Council of Elders

The Council of Elders is one of the guiding bodies of the Templar Order.Assassin's Creed (film) It operates as a separate entity from the order's governing structure to ensure and maintain the integrity of the Templar government itself by influencing and guiding of the governing structures, having a similar function as the Black Cross. It does not exert direct control over these structures, such as the Inner Sanctum.Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide 
==History==
In the late 17th century, the Council tasked Laureano de Torres y Ayala with finding the Observatory in the West Indies.Assassin's Creed: Black Flag – Chapter 29
During the earliest years of the Black Cross, the Council may have had an significant impact on their assignments.
In Autumn 2013, Álvaro Gramática and Alan Rikkin led a discussion at the Council's annual strategies meeting, debating on how much information to share with the public about humanity's origins. While it sparked lively discussion, the Council concluded that they felt it was better the public remain in blind to such matters, and so would wage disinformation campaigns on any attempts to expose the truth by dismissing them as unfounded conspiracies. Before parting ways, the Council advanced their next meeting 6 months forward to 6 June 2014 both to allow for initial progress reports on the media campaigns, and to coincide with the in Brussels, Belgium, as most Council members would already be attending it.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: 08. Public Relations Primer
By 2016, it was led by Ellen Kaye and possessed discretionary powers over the funding of Abstergo Industries and its various subsidiaries. The Council was present at a gathering in London during which Alan Rikkin was killed by the Assassins.
==Gallery==
ACMovie Francisco Rizi's Grand Inquisition in Council of Elders' meeting room.jpg|Kaye and Rikkin in the meeting room
Ellen and Alan Rikkin.png|Rikkin reporting to Kaye
==Behind the scenes==
The Council's members appear to have a higher rank than the Guardians, which are the three highest ranking members of Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order, as exemplified by Ellen Kaye giving orders to Alan Rikkin. However, earlier sources state that only the General of the Cross is above the Guardians in authority, with the Guardians reporting directly to the General.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo As of 2017, the Council of Elders' exact position and role in the Templar hierarchy remains unclear, save only that it is not ranked above the General of the Cross.
In Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the organization that tasked Laureano de Torres y Ayala was only referred to as "the Counsel"Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Mister Walpole, I Presume?
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag 
*Assassin's Creed: Black Flag 
*Assassin's Creed: Unity 
*Assassin's Creed (film) 
*Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide 
==References==
pt-br:Conselho dos Anciões
zh:长老会
Category:Templar Order
Category:Templar ranks
Category:Abstergo Industries
Category:Council of Elders
Category:Advisors (Templars)