Procian

Not to be confused with Procians.

First Appearance and Context

The term appears explicitly in an entry of The Dictionary (4th edition) under “bulshytt.” That note says the Knights of Saunt Halikaarn loudly denounced speech they disliked—calling it “bulshytt”—and accused many of being infected by “Procian thinking.” Their disruptions are said to have worsened the divide between Procian and Halikaarnian orders in the years leading up to the Third Sack. The same note adds that the Knights were Thrown Back shortly before the Third Sack, and that they are often confused in Sæcular entertainments with the legendary Incanters.

An entry labeled “Rhetor” describes a legendary figure and associates that folklore with Procian orders, claiming the power to alter the past by manipulating memories and other records. In popular iconography this connects to tales about the Rhetors.

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

Within the maths, “Procian” functions as shorthand for a syntactic‑minded interpretive posture linked to Saunt Proc. Orders that take their name from this lineage are known as the Procians, whose heritage is tied to the Syntactic Faculty of the Concent of Saunt Muncoster. In discourse it is commonly set in contrast to Halikaarnian traditions under Saunt Halikaarn.

Relationships

• Namesake and lineage: associated with Saunt Proc and orders tracing to the Syntactic Faculty.
• Counterpart and cooperation: frequently contrasted with Halikaarnian teachings and those who adopt that posture; recent accounts describe cooperation between Procians and Halikaarnians—popularly framed as “Rhetors and Incanters”—with outcomes presented by speakers as striking to those aware of them.
• Reference works and iconography: explicitly cited in The Dictionary’s usage notes and in folklore pairings that invoke Rhetors and Incanters.

Descriptions/Characteristics

“Procian” is used as a descriptive label (e.g., “Procian thinking”) rather than as a formal office or title. No rites, insignia, or leadership are implied by the term itself in the material available so far.

In colloquial dialog among avout, “a Procian” can denote someone who would persuade laypeople by telling a coherent, internally consistent story that fits with what listeners already know, turning familiar observations into corroboration. The label is also heard in references to prominent participants at high‑level discussions.

Current Status/Location

In current accounts the word remains in active use within the maths as a descriptor of stance and tradition. It is also recorded in The Dictionary’s notes on usage and historical tensions before the Third Sack.