Ever since I first set sail on the Sea of Thieves, the Order of Souls has been my jam. Sure, the Gold Hoarders let you dig up chests and the Merchant Alliance has you hauling livestock, but nothing beats the eerie thrill of hunting down cursed skeletons and plucking their glowing skulls under a moonlit sky. There’s something about walking into that purple tent at an outpost, the scent of kraken ink hanging in the air, and looking a Madame in her soulless eyes as she whispers your next bounty. It’s a vibe, mate, and I’m here for it—hook, line, and sinker.

The Order of Souls is one of the original trading companies in the game, founded by a coven of conjurers and seers who figured out how to read the minds of the dead. Their mission? Reclaim Bounty Skulls—those cursed noggins left behind by fallen pirates—so they can peer into the afterlife and uncover the secrets of evil. The irony? After all these years, even as of 2026, the Order hasn’t actually learned a single bloody secret. That’s right, the rumor still circulates that no discovery has been made. It’s a real knee-slapper, honestly. But hey, their lack of progress keeps me employed, so I’m not complaining.

One of the coolest details about the Order is their face paint—those black streaks you see on members aren’t just for show. They use actual Kraken ink to gain supernatural insight. Ever fought a Kraken? The damn thing blankets the sea in ink so thick it turns the water into a black mirror, but you can’t scoop it up yourself. The Order must be sneaking around after World Events with bottles and barrels, because the only thing you get from killing the beast is meat and some treasure. I’ve tried, trust me. It’s a bummer we players can’t tap into that voodoo, but it adds a layer of mystery that keeps the lore spicy.

If you want to kick off your soul-chasing career, you’ll need to find a Madame at any Outpost. These ladies—all with names beginning with “O,” because consistency is key—are your go-to gals. At the Ancient Spire Outpost you’ll meet Madame Olwen; at Plunder Outpost, Madame Olivia; at Dagger Tooth Outpost, Madame Oprah (no relation to the talk show queen); at Galleon’s Grave, Madame Oksana; at Sanctuary Outpost, Madame Olive; at Golden Sands, Madame Olga; and down in The Devil’s Roar at Morrow’s Peak Outpost, Madame Oya stands ready with Ashen voyages. The purple tent is unmistakable, and once you step inside, business is on like Donkey Kong.

When you hand over those Bounty Skulls or spare Mermaid Gems, the Madame rewards you with gold and reputation. If you’ve bought and raised the Order’s Emissary Flag, you’ll also rack up Emissary Value, which can lead to a hefty multiplier when you cash in. Reputation unlocks promotions, and with enough rank you can strut around in the full mystical Order of Souls Costume and deck your ship out with the skeleton-themed Order of Souls Ship Set. I still get chills when I see my galleon draped in those green and purple sails with bone motifs—it’s the pirate equivalent of rolling up in a hearse.

The bread and butter of the job are Bounty Voyages. The Madame sends you after Skeleton Captains—basically, undead bosses guarded by waves of their skeletal crew. You sail to an island, slash your way through those bony blighters, and claim the captain’s skull. Then you high-tail it back before some Reaper ambushes you. For those who enjoy a little extra burn, head to Morrow’s Peak and talk to Madame Oya for Ashen variants in The Devil’s Roar, where geysers and volcanoes make everything a proper cluster-cluck. It’s rough, but the payday is sweeter.

Once you hit Rank 25, things get spicier. The Order starts offering Ghost Ship Voyages. You sail to a marker in the open sea and find yourself surrounded by a spectral armada, ghostly vessels howling as they fire phantom cannonballs. You sink enough of them, and the Captain ghost ship appears. Sending that ethereal fiend to Davy Jones’ locker and stealing the Skull of the Damned is a true rush, and it fetches a handsome bounty of gold and rep. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’ve got a solid crew and a bucket of grog, it’s a hell of a time.

Climbing the Order’s ranks is a grind, but each new title feels like a badge of honor. Here’s the full lineup from my journal:

There’s even talk among the community that beyond 75, hidden ranks might be lurking—perhaps tied to new ritual content released in 2025’s “Spectral Depths” update. I’m still grinding to Magus myself, so I’ll keep you posted.

If you really want to represent, becoming an Emissary is the way to go. Hoist that purple-and-green flag high on your mast, and you’ll earn bonus rewards. But remember: with great power comes great risk. If your ship gets sunk by other pirates, your Emissary Flag breaks and floats up for any scurvy dog to snatch. They can sell it to The Servant of the Flame at The Reaper’s Hideout for a tidy profit. I’ve lost a flag or two to a sneaky galleon, and it stings worse than a jellyfish to the face.

As you complete Commendations for the Order, you unlock titles to flaunt in your reputation panel. From “Voyager of Lost Souls” all the way to “Unleash the Damned,” there’s a ton of flavor. My current favorite is “Hunter of Damned Captains”—it makes me sound like a cryptid wrangler. The full list would make your head spin, but the gist is that the Order loves their dramatic naming conventions. It’s all part of the charm.

The motto of the Order is “Omnes in servitium animarum”—Latin for “All in the service of Souls.” Cheesy? Maybe. But when you’re floating in the dead of night with a deck full of skulls whispering secrets you’ll never understand, it hits different. As one of the original three trading companies, the Order of Souls is the weird sibling of the family, but that’s precisely why I love them. Maybe, just maybe, by 2027 they’ll finally figure out one of those secrets. Until then, I’ll keep sailing, fighting, and cashing in skulls like the superstitious pirate I am. The seas are dark, the rum is strong, and the souls are waiting. 🏴‍☠️💀