mark of cain -- Cain's soul-bound brand
The true Mark is a singleton covenant -- only one bearer exists in the world at a time. It does not strike on its own; it remembers who may wield the First Blade as the show intended.
How you play
* True Mark + true First Blade together unlock apex finishes on cosmological prey (gods, archangels, leviathans, and similar).
* Mark alone builds corruption on your score sheet -- Cain's
endurance and murder-hunger pressure, not an offensive upgrade without the jawbone. High corruption softens incoming harm only.
* recallblade -- when you bear the true Mark and registry names you
as the blade bearer, call the singleton jawbone back to your hand if it was left elsewhere (stamina cost, cooldown).
* Pit shade-echo Marks use a capped Shade echo meter -- never apex.
Shade copies
Deep Purgatory Pit carriers sometimes wear a shade Mark. Killing a Cain-echo carrier guarantees a shade drop. Random mythic pools may rarely roll a shade jawbone -- never the true pair.
What to do with a shade Mark (inventory item)
* Carry or equip it like any artifact -- it is not the singleton true Mark.
* score shows a capped Shade echo meter instead of true corruption (help mark of cain).
* Pair with a shade jawbone for monster-band finishes only -- never apex god-kills (help first blade).
* Sell ordinary iron weapons at Rimrock Surplus or Garth's pawn desk (help sell | help surplus).
See also: help first blade | help purgatory | help colt | help walking stick