The Spider and The Web
The Spider
The Law
Things are Watched by a Hidden Eye.
The Constellation
The Spider is a small cluster of five stars just off the fourth star in the spiral of the Web. It appears to have two ‘arms’ reaching out towards the Web whilst a small triangular ‘body’ points outwards.
Following the Summer Solstice 386YE. Astronomancers across the Empire became aware of the names and titles of the individual stars that make up the Spider, much as they had the Web earlier in the year. Speculation suggests that a coven performed a divinatory ritual during the Solstice to commune with the constellation, and that one of the side effects was the revelation of these names. Where these names come from, and what they mean for a wider understanding of astronomancy, is unclear but a matter of some discussion.
Symbolism
The Spider stands off from the Web; quick to react to events in it but separate from it. It represents unknown forces; those that watch the affairs of the world and interfere when they see fit. The Spider stands for things outside the Imperial sphere of influence; eternals, foreigners, magical powers, great mysteries, those things that stand beyond the ken of mortal being.
The Spider also represents the manipulator; they who place their thumb upon the scales of fate.
Invoking the Spider in magic
Invoking the Spider can be a dangerous business for ritualists since the constellation is often seen to represent the eternals. Varushkan ritualists often use the Spider to represent the doings of sovereigns in their magic. The Spider, though, can be used to represent any hidden hand or unseen force; whether to steer it or to ward against it.
| # | Name |
| 1 | Myl'morah-Watches-Unseen |
| 2 | Sharolt-Moves-the-Scale |
| 3 | Ungol-Gossamer-Spinner |
| 4 | Ins'win-Cannot-be-Known |
| 5 | She'lav-Moves-From-Afar |
Tulpas of the Spider
The thought forms of the Spider never appear the same way twice. Whether it be the sinister man in black in the corner of the tavern, the pale skinned and hairless fellow traveller on the lonely mountain road or the mysterious rustling in the undergrowth keeping pace with you through the forest the agents of the Spider are many and varied. One that is a friend to you today may be a foe to you tomorrow; or may draw you into schemes that you wish you had never heard of.
Stars of the Spider
Five stars make up the Spider. As of Summer 386YE, these names and titles are known to Imperial astronomancers. They might be evoked specifically during rituals that draw on the power of the constellation.
Alignment
Ritualists who invoke the Spider report that it leaves behind a sense of great clarity and detachment as if the affairs of humanity were watched from the other side of the sheet of glass from a very long way away. Ritualists may be detached, distant, emotionally dispassionate and cold after invoking the Spider in ritual.
The Web
The Law
Things are Connected
The Constellation
The Web is found almost directly opposite The Phoenix, with The Chain equidistant between them. It spirals inwards with an almost direct line between its first two stars that can be extended out to find the apex of The Oak. There are, in fact, nine stars in this constellation, however the centre star is somewhat faint and easily obscured on a less than clear night.
Following the Spring Equinox 386YE. Astronomancers across the Empire became aware of the names and titles of the individual stars that make up the Web. Speculation suggests that, as with the Phoenix and the Oak, a coven performed a divinatory ritual during the Equinox to commune with the constellation, and that one of the side effects was the revelation of these names. Where these names come from, and what they mean for a wider understanding of astronomancy, is unclear but a matter of some discussion.
Symbology
The Web - or the Net of the Heavens as Urizen would have it - represents the interconnectedness of all things. Urizen astronomancers have a saying which stems from this constellation; "the world is full of secret knots". The failure to close a deal between two grain merchants in a League city can mean that hundreds of miles away a family in the Brass Coast starve and in the Marches an honest farmer cannot sell their produce. Every action has consequences both obvious and subtle; both seen and unforeseen.
The Web also stands for the powers of coincidence and synchronicity; the tendency of things to go right or be in the right place at the right time through apparent chance. The foolish or superstitious may call this luck; the wise understand that there is no such thing and that somewhere, someone has done something to turn circumstances the way they have turned out.
Invoking the Web in magic
The Web is frequently invoked in Day rituals; to see the whole of the Web is to understand the interrelationship between all of the components in your ritual, how they affect each other and how they affect you. It has many uses in scrying magic and divination but also has strong associations with sympathetic magic playing on the aspects of synchronicity and interconnectedness. Some of the most esoteric of the astronomancers of Urizen who study the Web say “synchronicity is its servant”; creating long, complex chains of action and reaction started by the smallest impetus and relying on luck, chance and “being in the right place at the right time” all evoke the Web.
Tulpas of the Web
Tulpas of the Web are curious creatures. Often times they will appear as perfectly normal humans, sometimes even as orcs. They speak little if at all, and usually position themselves in the right place at the right time to give circumstances the tiny nudge they need. The cloaked and hooded person who steps out into the street and spooks the oxen of the dray master, causing them to stampede, shedding their load, and blocking the road - and stopping the pursuing magistrate from catching the running figure is in all likelihood a tulpa of the Web.
| # | Name |
| 1 | Casha, the Blind Weaver |
| 2 | Amlo of the Beating Wings |
| 3 | Oldoen Who Measures and Weighs |
| 4 | Noate, Judge of Tides |
| 5 | ElvotThat Both Binds and is Bound |
| 6 | Tomu, Rattler of Bones |
| 7 | Uthond Who Knocks and Falls |
| 8 | Demtir of the Still Moment |
Stars of the Spider
Eight stars make up the Spider. As of Spring 386YE, these names and titles are known to Imperial astronomancers. They might be evoked specifically during rituals that draw on the power of the constellation.
Alignment
Ritualists who embrace the Web speak of the sense of interconnectedness; of being the part of a great network of consciousness and of living things. Someone who approaches this unprepared can be overwhelmed by the sensation and it is not unknown for ritualists who embrace the Web to go mad and lose their own personalities in the ever-shifting sea of all. Once the sense of interconnectedness fades, ritualists report an enhanced ability to see all sides of a given problem or to experience other people's point of view.
| The Chain (Things hold together) | The Chalice (Things heal; things apart come together) | The Claw (Things bleed) |
| The Door (Things move and change) | The Drowned Man (Things end) | The Fountain (Things live) |
| The Great Wyrm (Things change and transform) | The Key (Things are revealed) | The Lock (Things can be hidden) |
| The Mountain (Things are not easy) | The Oak (Things endure) | The Phoenix (Things learn) |
| The Spider (Things are watched by a hidden eye) | The Stallion (Things procreate) | The Stork (Things matter) |
| The Web (Things are connected) | The Three Sisters (Things are connected by blood) | The Wanderer (Things are not what you think or Things go awry) |