as bright as the Caprican sun, there is enough light reflected back to effectively turn night into day.

Caprica City is both a planetary and is also the federal capital of the Twelve Colonies since the signing of the "Articles of Colonization".

People: Caprica is regarded as the center of Colonial civilization. The planet is the seat of politics, culture, art, science, technology, learning and even the Colonial government. It is also one of the wealthiest of the Colonies not to mention the source of the common tongue.

For the most part, Capricans reflect this as generally wealthy and well educated with a level of cultural refinement. Like Caprica itself, her people also tend to be more ambtious and are more likely to be leaders both in civilian life as well as military service.

[Roger Davis]

Gemenon

Demonym: Gemenese
Language: Caprican, Old Gemenese
Population: 2.8 Billion
Capital City: Oranu
Major Cities: Oranu, Illumini
Attractions: Kobol Colleges, Illumini Pantheon, Gramada Mountains, Spatiu Gol Plateau, Pustiu Desert
Patron God: Hera
Nickname: The First Colony
Pyramid Teams: Twins, Vipers

Location: Gemenon shares its orbit around Helios Alpha with Caprica, completing a rotation once every 28.2 days. Its status as a twin planet gives it its name.

Geography: Gemenon's climate can vary wildly, featuring frozen plateaus, and searing deserts, which can make life difficult for its inhabitants. Gemenon is home to the Kobol Colleges as well as the monotheistic cult called "The Soldiers of the One". Gemenon's second-largest city, Illumini, was built around a large Pantheon complex, composed of buildings dedicated to the worship and celebration of every deity in the Sacred Scrolls.

People: Gemenon was the first world colonized by the humans of Kobol. It is one of the poorer colonies and its people, the Gemenese, are known for their religious fundamentalism including their literal interpretations of the Sacred Scrolls. They majority of the population are also socially conservative and oppose the use of recreational drugs, legalization of abortion, etc. The planet also has an old and disused language known as Old Gemenese. Yet Caprican is the dominant tongue of the planet, with Old Gemenese taking on more of a ceremonial and academic function with few fluent speakers.

[Roger Davis]

Leonis

Demonym: Leonese
Language: Leonese, Caprican
Population: 2.6 Billion
Capital City: Luminere
Major Cities: Luminere, Hedon
Attractions: Royal Palace of Leonis, Hedon Grand Casino
Patron God: Artemis
Nickname: Heart of the Colonies
Pyramid Teams: Wildcats, Hunters

Location: Leonis is the second planet in the Helios Beta system.

Geography: Leonis is the largest planet of all the colonies, and is one of only two habitable planets in its system, the other being longtime rival Virgon. In the past the two empires on Virgon and Leonis were at odds with each other. Virgon shares the Ouranos asteroid belt border with Leonis where mining operations have been conducted for hundreds of years by both planets.

Leonis is geographically known for its open plains. The planet itself has no axial tilt, which supports a mild and predictable climate. It is a major hub for both education and industry, and, despite Colonial Unification, it was able to maintain its own language and culture.

Leonis beaches are predictably sunny, with cool mornings and evenings year-round. The planet's two major land masses are entirely in temperate zones both north and south of the equator. Leonis has verdant, rolling plains which are the site of farming and wine making. Leonis also has ski resorts that are the envy of the colonies. The capital is Luminere (French/Leonese for "light"), located inland on one of the major rivers, and is the site of massive castles and churches. The second city is Hedon, home to the most exclusive beach resort on Leonis, and is the site of the Grand Casino and the Hedon Film Festival.

People: The Leonese are easily the most culturally distinct of the Twelve Colonies if only due to their resistance to the spread of Caprican. The common tongue is used for interstellar commerce, diplomacy, tourism, etc. but Leonese still dominates in daily speech on the planet.

The Leonese are also know largely as the largest producers of beverages. This ranges from the "Leonis Red" energy drink to various wines like "Leonis Estates Sparkling".

[Roger Davis]

Libran

Demonym: Libran
Language: Libran, Caprican
Population: 2.1 Billion
Capital City: None
Major Cities: Themis
Attractions: Supreme Hall of Justice, Themis Arena
Patron God: Athena
Nickname: Colony of Justice
Pyramid Teams: None

Location: Libran is located in the Helios Gamma star system, along with Sagittaron and Scorpia, and has two moons Herse and Pandrosus.

