Way of the Warrior Saints/Saint Procyon

Saint Procyon is often depicted as a raccoon rampant, although he often assumes the form of other woodland animals.

Procyon was originally a hermit, living off the forest, accepting, humbly, what the forest had to offer.

This was not enough to keep him alive, unfortunately. Saint Procyon, in his desire to live meekly, dining only on lichen soup, began to starve. Eventually, he had not the strength to leave his hermit-cave, nor find more lichen to feed himself.

As he lay dying, no fat upon his bones to sustain him, Procyon was discovered by a family of raccoons, who licked his face until he awakened. The licking was, in fact, merely the raccoons way of cleaning their food, as they they then began to eat Procyon's face.

Procyon suffered such agony, as he felt this was payment for being brought back to life.

From that day on, scarred about the eyes, Procyon dwelt among the raccoons, the ferrets, stoats, mice, squirrels, and other woodland creatures, learning their wisdom of the earth and forests.

Procyon's followers revere cunning, deception, and well cured furs.

Rituals are simple, consisting of bathing the hands, and food to be eaten, before consumption. (Some scholars have noted that followers of Saint Procyon are, for some reason, not as susceptible to disease. It is a matter of debate as to whether Procyon has some special ability to ward his followers from sickness).

When a follower of Procyon dies, her hands are washed in running water, an eyes smeared with pitch, so she is known as an adherent of Procyon. A burrow is dug in the side of a convenient hill, and the corpse placed within. The burrow is then collapsed, and the deceased is left to meet the Father of Earth and Stone.