A 3,000 guaranteed payout for killing a minotaur (if I succeeded) versus a 4,000 possible payout for killing a jiangshi (if I succeeded before The Collective was baptized in alternating scalding / freezing pink rain). I sure loved money, and the things money could buy. 1,000 additional Crypt meant a lot for a poor sod like me.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[Do you accept this Task?]

Yes.

[Task Assigned - Remove Jiangshi from Elysian Spires Financial District]

As the bounty vanished from the Task Assignment Board, I searched again for the Minotaur task. Maybe I could accept both tasks? I wasn’t aware of any rule about a maximum number of concurrent assigned tasks. But the Minotaur task was gone. Snatched up by some other Volunteer no doubt.

Okay. Jiangshi it is. A 2,000 minimum payment, but why not be optimistic?

Having no concept of what this invasive entity was, I wanted to do some research at the Archives. But did I have enough time for this? The trouble was I had no way of telling when the next cycle would begin. There was no day or night in The Commons. I didn’t have an almanac, or whatever it was, like Fancy Jack. And I didn’t have the meteorological instincts of that elderly vendor at the Supply Depot.

Come to think of it, why not go and ask?

I covered the relatively short distance to the Supply Depot and walked in. Sure enough, the old woman was where I expected her to be, perched on her stool near the checkout counter. She smiled, wrinkling her eyes at me in faint recognition. I saw no parasol in her liver spotted hands.

“Oh ho ho. Come to do some shopping?”

▶ I’m a little short on Crypt right now, but I hope to do so soon. Might I ask you a question?

“Ask away, dearie.”

▶ The rain. You said you’re never wrong about the rain. Do you think it is going to rain soon?

She paused, as if listening to the very fabric of the metaverse, and raised her hand to detect some change of pressure or humidity that I was oblivious to. She smiled again.

“Not yet.”

▶ Thank you. I really appreciate it.

“Before you run off, you should know that the renovations are finished. Our upstairs Auction House is now open for buying and selling.”

I looked over at the spiral staircase leading up through the ceiling. The previously inaccessible upper floor. Apache had mentioned this. Alas, I had no Crypt to bid on anything and nothing valuable to put up for auction. Something to keep in mind for later.

I said as much and bowed, thanking her again before exiting. If it wasn’t going to rain yet I might have time to research at the Archives before finding out wherever Elysian Spires was and getting myself there.

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Passing through the darkened and neglected blocks on the far side of The Commons, I entered the concrete pyramidal structure and descended to the deep bowels of the ARCHIV. When the elevator finally spewed me out, I approached the hanging curved screens and attached the headset.

Welcome to the Archives.

Initiate query.

Hmmm. Yes, I need to learn whatever I can about my target. But it’s been awhile since I’ve been down here and have a few other curiosities to satisfy.

▶ Mythology query, Huodou.

Mythology Query initiated -> Huodou

The Huodou is a creature originating from the legends of ethnic minorities in southern China. Described as a large black dog that can both devour and breathe fire, the Huodou was viewed as an omen of misfortune. Flames would break out wherever it trod, so the beast came to signify wildfires and devastation. In some regional variations of the legend, looking into the Huodou’s eyes would either reveal your deepest fears or illuminate your path to enlightenment.

I froze. Gooseflesh appeared on my bare arms and a shiver ran up my spine. Deepest fears. Is that what I had seen, gazing into those black pools before the monster tore me to shreds? And what about Rook? She said what she saw was beautiful. What did that mean? And more specifically, what did that mean about me?

I was on a schedule. No time to dwell on this now.

▶ Query, coco de mer nut.

Query initiated -> coco de mer nut

The coco de mer nut is the large, fibrous fruit of the Lodoicea palm tree, also known as the sea coconut or double coconut, and is the largest known seed of any plant. They are the size and shape of human buttocks, and can weigh up to sixty-sixty pounds.

What? That’s strange. But also not helpful. Wait a second… let me try something else.

▶ Mythology query, coco de mer nut.

Mythology Query initiated -> coco de mer nut

The nut of the coco de mer is very large, resembling both the shape and size of the disembodied buttocks of a woman on one side, and the belly and thighs on the other. Because of this appearance, many beliefs persisted about the nut’s aphrodisiacal qualities, status as a forbidden fruit, and relation to mermaids and other mythical sea creatures.

Prior to the discovery of the trees that produce the fruit, sailors reported witnessing the nuts falling upwards from the floor of the Indian Ocean, leading to the belief that they grew on trees in an underwater forest. These trees were also believed to be the home of the mythical Garuda or Rukh, a huge bird capable of hunting elephants and tigers.

Once the real trees were discovered in the 1700s, it was observed that the curious fruit only grew on female coco de mer trees, while the male trees had long, phallic-looking cylindrical flower clusters. Because of these erotic shapes, people believed the trees uprooted themselves and made passionate love on stormy nights. Because of the bashfulness of the trees, whoever witnessed the trees mating would go blind.

Um… what did I just read?

Okay. So I had one {uncommon} coco de mer nut in my Inventory as a crafting material. What could I possibly make with it? And what about the mention of a giant underwater bird that could hunt an elephant? Whoever heard of an underwater bird? Another problem for another time.

▶ Mythology query, Jiangshi.

Mythology Query initiated -> Jiangshi

A jiangshi, literally meaning ‘stiff corpse,’ is a reanimated dead body in Chinese legend and folklore, commonly known as a Chinese hopping vampire. Jiangshi have their origin when Taoist priests perform spells via printed talismans on the deceased in order to send them to their home for burial, but the reanimated corpses deviate and do not obey the command. Due to rigor mortis, the undead creatures can only move about by hopping. However, they are surprisingly agile and can hop faster than most people can run.

Jiangshi are said to come awake at night, seeking to kill living creatures to absorb their qi and become more powerful, while during the day they rest in coffins or hide in dark places such as caves. Based on the amount of time elapsed from death to reanimation, the physical appearance of a jiangshi can vary widely (i.e., the severity of the decomposition). Although completely blind a jiangshi can sense human breath.

Great. Just fragging great.