Geography: Libran is a tropical planet that is typically either experiencing rain or very overcast conditions, similar to Scorpia. The clouds do shield its inhabitants from the sun, Helios Gamma, which Libran orbits a little too close, and when the skies are clear, Librans go inside to minimize their risk of contracting skin cancer.

Libran is described as a teeming green ball of life due to its landmasses consisting of hundreds of small marshy islands, with larger islands having impenetrable bogs and impassible jungles. The main landmass is a dense and spectacular rain forest ringed by mangroves and swamps at its edges. The planet has no official capital, but in the center of the continent is the closest thing it has to a capital, Themis, home of the Supreme Hall of Justice.

People: Libran is known for its courthouses and lawyers, and is the home of the Inter-Colonial Court. Even before the Articles of Colonization it had been a major center for justice in the Twelve Colonies and a place many of the other Colonies went to to settle disputes.

Librans are not as linguistically independent as the Leonese but they also maintain their own language which is used about as frequently as Caprican. Nearly all Librans are bilingual, fluent in both tongues.

[Roger Davis]

Picon

Demonym: Piconian
Language: Caprican, Piconian
Population: 1.4 Billion
Capital City: Queenstown
Major Cities: Queenstown, Perkinstown, Pailyn
Attractions: Colonial Fleet Headquarters, Penrose Harbor
Patron God: Poseidon
Nickname: Ocean Colony
Pyramid Teams: Panthers

Location: Picon is in the Helios Alpha star system neighbor with the planets Caprica, Tauron, and Gemenon.

Geography: Picon is a turquoise planet, containing 75% water. It is known throughout the Four Systems as "The Ocean Colony" for its vast seas and famous harbors. Picon is generally colder, greener and cloudier than Caprica, but is known for its strikingly beautiful warm months, and Colonial visitors to Picon are encouraged to take advantage of the pleasant Picon summer. During the planet's off-season, most of the landscape becomes cold and rugged. The planet is often used as a substitute for Caprica City in Caprican films and TV series for their similarities.

The capitol of Picon is Queenstown, which originally grew from a fishing village around the scenic Penrose harbor. Perkinston, the location of the Colonial Fleet Headquarters, is another Picon city also known for its harbor and manufacturing. Picon is also the home of Picon Laboratories, located in Pailyn and Muritolan.

People: Picon was originally the home of the Virgon tribe, but was later colonized by the Pisces tribe of Kobol. Naturally, much of Piconian life revolves around the sea in one way or another and has shaped the culture accordingly. Fleet HQ and the Colonial Admiralty being located on the world has helped make the Piconians leaders in inter-colonial politics and trade as well as increasing their enlistment rates with the military. The colony is considered to be one of the more advanced and wealthier Colonies.

[Roger Davis]

Sagittaron

Demonym: Sagittaron/Sagittarian
Language: Caprican
Population: 1.7 Billion
Capital City: Tawa
Major Cities: Tawa
Attractions: Acheron River
Patron God: Zeus
Nickname: Lone Colony
Pyramid Teams: Archers

Location: Sagittaron is located in the Helios Gamma star system, along with Scorpia and Libran.

Geography: The climate of Sagittaron is agreeable in the valleys, but difficult in most of the mountain trails, which often become impassible in the winter. Isolation is therefore an accepted part of life in much of Sagittaron. Sagittaron is a mountainous planet with hundreds of isolated fertile valleys. It has one very large river, called the Acheron, which runs through the capital Tawa, which is 1,000 miles inland near the confluence of two tributaries which flow into the Acheron. A few miles offshore from the Acheron river delta is a large active volcano.

People: Sagittaron is one of the poorest worlds of the Twelve Colonies. The citizens are religious traditionalists, therefore they often do not believe in medicine, distrust doctors and instead use prayer and herbal remedies. Due to hostility from the other colonies, Sagittarons have chosen not to serve in the Colonial Military with only a few exceptions. In many areas on Sagittaron, it is illegal to sing, play, participate in public displays of affection and do a multitude of other things. In fact, the mere mention of these activities can be considered an offense, so visitors from other colonies with more liberal cultures are advised to consult local law for specific information on colony etiquette. Sagittarons are also known to wear soma braids which they believe bring them good health.

Sagittaron is known throughout the Four Systems as "The Lone Colony" due to the territorial wars between the old empires of Virgon and Leonis, having been dominated and exploited by both empires separately. Tom Zarek led an organized series of terrorist acts against the established government there twenty years ago. Ten years later, Sagittaron went into full revolt requiring military intervention from the other Colonies.

