upsikas

Upsikas is a term encountered in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to denote a traditional practice or class of practitioners focused on memory, knowledge preservation, and the interpretation of a culture’s myths and histories. The word is not widely attested in real-world languages and is primarily used as a fictional label.

In many imagined settings, upsikas are mnemonic ritualists or scholars. They may perform ceremonies, maintain archives, recite genealogies, or adjudicate evolving myths during communal gatherings. Objects such as tablets, talismans, or chant scripts are often associated with upsikas, and initiation rites may be used to recruit or certify members. Their work often situates them at the intersection of religion, history, and politics within a society.

Etymology: The term appears to be a constructed or invented word rather than a standardized real-world term. Writers may derive it from invented languages or selectively borrow phonemes from various tongues to convey antiquity or authority.

Variants and interpretation: Different works reinterpret the role of upsikas. Some depict them as guardians of canonical history who resist change, while others present them as dynamic interpreters who adapt myths to new circumstances. In some settings, upsikas are a formal guild within a priestly order; in others they are a loose fellowship of storytellers or memory specialists.

See also: ritual, oral tradition, memory, knowledge preservation, worldbuilding.