The weapon is made of a black metal, with red runes carved into the blade, though the runes are absent in its early appearances. Its name suggests that it is capable of feeding on the souls of its victims, and this together with the red runes suggests it is possibly an homage to Stormbringer and Mournblade, the soul-consuming swords of Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné stories. Elric himself made a cameo appearance in On the Origin of PCs.