Yggdrasil

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Yggdrasil, also known as the World Ash, was a cosmic plane-spanning tree that linked the Prime Material Plane through the Astral Plane to the Outer Planes that were important to the Norse pantheon.

Description
The tree was so massive that it could almost be considered a plane in its own right.

Cosmography
The tree's roots were in Niflheim (the second layer of Hades), and its crown was in Ysgard (the homonymous first layer of Ysgard) as described by the Great Wheel cosmology model. Other roots and branches penetrated the Prime planes where Norse deities were recognized, allowing travelers to climb the tree until they reached a portal very similar to a color pool and step through to their destination.

The entry point into Niflheim was guarded by a gargantuan, very ancient red dragon, named Nidhogg, and her countless children. The World Ash and the dragon were perpetually in conflict as Nidhogg tried to sever the inter-planar link to Ysgard by chewing through the roots. Yggdrasil responded by putting down new roots as fast as the dragon could eat them. All this took place in sight of the feast hall of Hel, Norse goddess and guardian of the dead.

The dragon usually ignored travelers coming up and down the roots, but fiercely defended herself and her offspring if disturbed. That entry point into Niflheim was usually a favorite among travelers because it avoided the first layer of Oinos, a frequent battleground of the Blood War.

At the other end of Yggdrasil was Asgard on the plane of Gladsheim, the home of the rest of the Norse pantheon. Asgard contained many realms including Jotunheim, Alfheim, Vanaheim, and the grand realm that gave the layer its name, Asgard. All of these divine domains were near (in a cosmic sense) to the World Ash for easy access but often required a trek of hundreds or thousands of miles/kilometers to reach the tree. Once on Yggdrasil, it was said that a trip from the Prime to either Asgard or Niflheim took at least 100 days, but history does not say that any mortal ever successfully completed the journey.

The tree touched all layers of the Beastlands and Elysium, except Belierin, since all portals leading in and out that layer had been sealed. The reasons why Yggdrasil connected with the Beastlands were unclear, since no Norse deities claimed realms in that plane. It was speculated that the wilderness and life-giving properties of the plane were sufficient to root the tree there.

Inhabitants
The most important inhabitants of Yggdrasil were the ratatosk, humanoid-looking flying giant squirrels who worked as messengers between the planes touched by the tree. In order to hire them for that service, a bribe in the form of pods from Yggdrasil itself was typically acceptable. The ratatosk frequently delivered threats from the dragons in Niflheim to other inhabitants of the tree, which included giant stags that grazed on the leaves and giant eagles that nested on the branches.

The branches of Yggdrasil were also inhabited by numerous tree-dwelling creatures, such as abrians, birds of prey, darkweavers, and spiders. In addition, bandits and fiends commonly preyed on unwary travelers. Some of the most important junctures were patrolled by pers, but they lacked sufficient numbers to monitor the entire tree.

History
A branch of Yggdrasil was a preferred trajectory of the Great Modron March as it moved from Ysgard to Limbo.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * The Great Modron March
 * Magazines
 * Enemies of My Enemy''