Editing The Order (section)

==Structure==

Not much information exists on the internal organization of the Order, although there are a few details available.

At the top of the Order's human hierarchy sits a Pope, and there are also living saints <ref>Mamono Realm Traveller's Guide; Magic Gems</ref>. Final authority obviously rests with the [[Chief God]] herself, who may make her will known by speaking to oracles, such as [[Sasha Fullmoon]], <ref>Monster Girl Encyclopedia I; God's Servants and the Structure of the World; Divinities</ref> or sending [[angel]] messengers directly. The gods also sometimes send their angels to help church expeditions slay the foul monster foe, or for more prosaic reasons, like rewarding good deeds.

The level of direct control which the Order exerts over [[human]] affairs differs from place to place; from apparent indifference and disregard in [[Polove]], to being the real political power in [[Lescatie]] (with the king noted to have had little real power)<ref>[[Monster Girl Encyclopedia World Guide - Side II#Diplomat Castor|Diplomat Castor]]</ref>. Order lands are said in general to be more prosperous and culturally developed than others <ref>Monster Girl Encyclopedia I; God's Servants and the Structure of the World; 1-1 The Order and Anti-Monster States</ref>, while monster-friendly states tend to attract "''ruffians''" and aren't as hard-working <ref>Monster Girl Encyclopedia I; God's Servants and the Structure of the World; 1-2 Monster-Friendly States</ref>. At present (and following the defeat of Lescatie), only one Order nation has actually been named: Welsple, a scholarly monarchy where [[Saphirette Spherica]] was apprenticed in her teens <ref>Monster Girl Encyclopedia World Guide II; About the Author</ref>.

The Order's prohibition against monster girls is not without nuance. Not all the religious nations are equally zealous, so particularly peaceful and useful monsters might even receive official toleration, such as [[kobold]]s and [[unicorn]]s<ref>[[Unicorn/Extra]]</ref>.

The Order forces are also presented in [[Monster Girl Encyclopedia World Guide - Side III#Church of the Chief God (p151)|the Church of the Chief God]] in a mamono realm, the 'Dé Ryúa' island of Court Alf. They appear to be on friendly terms with local mamono, with many girls longing to have Order Knights as husbands. The Order also makes use of some monster products when there is no alternative, such as sea voyages <ref>Monster Girl Encyclopedia I; Monsters of the Sea; Sailing</ref> or [[Magic Gems|Magic Gem]] spellcraft.

[[File:Sasha_Human1.png|thumb|upright|Sasha, an Order priestess, with children from her orphanage]]
Since the Order constitutes the majority of [[Human|humankind]], it may be more instructive to consider those people who ''aren't'' part of it. 'Monster-friendly states' are human nations which co-exist with monsters in open defiance of the [[Chief God]]'s commandments, while heresies like [[Monster Girl Encyclopedia World Guide I: Fallen Maidens#CASE 08: Ritual .28p90.29|snake cultism]] <ref>Fallen Maidens; Monsterisation Case Files 8: Rituals</ref> and the [[Elementals#Elemental Faith|Elemental faith]] fester in secret within Order territories. It's mentioned that the faith of the Chief God was weak in the Asuramis Sea and they first allied with the Ship Nation Diana to spread the Order's sphere of influence into this area.<ref>[[Monster Girl Encyclopedia World Guide - Side III#Queen Diana's History (p162)|World Guide Side 3; Queen Diana's History]]</ref> After the formation of Court Alf with [[Poseidon]]'s faith being the state religion, the Chief God's faith nonetheless gains strong foothold on the Dé Ryúa island.<ref>[[Monster Girl Encyclopedia World Guide - Side III#Church of the Chief God (p151)|World Guide Side 3; Church of the Chief God]]</ref>

Organisations outside the Order which are also anti-monster do exist, the most notable being the monster-slayers of [[Zipangu]] like the [[Amanomiya Koyoi|Amanomiya clan]]. The Order seems to have no problem with ''other'' non-humans besides monsters, e.g. non-corrupted [[Dwarf|dwarves]], [[Fairy|fairies]], [[elementals]], and [[Elf|elves]].