The High Council is one of the, if not the, most prominent political body in NUO. Similarly, they are very powerful. They are comprised of three Senior members (Chancellor and two Advocates) of permanent posting and up to six delegates chosen by the Guilds that Control the six Regions of the world. Each delegate must make use of a Region Marker at the High Council Chamber entrance to gain admission to the HC Chamber, exercise their vote on the council, and receive their salary of 5,000 gold and two silverlode. The HC has an obvious and enormous potential for roleplay. It is possible for Delegates to change from week to week as new Guilds sieze Regions or change their delegates. The Senior members will help provide some consistency in this regard. The HC Chancellor will dictate this to a large degree. The members also have tremendous impact on the world in several ways.

• The HC will be given special audience with the NUO Administrator. Their recommendations for any and all changes to the current game mechanics or design will be given extra attention.
• The HC will have tremendous impact, if not sole determination, on price fluctuations of npc vendors and their various goods. In this manner, they will act much as the U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman. They will have a direct influence on the current market price of all goods. If they dictate that an npc vendor sell iron ingots for 10g, Half-Orc players may charge up to 10g and still sell their wares before an npc does. Likewise, if they increase the price to 14g, players can enjoy selling ingots for a price up to 14g.
• The HC will elect a Sheriff at each meeting. The Sheriff can be anyone of their choosing, provided the character is not Red. Characters may repeat their service indefinately, of new characters can be chosen each week.
• The HC will meet weekly on evenings determined by the Chancellor. The permanent posting of the Chancellor shall be made by the NUO Administrator. He/She and his/her two Advocates shall provide a sense of stability to an otherwise dynamic group of representatives.

A Sheriff is appointed on a regular basis by the High Council. They serve as deputized protectors of the innocent and hunters of the murderous for a few days in office. Anyone of the HC's choosing may serve as Sheriff each week, if they are willing. To become a Sheriff, a player merely has to walk up to the Sheriff's Talisman on the wall of the HC Hall in Homestead and dbl-click it. They will automatically be given a Sheriff's Reckoner and Jailing Shackles.

The Reckoner is a weapon that has a chance to do extra damage against Red players. The Jailing Shackles can be dbl-clicked to bring up a targeting reticle. If a Red player who is in Criminal status is targeted, they will be teleported to Jail with the Sheriff for "questioning". The Sheriff decides when he and his prisoner are transported back to their original locations together.