Temple of Procan
Located in the heart of Greyhawk’s Wharves, the Temple of Procan stands as a testament to the sea’s ever-changing nature—part sanctuary, part storm-wracked relic of the deep.
The Sailor’s Refuge
Built from the weathered timbers of shipwrecks, its walls bear the scars of past voyages, while barnacle-encrusted figureheads gaze outward from its eaves like silent guardians of the faith. The temple’s entrance is marked by an immense whale bone, bleached by sun and salt, suspended above the doors as a grim reminder of the sea’s might and mystery.
Inside, the scent of brine and aged wood lingers in the air. The temple is dimly lit, illuminated by lanterns encased in glass fishing floats, their flickering flames casting shifting patterns like sunlight on deep waters. The altar is a massive ship’s wheel, its spokes draped in seaweed and tangled nets, said to have once belonged to a vessel lost to a storm, only to be found adrift and intact the morning after a great tempest. Offerings of gold, pearls, and salt-encrusted tridents rest in a basin of seawater, ever replenished by unseen tides.
High Captain Arvanter Kuleris
The temple is led by Arvanter Kuleris, a weathered, gruff old mariner whose past is as murky as the depths of the Azure Sea. He claims to have been nothing more than a humble whaler when a storm took his ship, casting him adrift in the unforgiving abyss. He speaks of how Procan himself appeared in the form of a massive sea beast, guiding his broken raft to shore. Yet those who have heard the whispers in dockside taverns tell a different tale—one of a fearsome pirate captain who vanished in a storm, only to reappear years later, reborn as a priest of the mercurial sea god. The scars lining his arms and face tell of battles fought with more than mere whales, and the gleam in his golden-ringed eye suggests a man who has plundered more than just the ocean’s bounty.
Despite his past, Arvanter is fiercely loyal to Procan’s chaotic will. He preaches of the sea’s unforgiving nature—it grants life and fortune but will take both without warning. He performs tide-blessings for sailors before their voyages, casting handfuls of salt and pearls into the water to appease the Storm Lord. He offers guidance to sailors, pirates, and merchants alike, though he never guarantees Procan’s favor—only his attention.
Worship and Rituals
Services are held at high tide, when the sea reaches its peak, and again at low tide, when the waters recede, reflecting the constant change Procan embodies. Worshippers gather barefoot on the salt-worn planks, their prayers offered with rum and fish before being cast into the harbor. On stormy nights, the temple rings with chants and shanties, as sailors and priests alike beg Procan to spare their ships—or to claim their enemies instead.
The temple serves as both sanctuary and last resort for those who dare to sail the waves. Many come seeking Procan’s blessing before embarking on dangerous journeys, while others bring recovered shipwreck treasures, hoping to buy the god’s favor. Yet, just as often, it is a place where those who have angered the sea come to beg for mercy—or to find passage into its depths.
The Sailor’s Refuge and its Secrets
While Procan’s faith is strong among sailors, the temple itself is known to harbor more than just pious worshippers. Rumors swirl that beneath its creaking wooden floors lies a hidden chamber, where those who owe the sea a debt can pay it in gold, blood, or secrets. Some say Arvanter keeps a logbook of lost ships, a record of those who defied the sea and met their fate beneath the waves. Others whisper of a hidden relic, a barnacle-covered trident said to have been gifted by Procan himself—a weapon of both blessing and destruction, waiting for the right storm to awaken it.
For those who live by the sea and die by the tide, the Temple of Procan stands as both a beacon and a warning—offering the promise of fortune and the certainty of the storm.
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