Sangheili High Councilor

Councillor is the highest possible rank attainable for any Sangheili.

Background
The Councillor 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.

Councillors have been described as "Aristocratic" 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 Councillor has ever been named, Soha 'Rolamee, who was executed by a Lesser Prophet, indicating that even Elite Councillors are still beneath even lower Prophets.

Because the pursuit of honour 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 Councillors 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 Councillors have killed a large amount of enemies.

A large number of the Councillors 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, Councillors 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 attained, Councillors are likely to have slaughtered a significant amount, likely being retired Zealots, since Councillors are rarely seen in battle.

Councillors 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 Ultra's, 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.

Councillors are also the only rank of Elite that do not waver upon being hit by a melee attack. They stand their ground and do not flinch as other Elite ranks do (if they let out their sword before being hit).

In addition to their great skill in combat, Councillors are also equipped with an extremely durable Combat Harness, similar to that which is standard issue within the Sangheili forces. The armour itself is superior to that worn by lesser ranks and the built-in energy shielding system is capable of taking an enormous amount of damage: 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 a Energy Sword when their shield is down.

Physical Appearance
Councillors are easily recognizable by their large, distinct and oddly shaped, ornate headdresses, fixed to a traditional Elite Helmet. Their armour, 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 colour, very similar to that worn by Ultra Elites, the only difference being that they have no steel markings on their armour as many other Elite ranks have.

Appearances
The Councillors are exclusive to Halo 2 and are never seen in Halo: Combat Evolved or Halo 3 with the exception of once in the level Floodgate where there is a dead one on a higher ledge within the crashed ship. Their infrequence in numbers leads to their appearance being only four times throughout the entire campaign. In addition, downsized Councillor Headdresses can be seen being worn by Zealots in Combat Evolved although the rank of Councillor was not yet known to exist.


 * The Heretic - Elite Councillors were seen in the Council Chamber of High Charity during the shaming of the former Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice before he was anointed as the Arbiter.


 * Civil War of the Covenant


 * Uprising - Many Elite Councillors 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 Civil War of the Covenant, 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 Councillors and two Hunters. Later in the climatic battle that defeated Tartarus, numerous Councillors fought with their Energy Swords against the Brute Chieftain, alongside many Zealots and Spec Ops Elites, however many fell to the Fist of Rukt.

Trivia

 * The headdresses of Councillors are reminiscent of the Alien Queen's head from the Alien series.
 * In relation to the Elite Councillors, the Jedi Knights from the Star Wars Universe also suffered a similar demise as their government began a genocide to annihilate their ranks during Order 66, somewhat similar to the Great Schism.
 * It is possible to make a Councillor an enemy and invisible. Just get the Assassins skull and kill the Hunter prisoners on the last level in Halo 2, the Great Journey. The other Councillor will become your enemy and turn invisible.
 * Councillors do not appear in Halo 3, the reasons for this are still unconfirmed. In Halo 2 when Rtas 'Vadum asked the Arbiter what had happened to the Councillors the Arbiter had said that they had been "Murdered, by the Brutes". However, there are still many Councillors that can been seen later on in the game. It is a definite possibility that they, along with the Honour Guards, survived the events of Halo 2, but were simply not shown or attending to the leadership of the Covenant Separatists on other fronts, much like the Separatist Hunters and Grunts. Though it may be possible that since they are no longer part of the Covenant, there is no more use for Councillors.
 * In Halo 2 you never fight a Councillor, with the only exception of the Honor Guard Councilor glitch. Rather, they are your allies in the level Uprising.
 * The level The Great Journey in Halo 2 is the only level in the Halo trilogy where Elite Councillors will fight on your side or otherwise.
 * A large number of Councillors will help you fight Tartarus, along with Zealots, needless to say, most were killed.
 * Their headdress resembles the Honor Guard helmet.