In a world scarred by Soulquakes, where emotional torment is as lethal as any blade, Cael Runar is a misfit trainee burdened with the weakest and most misunderstood Soulbrand—Mournthread, the power to manipulate regret. Haunted by the disappearance of his sister in the deadly Dead Zone, and shunned by peers who see his gift as a curse, Cael struggles to find his place in the ruthless Soulforge ranks.

When the brutal trial to enter the Dead Zone finally arrives, Cael is thrust into a nightmare realm where memories twist and despair reigns. Alongside a mismatched squad—including a mysterious, silent girl whose own secrets run deep—he faces ongoing Wretched creatures that prey on fear and regret. Battling not just monsters but the fracturing of his own mind, Cael must learn to wield his painful power or be consumed by it.

As he kills his first Wretched and unlocks terrifying new abilities, Cael’s idea of what's real begins to falter. Each step closer to mastery costs him pieces of his past, forcing him to think about who he really is—and whether survival is worth the price of losing himself.
Echoes of the Soulbrand is a heavy, super intense journey exploring pain as identity, the price of power, and what it truly means to survive in a world where every soul is forged in suffering.

Welcome to the world of Marrowvale — where every soul is bound by threads of power, pain, and memory.


This Codex is your guide to understanding the strange forces at play: the Soulforge system, the monsters stalking the land, and the powers that shape destinies.


Soulbrands: Unique marks born from the soul's deepest core. They grant their wielders strange and powerful abilities — but never without a cost.


Soul Tax: Using a Soulbrand drains the user's spirit and mind. The stronger the power, the heavier the toll.


Ranks: The Soulforge hierarchy ranks from 1 (Spark) to 9 (God-like), measuring strength and mastery.


Shard Parties: Teams sent into dangerous Dead Zones to collect Remnant Shards from slain monsters.


Corruption: Feeding on too many toxic shards without control leads to madness — becoming Wretched themselves.


Born from fractured emotions, these creatures haunt the dead zones.


GrieversEmotion Source: SorrowAppearance: Pale, eyeless giants weeping bloodAbility: Drag victims into emotional flashbacks


SpitebornEmotion Source: HatredAppearance: Thorn-covered beastsAbility: Grow stronger with nearby grudges


HollowkinEmotion Source: ApathyAppearance: Humanoid shellsAbility: Paralyze victims with numbness


MockersEmotion Source: EnvyAppearance: Mirror-faced insectoidsAbility: Mimic victims' regrets, turning their own power against them


RuinwightsEmotion Source: RegretAppearance: Skeletal creatures wrapped in torn memoriesAbility: Implant crippling regret mid-fight


When a Wretched dies, it leaves behind a Remnant Shard — a crystallized fragment of its birth emotion, useful for enhancing Soulbrands or forging relics.


Every Soulbrand is unique. Some harness elements, others emotions.


Ghost Threads: Emotional powers — manipulating feelings, memories, and regrets.


Anchor Threads: Physical powers — strength, speed, elemental control.


Combos: Some elite wielders combine both for devastating effects.


Dead Zones: Dangerous lands where reality is fractured, home to Wretched and twisted phenomena.


Shard: Crystallized essence from Wretched, used as a power source or weapon material.


Soul Tax Spike: Intense moments when the Soulbrand's drain overwhelms the user, causing physical and mental strain.


Forge Eclipse: A rare astral event where high-rank Soulforged face trials of power and identity.


As you follow Cael Runar's journey, refer back here to better understand the monsters he fights, the powers he gains, and the heavy price he pays. The deeper you dive, the darker the threads become.


Keep this codex close... because in Marrowvale, knowledge is survival.


Echoes of the Soulbrand: The Codex