Procan
Encyclopedia
Procan is a fictional deity in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
. Procan is the Oeridian god of seas, sea life, salt, sea weather, and navigation. His holy symbol is a gold and coral trident above or piercing a cresting wave.
(1983), by Gary Gygax
.
Procan was one of the deities described in the From the Ashes
set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
Procan's role in the 3rd edition Greyhawk setting was defined in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
(2000). Procan's priesthood is detailed for 3rd edition in Complete Divine
(2004).
Procan is portrayed as a muscular man with blue-green skin and hair. His eyes are golden, glinting like sunken treasure. He carries a large spear dripping with seaweed.
, Telchur
, Atroa
, Sotillion
, and Wenta
). Procan usually ignores other gods, save for fellow sea-deities such as Osprem
and Xerbo
. He is said to have aided in the banishment of Panzuriel
.
, Hardby, Irongate, and Sasserine
all have temples to the deity. Atirr's cathedral is particularly large. The cathedral of Procan in Ironport
in the Sea Barons is famed for its incredible decorations, including arabesques, symbols of Procan, anchors, and chains all carved from stone. In the center is a towering 20 foot high statue of the god himself. The cathedral's walls stand over a hundred feet high.
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. Procan is the Oeridian god of seas, sea life, salt, sea weather, and navigation. His holy symbol is a gold and coral trident above or piercing a cresting wave.
Publication history
Procan was first detailed for the Dungeons & Dragons game in the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game SettingWorld of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting
The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting and the World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting are two closely related publications from TSR, Inc. that detail the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
(1983), by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
.
Procan was one of the deities described in the From the Ashes
From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)
From the Ashes is a supplement for Dungeons & Dragonss World of Greyhawk campaign setting. It was published in 1992 by TSR as a boxed set of materials...
set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996).
Procan's role in the 3rd edition Greyhawk setting was defined in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is a sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Despite the title, the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is not exclusive to the Living Greyhawk Campaign...
(2000). Procan's priesthood is detailed for 3rd edition in Complete Divine
Complete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
(2004).
Description
Procan is an ancient, primal god. He is wild and tempestuous; he can be benevolent or malevolent at turns, but generally cares nothing for humanity unless carefully propitiated - and perhaps not even then. He's the embodiment of mercurial winds and uncertain fate. He is greedy and possessive of the wealth that comes to his domain, whether from deliberate offerings or sunken ships. He's an elder god, almost like a titan, though he roams the cosmos freely.Procan is portrayed as a muscular man with blue-green skin and hair. His eyes are golden, glinting like sunken treasure. He carries a large spear dripping with seaweed.
Relationships
Procan is the father of the Velaeri: (VelniusVelnius
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Velnius is the Oeridian god of the Sky and Weather...
, Telchur
Telchur
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Telchur is the Oeridian god of Winter, Cold, and the North Wind...
, Atroa
Atroa
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Atroa is the Oeridian goddess of Spring, East Wind, and Renewal...
, Sotillion
Sotillion
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Sotillion is the Oeridian goddess of Summer, the South Wind, Ease, and Comfort...
, and Wenta
Wenta
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Wenta is the Oeridian goddess of Autumn, Brewing, Harvest, and the West Wind...
). Procan usually ignores other gods, save for fellow sea-deities such as Osprem
Osprem
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Osprem is the Suel goddess of Sea Voyages, Ships, and Sailors.-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :...
and Xerbo
Xerbo
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Xerbo is the Suel god of the Sea, Sailing, Money, and Business...
. He is said to have aided in the banishment of Panzuriel
Panzuriel
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Panzuriel is a deity of murder, confusion, subversion, and evil creatures of the sea...
.
Dogma
Priests of Procan stress the protean and changeable nature of the seas and skies. They portray nature as a harsh, treacherous mistress that Procan can hope to avail against. While Procan can protect his worshippers against doom, they also note that he can help them reap the bounty of the seas. The ocean—and, by extension, Procan—is seen as the origin and destination of all life.Worshippers
Procan is most often revered in his aquatic aspect, though some inland peoples do worship him as a weather god. Some sentient aquatic creatures, such as merfolk, may also worship Procan.Clergy
Clerics of Procan normally live on or near the sea, ministering to fishermen and sailors. Their holy water is made from salt water, but their create water cantrips may call either fresh or salt water into being.Temples
Any port city will have at least a small shrine to Procan. Atirr, the Free City of GreyhawkFree City of Greyhawk
The Free City of Greyhawk, also known as Greyhawk City and the "Gem of the Flanaess," is a fictional city-state in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
, Hardby, Irongate, and Sasserine
Sasserine
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the fictional city-state of Sasserine is a locale in the Amedio Jungle that serves as the starting point for the Savage Tide Adventure Path currently being published in Dungeon Magazine.-History:Sasserine was...
all have temples to the deity. Atirr's cathedral is particularly large. The cathedral of Procan in Ironport
IronPort
IronPort Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Bruno, California, was a company that designed and sold products and services that protect enterprises against Internet threats. It was best known for IronPort AntiSpam, the SenderBase email reputation service, and email security appliances...
in the Sea Barons is famed for its incredible decorations, including arabesques, symbols of Procan, anchors, and chains all carved from stone. In the center is a towering 20 foot high statue of the god himself. The cathedral's walls stand over a hundred feet high.
Rituals
Procan's services are held on or close to the sea. Gold or pearls are cast into the waters as offerings to the deity, fish and bread are eaten, and the priests pray for the safety at sea.Additional reading
- Baker, Richard, Joseph D. Carriker, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes. StormwrackStormwrackStormwrack is a supplemental source-book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The book has detailed information and descriptions on various types of both realistic and fantastical watery environments, including underwater, the open ocean, ships, coral...
(Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2005). - Boyd, Eric L. "Powers That Be: Procan". PolyhedronPolyhedron (magazine)Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
#130. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998. - Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Moore, Roger E. Greyhawk: The Adventure BeginsGreyhawk: The Adventure BeginsGreyhawk: The Adventure Begins is a 1998 sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The 128 page book was written by Roger E...
(TSR, 1998).