[Roger Davis]

Scorpia

Demonym: Scorpian/Scorpio
Language: Caprican, Leonese
Population: 450 Million
Capital City: Celeste
Major Cities: Celeste, Argentum
Attractions: Argentum Bay, Guardian Mountains, Scorpia Shipyards
Patron God: Dionysus
Nickname: Playground of the Colonies
Pyramid Teams: Stingers, Storm, Lightning, Silverstars

Location: Scorpia is located in the Helios Gamma star system, along with Sagittaron and Libran. Scorpia has a half ring that surrounds the planet, resembling a coiled scorpions tail.

Due to its close proximity to the Acheron asteroid belt, it is the site of the Colonial Military Scorpion Shipyards, the largest shipyards in the Twelve Colonies.

Geography: Scorpia has tropical weather complete with hurricanes, similar to the planet Libran. The temperate areas are hotter than they should be due to the heat that remains trapped in Scorpia's cities.

The capital city of Celeste is a mile high in a bowl shaped valley in the Guardian Mountains, and is cooler than other Scorpion cities such as Argentum. Celeste is also the location of the Colonial Stock Market.

Scorpia also has vast jungles; these are near the equator and gradually rise into rugged mountains that progress both north and south of the equator, with unexplored polar regions.

People: Scorpia has a rather low class reputation as being a planet with loose morals, with prostitution widely practiced and has a low priced tourism destination called Argentum Bay, catering to 18 to 22 year olds seeking to celebrate Vernal Break. The Planet is also apparently well-known for its Paragliding. In short, Scorpia's two main industries are tourism and military contracting.

[Roger Davis]

Tauron

Demonym: Tauron
Language: Tauron, Caprican
Population: 2.5 Billion
Capital City: Hypatia
Major Cities: Hypatia, Tauron City, Minos (on Tauron's moon)
Attractions: Minos, Olympia Hippadrome, Great Tauron Plains
Patron God: Ares
Nickname: Old Colony
Pyramid Teams: Stallions, Bulls

Location: Tauron is located in the Helios Alpha system, the most distant Colony in that system for its star.

Geography: Tauron is an arid planet with what one might call a Mediterranean climate. It lacks any kind of wildflowers whatsoever. However, Tauron is simultaneously well-known for its agriculture despite the climatic hindrances. Tauron City is the largest urban centers on the plant but smaller Hypatia is the capital.

People: Some 800 years ago, Tauron was colonized by Virgon and Leonis. The people of Tauron liberated themselves and ever since this world has been known for its troubled and violent history. Taurons are known to be very traditional people, even speaking a very old and distinctive language. Tauron is one of the poorer colonial worlds (but their economic status has been increasing) and was the center of a civil war before the First Cylon War. During the First Cylon War, Hypatia was the location of a fierce battle against Cylon forces. After the War, Tauron was known to be a somewhat troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the Colonies and pushing their luck with the Admiralty thus continuing their troubled past.

The Tauron crime syndicate Ha'la'tha had enormous influence over the planet, and this organization even extends to other colonies such as Caprica.

[Roger Davis]

Virgon

Demonym: Virgon
Language: Caprican, Virgon
Population: 4.3 Billion
Capital City: Boskirk
Major Cities: Boskirk, Balustad, Hadrian
Attractions: House of Parliament, Tower of Virgon, Petrus Palace, Virgon Universities
Patron God: Hestia
Nickname: Imperial Virgon (or Imperial Colony)
Pyramid Teams: United, All Reds

Location: Virgon lies in the Helios Beta system with long time rival Leonis.

Geography: The capital of Virgon is Boskirk, the former federal capital of the Colonies for a thousand years, until a few centuries ago when the center of politics moved to Caprica City, Caprica in the Helios Alpha star system. Other cities of Virgon include Bloustad (Dutch for "blue city"), a beach city just an hour from Boskirk, and Hadrian a mining community to the south.

The climate of Virgon is notable for its singular blueness. Not only are the seas blue, but its plant life contains oils that evaporate in sunlight and cast a bluish tinge in the air. Large quantities of anthracene, a substance that emits a blue glow when exposed to UV light, near the surface also provide an added bluish hue.

Virgon's climate is temperate in the north, but variable and less pleasant in the south. Virgon is generally well-known for its expansive forests as well.

