Cernunnos

Entity Type

Celtic Deity - God of death, the underworld, and guide of lost souls

Physical Manifestation

When Cernunnos appeared at Sigmund's funeral, he took the form of an enormous deer, far larger than any natural animal. His appearance was deeply unsettling:

• Eyes: Completely white with no pupils
• Body: Rotting flesh falling away from the frame
• Antlers: Shimmered with heat distortion and smoke; later flickered like stars during confrontation with Anansi
• Aura: His presence brought frost creeping across the grass despite it being September in Iberia

Language & Communication

Cernunnos speaks in Gaelic. Only Axel among the party could understand him directly.

Known Statements & Warnings

At Sigmund's Funeral

Cernunnos appeared and delivered several cryptic messages:

Primary Statement:

"Long is the road from the web to the wood" (or possibly "from the web to the deer")

When asked by Axel if he wished to help or warn them:

"I hear a trembling web. It is always both."

Warnings About Anansi

Upon recognizing Anansi's presence, Cernunnos became more direct:

• "When a guest eats at the table uninvited, who pays for his meal?"
• "When a stranger lights a fire in the home of another, the smoke may draw attention"
• "A spider should not walk in graveyards. This is my domain."
• "There are things in the dark that hunt spiders"

To Bjorn

Cernunnos told Bjorn: "You were summoned and you have been found wanting"

The Stag Visions

Prior to this direct manifestation, the party had been receiving visions of a stag. Axel reminded Bjorn that they had chosen to make a deal with Anansi instead of following the stag in the woods. The funeral encounter appears to be a consequence of that choice—and perhaps an opportunity to make a different decision.

Domain & Territory

Cernunnos clearly considers graveyards and the passage of souls to be his domain. His appearance at Sigmund's funeral may have been triggered by Anansi's violation of death rites through possession of the corpse.

Relationship to the Party

Cernunnos seems to have been attempting to guide or summon the party—particularly Bjorn—toward some purpose. His statement that Bjorn was "found wanting" suggests disappointment that they chose Anansi's path instead of his.

After delivering his warnings, Cernunnos departed, his silhouette visible against the distant Pyrenees mountains. The party has now committed to traveling north and following the stag's path.

Unresolved Questions

• What was Cernunnos attempting to summon the party toward?
• What awaits them if they follow the stag north?
• What is his relationship to the "things in the dark that hunt spiders"?
• Can he help the party deal with Anansi, or must they resolve this themselves?