Chapter 14 - Clurichaun

I stopped by the Restoration Point and watched my last 100 Crypt fade as the machine had its way with me. Burning a copy of my digital essence for posterity.

Then I wended my way to the Task Assignment Boards, on the lookout for any members of that ophidiophile gang that tried to rip me off. I had a feeling I hadn’t seen the last of them. Two-bit crooks with Napoleon complexes, no doubt. I supposed Reality Inc. didn’t do their due diligence in screening potential Volunteers for sociopathy.

Or maybe cheap violence just came with the territory. It was in the air. Miasmic.

I stood before the large rectangular touchscreen panels and scanned my barcode. The screens lit up, bright against the dark, glowy intersection. The shifting data lines of Tasks filled my peripheral vision.

I could hardly keep up as new bounties flipped into view, others shuffled to the side, more were claimed. There was no shortage of work, but Camel had been right - competition was fierce. There had to be other access points, but where?

I tried to track the line items long enough to glean the key details.

[Remove Wendigo from New Dawn Central Gardens]

[Remove Merfolk from Crystal Coast Sea Wall]

[Remove Nuckelavee from Upper Dresden’s Park District]

I had heard of Lower Dresden and New Dresden, but knew both were far off. Upper Dresden was likely even further. With no money for transit, I had to find something within walking distance. The closest MAR station to The Commons on the Diamond Line was Royal Heights. I couldn’t recall what lay in the other direction. I didn’t think The Commons was the end of line, but then again I didn’t really know.

I searched and searched. Bounties turned red and inaccessible as others claimed them from access points unknown. Some bounties floated in place much longer - places I had not heard of and creatures with names I could barely pronounce. Less attractive because they were more dangerous.

Then one caught my eye. I quickly tapped it, and information about the Task filled the rectangular screen to my left.

[Task Assignment: Remove Clurichaun from Private Residence in Royal Heights

Per Citizen report, one {rare} Clurichaun has been detected in the sublevel of a private residence at 1 Paradise Way in Royal Heights.

Task Completion Award: 4,000 Crypt

Bonus: 1,000 Crypt for eliminating target entity before the next cycle

Do you accept this Task?]

My mind raced. I had no idea what a Clurichaun was. And it was listed as {rare}.

I had barely escaped an encounter with monsters of the common variety. An uncommon beast had almost eaten me for lunch until much stronger hunters intervened. And what was this about a Citizen report? At a private residence? And there was a bonus!

I wished Camel was there. Someone I could lean on. Someone who could help me interpret all this - put it in perspective.

I wasn’t sure if by selecting the option to view, other Volunteers were temporarily blocked from accepting this bounty. If not, someone else could snatch it. Would I be able to find another bounty this close? I didn’t know. And I didn’t know how long until the next cycle began. There was a ticking clock if I wanted that bonus.

Frag it.

Yes, I accept.

[Task Assigned - Remove Clurichaun from Private Residence in Royal Heights]

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I checked my menu and confirmed it was listed under Tasks. Helpful, so I didn’t forget the address. Not that it would be easy to forget 1 Paradise Way, although I didn’t have much faith in my memory anymore.

I desperately wanted to go to the Archives and research this strange entity I was supposed to exterminate. I glanced up at the perpetually dark sky. When would the next cycle begin? Should I risk missing out on a potential bonus? 4,000 Crypt was still a good payout for one person, but going up against a rare creature solo was a bigger risk. And death meant falling below zero on the metaversal balance sheet.

Frag it again.

Straining to feel even the slightest shift in weather, I raced for the Archives. No cobras spotted en route. At least I had that going for me.

I entered the dilapidated pyramidal structure and descended into the ‘Archiv’ bowels once more, repeating my earlier steps to access the system.

Welcome to the Archives.

Initiate query.

Mythology query, Clurichaun.

Mythology Query initiated -> Clurichaun

A Clurichaun (also spelled Clúrachán) is a mischievous ‘solitary’ fairy in Irish folklore known for its great love of drinking and a tendency to haunt breweries, pubs and wine cellars. Some folklorists suppose that the clurichaun is merely the night-time persona of a leprechaun or a leprechaun on a drinking spree, while others regard them as regional variations of the same being.

Clurichauns are known for being tricksters and pranksters, and they enjoy playing tricks on humans. Often conflated with the ‘treasure guardian’ properties of leprechauns and the biersal (a type of kobold in Germanic mythology), clurichauns are also said to be wealthy, having pots of gold hidden away. Alternatively, they may carry a magical purse with varying properties.

According to folklore, clurichauns can be very dangerous if they are angered. They have been known to curse people, steal their belongings, and even cast spells on them.

Curses? Spells?

Mythology query, Clurichaun spells and abilities.

Mythology Query initiated -> Clurichaun spells and abilities

If one is caught, a clurichaun has the power to vanish if it can make its captor look away for even a moment. Clurichauns can also create illusions to deceive humans, especially as to the location of treasure. If angered, they may vandalize a home and spoil drinks in revenge. In extreme instances, clurichauns have been known to force mortals into years of forced servitude.

Years of forced servitude? Hmmm. I didn't like the sound of that.

Mythology query, Clurichaun magical purse.

Mythology Query initiated -> Clurichaun magical purse

Clurichauns are said to carry a magical purse that contains a spre na skillenagh, a lucky shilling that always returns no matter how often it is spent, or the purse may remain full of money. Due to the desire of mortals to obtain this purse, a clurichaun will carry two purses, one magical and one normal, and will offer the normal purse before vanishing.

A binge-drinking leprechaun didn’t sound too intimidating. And I was practically salivating at the mention of pots of golden treasure and magical coins, although I didn't think vendors accepted gold as a valid form of payment in the metaverse. It seemed more likely that the tricky thing would just vanish before I could kill it.

There were too many unknown factors. Speculation will only get you so far.

Finishing at the Archives, I rode the elevator up and exited back onto the shadowy street. The only other way out of The Commons I was aware of was the crossing point on the outskirts, near the Red Light district, guarded by Polizei bots in tactical gear and opaque black helmets. I made my way there.

As I walked, I pondered the Task before me.

A leprechaun, or a small fairy… they had intelligence. They looked human, I assumed. Stabbing demonic dogs was one thing. Was I able to kill a small humanoid? What if it tried to communicate with me? Did I have the nerve? Did I have it in me to take the life of a small person? For some reason, I felt that I just might.

I reminded myself that they weren’t real. Right? They couldn’t be. They were just bits of invasive data. Foreign code, infecting the system. It would be like spraying a cockroach, but even more abstracted.

Lost in my thoughts, I looked up to see the opening in the shimmering wall. The barrier between The Commons and the rest of The Collective. The Polizei bots at the crossing point slowly turned their heads to appraise me as I approached.

Uh. I have a Task. Out there. Royal Heights?

I pointed lamely in the direction of the glittering city beyond.

The Polizei bots said nothing.

Unsure of what to do, I opened my menu and highlighted the Task currently assigned to me as if to prove my business.

Blank and unreadable behind the glass visor of the helmet, one of the bots grunted an authoritarian, “Proceed,” and waved me past. As I crossed the threshold, a light scanned me, tagging the barcode identifier on my wrist, registering my exit from The Commons.