deitysuch

Deitysuch is a term used mainly in speculative fiction, mythography, and worldbuilding to describe an individual who embodies or channels a deity within a given religious or fictional system. A deitysuch is typically regarded as more than a devotee or priest: the person is perceived to carry the god’s presence in a tangible form, either permanently or during particular rites or ceremonies.

Etymology and usage: The word is a neologism formed from deity and such, intended to indicate a person who is of that deity. It is not widely standardized and appears chiefly in discussions of fantasy settings, online glossaries, and scholarly note-taking about invented belief systems.

Roles and practices: A deitysuch may perform prophecy, healing, or ritual leadership, acting as an interface between the divine and the community. Practices surrounding a deitysuch can include initiation, fasting, seclusion, or adherence to ritual purity. The status may be contested, with factions questioning legitimacy or the mage's right to interpret the deity’s will.

Variations and distinctions: Deitysuch is distinct from an avatar, which is a deity's in-dwelling form in many traditions, and from possession or trance, where an external force temporarily occupies a person. A deitysuch implies ongoing embodiment or stabilized identity linked to the god.

In fiction and worldbuilding, the concept enables exploration of authority, faith, and the ethical implications of embodied divinity. Real-world analogues are sometimes discussed in comparative religion as theoretical constructs rather than established doctrine.

See also: Avatar; Theophany; Incarnation; Channel; Medium.