Archetype:Death Deity

"I am the smile of the worm-cleansed skull. I am the regrets of those who remain, and the restlessness of those who are gone. I am the haunt of mausoleums, the god of graves and age, of dust and dusk. I am Myrkul, Lord of Bones, and you have slain my Chosen. But it is no matter, for I am Death. And I am not the end — I am a beginning."

― Myrkul (Baldur's Gate III)

The characters possessing the traits of a death deity. Variation of Death. Archetype of Transcendent Physiology and Death Embodiment. Opposite to Life Deity. Not to be confused with Grim Reaper, Shinigami or Afterlife Deity.

Also Called[]

Death/Dead God/Goddess
Gods of Death, the Dead and the Dying
King/Queen/Lord/Lady of Death, the Dead and the Underworld
Transcendent Death Entity

Properties[]

As an archetype a death deity, a god/goddess who represents or is associated with Death, the dead, the dying and aspects of the Underworld being the Absolute Death itself.

Deities associated with death take on many different forms, depending on the specific culture and religion of the said being in question. Psychopomps, deities of the underworld, and resurrection deities are commonly called death deities in religious texts. The term colloquially refers to deities that either collect or rule over the dead, rather than those deities who determine the time of death, making them a greater divinity due to their power over the aspects of death which directly affect the living and their afterlives. In monotheistic religions, death is commonly personified by an angel or demon instead of a deity.

Associated Powers[]

Afterlife Lordship (varies between Deities)
Angelic-Undead
Anti-Storage
Bloodlessness
Causality Infringement
Conclusion Dominance
Conclusion Embodiment
Dark Divinity/Greater Divinity
Death (rare; not all deities of death are Death itself.)
Death Derivation (varies)
- All Death-Based Abilities
- Death Aspect Manifestation
- Death Connection
- Death Embodiment (varies between Deities)
- Death Empowerment
- Death-Force Manipulation
- Death Lordship
- Death Transcendence
- Fatal Touch
- Omnislayer
Life and Death Lordship (varies between Deities)
- Life and Death Manipulation
Psychopomp
- Grim Reaper Physiology
  - Afterlife Transport/Traveling
  - Preservation
Rebirth Embodiment (Resurrection deities only)
Transcendent Cosmic/Spirit/Undead (varies)
Underworld Deity (varies)
- Underworld Manipulation
Weapon Proficiency (traditionally a Scythe but able to use any weapon with ease.)
- Absolute Weaponry
- Totality Attack

Variations[]

Associations[]

Flaws/Weaknesses[]

Not all Death Deities are able to reap other beings before their time.
Deity Consumption/Slayer/Banishment/Imprisonment
Divine Power Immunity/Negation/Absorption
Divinity Nullification

Known/Example Characters[]

Also See: God of the Dead

Anime/Manga

Ankhseram (Fairy Tail)

Cartoons/Comics

Hades (Blood of Zeus)
Lady Micte (Maya and The Three)

Folklore/Mythology

Death/The Pale Rider/The Grim Reaper (Judeo-Christianity/Western Folklore); deity-like entity.
Ala (African Mythology)
Mictecacihuatl (Aztec Mythology)
Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec Mythology)
Xipe Totec (Aztec Mythology)
Xolotl (Aztec Mythology)
Ereshkigal (Babylonian Mythology)
Nergal (Babylonian Mythology)
Arawn (Celtic Mythology)
Crom Cruach (Celtic Mythology)
Donn (Celtic Mythology)
Manannán mac Lir (Celtic Mythology)
The Morrigan (Celtic Mythology)
Anubis (Egyptian Mythology)
Nephthys (Egyptian Mythology)
Osiris (Egyptian Mythology)
Sokar (Egyptian Mythology)
Maximón (Folk Catholicism)
San La Muerte (Folk Catholicism)
San Pascualito (Folk Catholicism)
Santa Muerte (Folk Catholicism)
Adonis (Greek Mythology)
Angelus (Greek Mythology)
Charon (Greek Mythology)
Iapteus (Greek Mythology)
Macaria (Greek Mythology)
Hermanubis (Greco-Egyptian Mythology)
Agathodaemons(Greco-Roman Mythology)
Apollo (Greco-Roman Mythology) via Diseases
Atropos (Greco-Roman Mythology)
Hades/Pluto (Greco-Roman Mythology)
Hermes/Mercury (Greco-Roman Mythology); As a Psychopomp
Hypnos/Somnus (Greco-Roman Mythology) As the Twin of death, Thanatos
Thanatos/Mors (Greco-Roman Mythology)
Zagreus (Greco-Roman Mythology)
Baron Samedi (Haitian Vodou)
Dhumavati (Hindu Mythology)
Kali (Hindu Mythology)
Yama (Hindu and Buddhist Mythology)
Nazi’at and Nashitat (Islamic Mythology)
Camazotz (Mayan Mythology)
Ixtab (Mayan Mythology)
Jaguar God of the Underworld (Mayan Mythology)
Dumuzid (Mesopotamian Mythology)
Mot (Mesopotamian Mythology)
Freya (Norse Mythology)
Hel (Norse Mythology)
Odin (Norse Mythology)
Valkyries (Norse Mythology)
Dea Tacita (Roman Mythology)
Dis Pater (Roman Mythology)
Libitina (Roman Mythology)
Orcus (Roman Mythology)
Davy Jones (Sailor Folklore)
Izanami (Shinto Mythology)
Chernobog (Slavic Mythology)
Morana (Slavic Mythology)
Veles (Slavic Mythology)