| abstract | - The Helghan Senate, also known as the High Council, is a major governing component of the Helghan Empire. It consists of nine members who help lead and direct the Helghan Nation alongside the Empire's leaders, Admiral Orlock and Emperor Visari. They act as the Autarch's cabinet of advisers. After the death of Visari, the previous Autarch, the Senate takes control over the government of the Helghast and are shown to be those placed with the responsibility of appointing the new Autarch. Both Admiral Orlock and Jorhan Stahl appeared to serve on the Senate alongside the Counselors, yet the reactions given towards Stahl hints that he is not an official member of the Senate who was merely permitted to take a seat in their meetings due to his importance to the war effort (Stahl being the primary weapons distributor and one bearing a private military of his own, specifically). The senators are older evolved Helghast, beyond the need of breathing devices. They have earned their position as senators simply due to the fact they were loyal to Visari, not because they had earned the respect of the Helghan citizens or were chosen. The appointment led to hereditary, effectively establishing a system of birthright and patrimony to be preserved in perpetuity. The Senate is shown to function on a majority rule vote system when there is no Autarch to make a final decision on a topic, as evidenced by one Counselors proposal to place Stahl in charge of the military. Any further information in regards to the Counselors such as their individual names, roles, or how they are appointed is unknown, only two have been named so far in the Ascendancy book.
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