Sangheili High Councilor

Councilor is the highest possible rank attainable for any Sangheili, apart from the Arbiter.

Background
The Councilor is believed to be the highest rank attainable by a Sangheili warrior, whether militarily or politically, although the rank of Arbiter is religiously more significant in Sangheilian society. They act as members of the Covenant High Council, along with the Lesser Prophets. Their power is derived directly from the High Council, under only the Hierarchs, making them some of the most important roles held in all of Covenant society.

Councilors have been described as "Aristocrats" by lesser races and the fact that they are permitted to wield Energy Swords prevents them from marrying, though they can still mate with any female they wish to, married or unmarried, to pass on the "swordsman" genes. Only one Councilor has ever been named, Soha 'Rolamee, who was executed by a Lesser Prophet, indicating that even Elite Councilors are still beneath even lower Prophets.

Because the pursuit of honor in battle is the sole pursuit of Sangheili society, service in the Covenant Military is compulsory, with all pursuits secondary. As such, it is safe to assume that Councilors are, or have been, an important part of the Covenant Military, with their political and governmental duties still held as a secondary duty. It is likely that Councilors have killed a large amount of enemies.

A large number of the Councilors were present at Installation 05, supposedly to witness the activation of the Halo ring. In truth, it was a ruse in order for the Jiralhanae to begin their slaughter, depriving the Sangheili of a large amount of their leadership caste. While there were survivors of the genocide, it is not known how many, or whether they returned to serve as the leaders of the remaining Sangheili.

Combat
Because warfare is the primary purpose of Sangheili participation in the Covenant, Councilors are extremely skilled warriors in almost all forms of armed and hand-to-hand combat. As Sangheili are ranked according to the numbers of kills obtained, Councilors are likely to have slaughtered a significant amount, likely being retired Zealots, since Councilors are rarely seen in battle.

Councilors typically carry the iconic Energy Sword, which also serves as a symbol of their status as aristocrats. With only select few Sangheili military ranks, such as Zealots and Ultras, are permitted this and they are adept at close-combat with the sword. They are also, albeit infrequently, armed with Plasma Rifles, with their accuracy unmatched. Like an Ultra Elite, they will let loose a war cry and switch to their Energy Sword if the player gets too close to them. The Arbiter is capable of replacing their original weapons with Covenant, UNSC or Brute weapons, though they hold the latter in disdain. However, when facing Tartarus, they'll often use Beam Rifles and Carbines, but they'll soon drop them and activate their Energy Sword when their shields are down.

In addition to their great skill in combat, Councilors are also equipped with an extremely durable Combat Harness, similar in appearance to the standard issue version, but with superior armor compared to that worn by lesser ranks, similar to that of the SpecOps in Halo CE. Additionally, the built-in energy shielding system is capable of taking an enormous amount of damage, equivalent to that of an Elite Ultra: they can withstand up to three Shotgun blasts in close range, devastating melee attacks from behind, a hit from the Fist of Rukt, multiple Plasma Grenades or Fragmentation Grenades and even surviving a blast from a M19 SSM Rocket Launcher and a slash from an Energy Sword, even when their shield is down. Halo 2 is the only game in which you see and work with Councilors.

Physical Appearance
Councilors are easily recognizable by their large, distinct and oddly shaped, ornate headdresses, fixed to a traditional Elite Helmet. Their armor, normally the standard Combat Harness adorned by most other regular service Elites (with the exception of the helmet), are a pearlescent white, or metallic-silver color, very similar to that worn by Ultra Elites, the only difference being that they have no steel markings on their armor as many other Elite ranks do. Councilors sometimes wear a different helmet that has the same basic shape, but has different designs and is more open.

Appearances
The Councilors are only seen in Halo 2 and Halo Wars: Genesis. Their infrequence in numbers leads to their appearance being only three times throughout the entire campaign.


 * The Heretic - Elite Councilors were seen in the Council Chamber of High Charity during the shaming of the former Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice (Thel 'Vadamee) before he was anointed as the Arbiter.
 * Gravemind - An Honor Guard Councilor is seen after killing all the Brutes, Hunters, and Elites in the Mausoleum of the Arbiter, with a pair Elites following him. It is unknown if this is a different rank or a type of Councilor.
 * Uprising - Many Elite Councilors were taken to the surface of Installation 05 (Delta Halo) shortly before the start of the Civil War of the Covenant to prepare for the activation of the "Ringworld" by the Sacred Icon at the Control Room of Delta Halo. However, they were massacred by Tartarus's Brutes at the beginning of the Great Schism, although a few were taken alive at the Bastion of the Brutes.
 * The Great Journey - While the Arbiter was on his path to invade the Brute-controlled Control Room and prevent the activation of Installation 05, he passed through the Bastion of the Brutes and came across a small force-field prison guarded by Brutes and Jackals. The Arbiter unlocked the cages, bringing forth two Councilors and two Hunters. Later in the climatic battle that defeated Tartarus, numerous Councilors fought with their Energy Swords against the Brute Chieftain, alongside many Zealots and Spec Ops Elites, however many fell to the Fist of Rukt.
 * High Council members are seen in Halo Wars: Genesis when Ripa 'Moramee is being tried for his failed attempt at overthrowing his clan leader. Even though they are council members, they do not wear the armor that is seen in Halo 2 but instead wear simple robes.

Trivia

 * A large number of Councilors will help you fight Tartarus, along with Zealots and Spec-Ops Elites.
 * The crest on the Elite Councilors helmet resembles the crest on the head of the Xenomorph (Alien) queen in the movie Aliens, one of the movies that inspired Halo.
 * Councilors do actually talk to you, only if you melee them. They say things like "You know it is me?" to just a growl.
 * In the Halo 2 level Uprising, an unknown Elite voice is heard mentioning that the Brutes had murdered the Councillors, even though the bodies around are Sangheili minors in standard blue combat harness.

Related Pages

 * Arbiter
 * Ultra
 * High Prophets
 * High Council
 * Honor Guard Councilor
 * Council Chamber