Editing WS:Orders (section)

==Yggdrasil==

'''Also known as''': The Church, Buds, Leaves, Wands, Branches, Trunks, parchment-scrapers

'''Symbol''': A willow tree

Yggdrasil is the main administrative body of the church. Where the Hand of Odin is often more visible in their actions, Yggdrasil is more pervasive. Taking its name from the World Tree, Yggdrasil venerates no particular god or goddess (although Njordhr, Snotra and Freyja are quite popular amongst its members), and both male and females form its ranks. Yggdrasil is a strict hierarchy, forming a vast bureaucracy. Members of other orders sometimes move to Yggdrasil if they find they aren't completely suited to their original order. Sometimes this is less than entirely voluntary on their part.

Members have the ability, with power drawn from a conglomeration of the gods, to communicate with each other over vast distances. Unfortunately, this highly specialised ability can only be performed in certain rare locations, where the power of sufficient gods is powerful enough to call upon them. There is, naturally, an Yggdrasil temple erected at each such location.

Yggdrasil acolytes are known as Buds, with monks called Leaves, and so on through Wands and Branches. At the head of Yggdrasil in each country is a Trunk, and all the Trunks of Yggdrasil, along with leaders of several other sects, come together once every ten years in conclave to discuss church policy and elect a supreme High Priest of the church, known as The Yggdrasil. The Yggdrasil is charged with the duty of being the ulimate arbiter, in any case where the gods have declined to make a direct commandment.

(Note: while The Yggdrasil holds a similar position to our world's pope, he has in effect less power, due to active involvement of the gods)

All other orders officially come under Yggdrasil's control, although members of the Hand of Odin and the Arm of Thor are notoriously reticent to follow Yggdrasil's lead where they disagree.

Yggdrasil maintain shrines to any gods not having their own orders (even small, tucked-away-in-an-alley ones to Loki), so that members of the public can leave offerings to whichever gods they need to appease.