People: Virgon is considered to be one of the wealthier colonies perhaps in part due to its long history of empire. Virgon still has a monarchy (although in decline) and a strong national parliament thanks to the expanding power of the federal Colonial government.

Virgon is also known as an exporter of beers such as the widely popular Virgon Brew.

[Roger Davis]

Non-Colony Worlds

Helios Alpha System

Icarus
A small molten rock planet located very close to Helios Alpha. Difficult and deadly conditions make any type of colonization or mining completely unfeasible.

Minos
Moon of Tauron. Minos is notable astronicially due to its ring, odd for a body of such small size. Minos has one large city (Minos) and several mining, science, and military outposts spread across the surface.

Erebos Belt
Asteroid Belt located just beyond Tauron's orbit. This belt is heavily mined for Tylium and other resources.

Zeus
The largest planet in all Colonial Space, Zeus is a massive gas giant with at least seventy-four moons (including large Nike and Hebe). The upper atmosphere of Zeus has constant lightning storms and other radiation (similar to Ragnar) that is visible to the naked eye and considered by many to be quite beautiful. Negative effects of these storms are only felt on the inner most moons of the large gas giant.

Persephone
A dwarf planet at the edge of the Helios Alpha system, Persephone is believed to be potentially be a former moon of Zeus that broke free and formed its own orbit.

Helios Beta System

Troy
A small but heavily developed mining planet with a long history of colonization. The wealth of material extracted from Troy has been a significant factor in the economic prosperity of nearby Leonis and Virgon.

Pallas
A small world believed to have had a life sustaining atmosphere but no longer. Despite this, several small colonies including a military research base have been established on Pallas. Attempts to kobolform (terraform) the small world are ongoing.

Ouranos Belt
A very dense asteroid belt that separates Leonis and Virgon and, like Troy, is mined by both Colonies.

Hibernia
A naturally habitable moon, Hibernia orbits Virgon and has been settled with a substantial population for hundreds of years. Originally, the moon was populated with exiles and other political undesirables seeking refuge from Virgon. Although many still seek to distance themselves on Hibernia, in current times after many generations of growth the population is not nearly as anti-authoritarian toward Virgon rule as it once was.

Hera
Hera is the third largest planet in Colonial Space, a large gas giant with twenty-nine moons including Iris and Eubora.

Helios Gamma System

Thanatos
A tidally locked planet, Thanatos is made even more inhospitable by its corrosive sulfur dioxide atmosphere.

Archeron Belt
Broad asteroid belt between Thanatos and Libran.

Herse and Pandrossos
The two tiny moons of Libran, Herse and Pandrossos orbit each other and often swap position while orbiting the larger Libran.

Ophion
Gas giant with fourteen small moons. Ophion is notable for little and thus was the perfect site for the Colonial Military to conduct many of their training exercises.

Ophion is believed to have been a rogue planet that entered Helios Gamma while in the process forcing Ragnar out (see Ragnar).

Helios Delta System

Phoebe
Small and hot planet with a thin atmosphere. Yet Phoebe still has a small and resilient population of colonists.

Styx
Styx has a dense atmosphere, made primarily of carbon dioxide, making it one of the more inhospitable worlds.

Aeolus Belt
Asteroid belt notable for several large "gaps" in its coverage.

Hestia
A "small" gas giant with seventeen moons including Kronos and Rhea. Hestia is notable because it has pulled Aerilon and Canceron into its orbit. Aerilon leads and Canceron follows the gas giant at constant distances along the orbital path.

Irregular

Ragnar
The second largest planet in Colonial Space, this gas giant with but one moon (Sigurd) lies far outside traditional orbits and instead orbits both the Helios Gamma and Helios Delta systems.

It is believed that Ragnar once orbited Helios Gamma but was knocked out of orbit and replaced by Ophion which is speculated to have originally be a rogue planet moving through space.

Ragnar is covered by violent storms that also produce large amounts electromagnetic discharge. These storms effectively shield the planet from scanners, prevent FTL jumps from within their range, wreck havoc with weapon targeting, and also have a debilitating effect on cybernetic lifeforms.

There is one calm portion of Ragnar, the "eye of the storm", which is home to Ragnar Anchorage, a large unmanned orbital space station. The station has seen little use since the First Cylon War but continues to serve as a naval ammunition and fuel reserve.