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High Council

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Councilors at the trial of the Supreme Commander, Thel 'Vadam, who would later become the Arbiter.

The High Council was the central theocratic/aristocratic and decision-making body of the Covenant.[1] Based in the High Council Chamber in the heart of the Covenant holy city High Charity, the High Council consisted of more than two hundred Sangheili and San'Shyuum[2] and was headed by a triumvirate known as the Hierarchs or "High Prophets."

History

The High Council was formed alongside the Covenant. In 2525, during the Ascension of the Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret, the High Council had been initially reluctant to support the new Hierarchs. However, the Council eventually complied.[3] During the Human-Covenant War, the High Council would order the complete glassing of human colonies during times of "particular religious significance". During the Battle of Kholo, the Prophet of Conviction represented the High Council and gave the order to the unidentified Shipmaster of the Fleet of Righteous Vigilance to glass the planet.[4] In 2535, the San'Shyuum councilors reorganized the Covenant fleet, against the desires of the Sangheili councilors.[5] On October 20, 2552, the High Council convened to debate the fate of the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, Thel 'Vadamee. Ultimately, the High Council branded 'Vadamee a heretic and sentenced to execution.[6] However, the High Prophets intervened and 'Vadamee was given the rank of Arbiter.[7]

After the High Prophet of Regret's death on Installation 05, the Jiralhanae replaced the Sangheili Honor Guards. The Sangheili viewed this as a violation of the principle that the Covenant had been founded upon and threatened to resign from the High Council.[8] Most of the Sangheili members of the Council were assassinated during the Battle of Installation 05 as part of the High Prophet of Truth's plan to replace Sangheili with Jiralhanae in Covenant society.[9] With the secession of the Sangheili in the Great Schism, the Flood invasion of High Charity and the eventual dissolution of the Covenant itself, it is likely that the High Council no longer exists at all whatsoever.

Organization

The theocratic Covenant followed the orders of the High Council to the letter as they were the whole of the Covenant governance. The High Council was composed of over two hundred San'Shyuum ministers and Sangheili commanders.[2] The triumvirate of Hierarchs that led the Council had the final word on all Council matters.[6][7] When a San'Shyuum minster was absent for a High Council session, the minister's vice minister would be allowed to act as a substitute in their place.[1] The High Council seemed to have been divided into several smaller councils, with different tasks and goals which keep the Covenant up and running within all its aspects. Below the other councils, there was numerous ministries functioning within the Covenant. The lower caste members of the Covenant, such as the Kig-Yar, Yanme'e, and Unggoy, are not represented on the High Council but were instead vetted by the Ministry of Concert.[10][11] The High Council was essentially the only true council the Sangheili were a part of.[12]

Known Council members

High Prophets

Prophet Councilors

Production note

The in-game council is far smaller than its canonical incarnation, being depicted by only 38 Prophets and 40 Elites. 'Vadamee, Tartarus and his two attendants, and fourteen Honor Guardsmen are also present.

Gallery

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, page 154
  2. ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, page 271
  3. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 380
  4. ^ Halo: Evolutions, "The Return", page 313
  5. ^ Halo: The Cole Protocol, page 349
  6. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level The Heretic
  7. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level The Arbiter
  8. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Sacred Icon
  9. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Uprising
  10. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 150
  11. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 155
  12. ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 58

Template:Covenant Government

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