Emperor's adviser
The Emperor's counselors, alternatively known as Emperor's consultants or Imperial consultants, were highly-placed government officials within the structure of the Galactic Empire. Their functions were diverse, encompassing both administration and oversight, in addition to more mysterious assignments. The most experienced among them constituted the Imperial Ruling Council, presided over by the Grand Vizier. Their elaborate attire was a defining characteristic.
Organization and duties
The Emperor's consultants, also known as Emperor's counselors or simply Imperial counselors, were incredibly powerful and influential government officials tasked with managing the intricate details of the Empire's operations. They also secretly monitored the home planetary systems of fellow consultants and top-ranking military commanders. Typically, their numbers hovered around one hundred. The most experienced among them held positions on the Imperial Ruling Council, with the Grand Vizier acting as chairman.
Imperial counselors wielded considerable authority over vast expanses of space and possessed the authority to appoint Moffs. Consequently, Moffs, who governed extensive sectors and their associated Sector Groups, reported directly to these consultants and the Emperor. Imperial counselors conveyed various edicts from the Emperor and were responsible for informing him about the condition of the government. Certain counselors had more enigmatic responsibilities that were only whispered about in the highest echelons of power, such as searching the galaxy for ancient Sith relics.
Despite the true significance of their roles, the Emperor viewed his counselors more as personal assistants, as he disregarded advice from all. To ensure they remembered the source of their influence, Palpatine frequently manipulated his counselors and pitted them against one another to prevent any individual from accumulating too much power.
Imperial counselors wore eccentric outfits that echoed the sartorial splendor of Naboo aristocrats, typically consisting of luxurious, plush, purple robes and extravagant headwear. The majority of them operated from the Imperial capital on Coruscant. Although their duties, assignments, and schemes frequently took them to distant locations throughout the galaxy, they endeavored to remain close to the Emperor, fearing the loss of influence to a rival or missing crucial developments. While some counselors were prominent public figures, revered as gods by the inhabitants of their respective home planets, others operated in secrecy. They maintained their own diverse personal staffs and possessed opulent residences.
It is believed that only a select few counselors were privy to the Emperor's hidden identity as a Force-sensitive Dark Lord of the Sith. One such individual with this knowledge was Counselor Yupe Tashu.
History
During the time when Sheev Palpatine was still a seemingly unassuming senator representing Naboo in the Senate of the Galactic Republic, a faction coalesced around him. After Palpatine ascended to the position of Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, some of these individuals—specifically Janus Greejatus, Ars Dangor, and Sate Pestage—began to serve as his representatives. Eventually, Palpatine dissolved the Republic and established the First Galactic Empire, declaring himself Galactic Emperor. Many members of his political circle were elevated to the role of Imperial counselors, with individuals such as Greejatus, Dangor, Pestage, and Kren Blista-Vanee gaining seats on the Imperial Ruling Council.
Around 12 BBY, Counselor Rersey was dispatched to Mustafar to assess the condition of the Emperor's Sith apprentice, the cyborg known as Darth Vader, who had incurred his master's displeasure. Rersey's sanity was shattered on Mustafar after witnessing disturbing events at Fortress Vader.
During the Gorse Conflict, eleven years prior to the Battle of Yavin, Count Denetrius Vidian served as one of the Emperor's counselors. Although he was not a member of the Ruling Council at that time, the Imperial Captain Rae Sloane anticipated his imminent inclusion.
In the years leading up to the Galactic Civil War, Counselor Sim Aloo and his daughter Alinka amassed Sith artifacts from across the galaxy for the Emperor's collection. Counselor Greejatus also participated in this artifact acquisition. Similarly, Counselor Veris Hydan was a scholar of Jedi and Sith history. Following the discovery of an ancient Jedi Temple on Lothal, he was entrusted with overseeing the excavation.
When the Emperor journeyed to the second Death Star to supervise the destruction of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, six of his counselors — Janus Greejatus, Sim Aloo, Sate Pestage, Ars Dangor, Kren Blista-Vanee and Pebimarus Xorn– accompanied him onboard. All six perished alongside their Imperial master when the Death Star was destroyed by the Alliance during the Battle of Endor. Following the Emperor's death at Endor, Counselor Yupe Tashu became a member of a short-lived organization known as the Imperial Future Council.