Council of the Wise

The Council of the Wise was the ruling body of the planet Norus in the 23rd century.

Organization
The council consisted of nine councilors and a president who met in a large hall within the Norusian government building in their city. While they called themselves wise, they actually determined the veracity of prisoner statements not through wisdom or logic, but through a tradition of trial by combat, forcing prisoners to combat a huge crab-like moloth, which was kept behind a sealed door on one side of the hall.

History
In the 23rd century, the council oversaw an interplanetary war between Norusians and Eldorians.

In 2265, Norusians used a long distance transporter to abduct the crew of an Eldorian spy ship. When James T. Kirk and Spock investigated, they were also abducted and imprisoned as enemy spies. Both were brought before the council and subjected to trial by combat.

During an assault by Eldorians, the population panicked, and even pleas by the president couldn't stop his military from deserting. One soldier said he wanted to be alive when a peace treaty was signed.