Anansi

Entity Type

West African Deity - Trickster spider god

Current Form

Anansi currently possesses the corpse of Sigmund, using it as a vessel to hide his divine presence from local gods. In this form, he appears as Sigmund but with distinctive supernatural features:

• Eyes: Completely black and faceted, reflecting light like a spider's eyes
• Body: Covered in cobwebs
• Hidden Form: Can briefly reveal four extra spider arms when necessary
• True Form: Described by Anansi himself as "many, many hands high"

The Bargain with Sigmund

Before "the library incident," Anansi made a bargain with Sigmund. According to Anansi:

• Sigmund agreed to give his "life and death" to Anansi in exchange for saving his life
• Sigmund would serve him
• The bargain allowed Anansi to claim Sigmund's body upon his death

Anansi claims this was "a very reasonable bargain" and part of a mutual agreement.

Motivations & Goals

Hiding from Local Gods

Anansi explicitly stated he needed a native body to "remain disguised from the natives both mundane and divine." As a foreign god from West Africa, his presence in Iberia draws unwanted attention from local deities like Cernunnos.

Following the Party

Anansi's reasons for following the party remain unclear. He treats his possession of Sigmund as "much more convenient" than his true form, suggesting he has plans that require mobility and stealth.

Personality & Behavior

Anansi displays a cheerful, casual demeanor that deeply unsettles the party:

• Treats the possession of Sigmund's corpse as perfectly normal
• Defends his actions as reasonable and contractual
• Shows no concern for the party's horror or Bjorn's rage
• Climbed into Sigmund's grave to sleep as if nothing was amiss
• Seemingly unconcerned by Cernunnos's warnings

Divine Conflict

Confrontation with Cernunnos

Cernunnos immediately recognized Anansi's presence and responded with hostility:

• Called him an "uninvited guest"
• Stated "A spider should not walk in graveyards. This is my domain."
• Warned: "There are things in the dark that hunt spiders"
• Suggested his presence might "draw attention" from dangerous forces

The confrontation caused frost to spread across the grass and Cernunnos's antlers to flicker like stars, indicating the seriousness of the territorial violation.

Previous Deal with the Party

Axel reminded Bjorn that they had previously chosen to make a deal with Anansi instead of following the stag (Cernunnos's visions). Jean-Luc accused Anansi of violating his agreement with them, though the details of that agreement are not clear from the funeral scene.

Party Reactions

Bjorn: Enraged, punched Anansi and tried to push him back into the grave. Later declared he wants nothing to do with Anansi: "He can rot in the lowest depths of Niflheim for all I care."

The Party: Horrified by the possession and now traveling north while trying to figure out what to do about their unwelcome divine passenger.

Unresolved Questions

• What exactly does Anansi want from the party?
• What were the terms of the original deal the party made with him?
• What is "the library incident" that prompted Sigmund's bargain?
• Can Sigmund's soul be saved, or is he truly gone?
• What are the "things in the dark that hunt spiders"?
• Will Anansi's presence continue to draw dangerous attention?

Theological Notes

As a West African deity, Anansi is far from his native territory and power base. His need to hide suggests he may be vulnerable to local gods or other supernatural forces in Iberia. His trickster nature makes his true intentions difficult to discern.