Deathbrings

Deathbrings is a term used in fantasy and speculative fiction to describe entities, objects, or powers associated with death. The term is a compound of death and brings, and while it has no basis in real-world lexicon, it is used to name a class of threats or tools within fictional worlds.

Deathbrings may take several forms: sentient beings whose primary function is to end lives (often called deathbringers), cursed artifacts that kill or sicken those who touch them, or supernatural powers that drain life or trigger fatal catastrophes. In some settings, deathbrings are tied to specific deities or cosmic forces and may act according to fate, oath, or destiny.

In games, novels, and films, deathbrings commonly function as antagonists, quest objectives, or plot devices that test characters' courage, ethics, and resilience. Their depiction ranges from monstrous and overwhelming to tragic and misunderstood, reflecting themes of mortality, power, and responsibility.

Scholarly and critical discussions often treat deathbrings as archetypes representing annihilation, war, plague, or the inexorable pull of fate. They are used to explore how cultures imagine death and rites of passage, and how stories handle the balance between danger and necessity. See also: necromancy, mortality, fate, doom.