#TSUKISHITA ARCHIVES 🌸 bestiary.

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Hiroko’s Monster Manual

Complete Bestiary of the Otherworldly, as compiled from information contained within the Tsukishita Archives; entry edited by Asai Hiroko 

The nue is among the most dangerous of our native monsters; while other species may be reasoned with in order to avoid direct conflict, or, in those of lesser intelligence, simply fooled or outwitted, the nue is both remarkably intelligent for its bestial appearance, and similarly bloodthirsty. Many writers beyond our archives have described the beast as bearing “the head of a monkey, body of a tanuki, legs of a tiger, and a snake for a tail”. 

Nue are spirits of illness and nightmares; they are capable of obscuring their form through the use of a noxious black cloud; when the nue descends upon a location, it brings with it chronic nightmares, making its victims increasingly susceptible to ailment, and painful, sometimes debilitating disease; those who have been infected by the nue and survived report consistent, intense fevers, aching muscles, migraines, and difficulty breathing. 

One of the lasting mysteries of the nue is whether it is a species or a single creature that is capable of re-creating its material form; while there have been multiple encounters with the nue across the centuries, it has never been reported as being in two locations at the same time, and many of its appearances are spread out between both time and distance. In the instance that a nue must be confronted, it should be done so with caution; evidence suggests that inhaling its fumes is the cause of the ailment it brings, so one should ensure to cover their face well with a mask or cloth. Because of its tail, the nue has few blind spots to attack from, and it is most wise to hunt in a group of three or more in order to disorient and distract the creature. Once killed, the nue’s body and surrounding area must be properly purified.

The nue’s illness is survivable, though no direct cure has been identified. If the infected victim receives proper treatment to keep the more dangerous symptoms in check, or if they’re simply especially hardy, the illness may run its course within a few days after the nue is cleansed and the victim will likely recover back to full health. The nue’s blood can be diluted and combined with the appropriate herbs (see the archival collection ‘Otherworldly Medicine and Alchemical Combinations’) to create a powerful sedative that induces a deep, dreamless sleep to whomever ingests it. Venom extracted from its tail is a potent poison, but has little practical use beyond. Other physical components, such as claws, fangs, bones, and fur, have no unique qualities and, due to the possibility of lingering toxins, are not advised for practical usage - however, this does not stop some from prizing the nue’s pelt (and replicas produced by con artists) as a trophy.

Some have compared the nue to the western “chimera” but beyond both having the combined features of a number of other, more earthly creatures, there is little to no observed similarities nor apparent connection between the two species.

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Hiroko’s Monster Manual

Complete Bestiary of the Otherworldly, as compiled from information contained within the Tsukishita Archives; entry edited by Asai Hiroko

The Ho-o (or Phoenix, as it is more commonly known in the far west) is a species of bird of apparently divine origin. Their size often varies between individual from that of a human child to well over that of the average adult, but can be easily distinguished through their plumage; a Phoenix's feathers are described as gold at first glance, but iridescent, shifting in color from each angle, making the bird appear multicolored. They can also be distinguished by the crest atop their heads and long trail of tail feathers that have a similar iridescent color. Anatomically, it can be compared most closely to a common pheasant--albeit considerably larger.

Ho-o are near universally considered symbolic of the sun and, in turn, fire. While reports of their appearance can be found near anywhere, they seem to prefer to make their homes and nests in mountainous regions, particularly those well-isolated from any human civilization. Some accounts suggest that they only make appearances to those “pure of heart,” bearing blessings, but evidence would suggest that rather, anyone may encounter one, but it will only show trust and companionship to those of good will and honesty. Due to their elusiveness, they are a difficult creature to study in any great detail--many assumptions can be made from patterns in their behavior, but few conclusive facts have been found regarding the species and its specific origins; most agree that they hail from the Heavens, or whatever we may call the realm of existence of the gods. 

When one dies, its body combusts and burns until all organic material is burned away; then, the ashes re-form into a newborn. They are considered divine, or at least harbingers of luck, as they tend to bring blessings of longevity, happiness, and fortune to those who witness them--however, while many stories tend to depict them as mild-mannered, or even submissive, they can be highly aggressive when provoked--one report from within our Archives claims an attack by a particularly defensive individual when the author in question came too near to her nest. Likewise, they are not without malice, and have been known to bring curses down on those who bring them harm.

For that reason, trying to pluck a feather from such a creature is not advised--however, like all birds, the Ho-o is known to molt and lose feathers through natural causes on occasion. If one should come across a phoenix feather, they are incredibly fortunate indeed, as the medicinal properties of their feathers have been widely considered without compare. While there is no evidence to suggest that a feather can provide immortality (or even extend a person’s lifespan beyond its natural scope), they do function as an incredibly potent medicine for any number of ailments, so much that they may very well be considered a “cure-all”. Due to their rarity, of course, having any reliable stock of them is completely implausible. Likewise, their down is not only exceptionally warm, but completely inflammable--however, the odds of finding enough down feathers to produce any sort of garment are astronomical and would likely take multiple lifetimes. 

Ultimately, the Ho-o or Phoenix is a divine creature that poses no active threat and should be treated with due dignity; like all creatures, approaching without its consent is dangerous, though not typically fatally unless you make the mistake of bringing it to harm. 

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Hiroko’s Monster Manual

Complete Bestiary of the Otherworldly, as compiled from information contained within the Tsukishita Archives; entry edited by Asai Hiroko

Slimes, as a species, are generally easily identifiable as “any creature that appears to be composed wholly out of a non-organic, mucus-like substance.” While undeniably living, as they possess the ability to move and an apparent need to feed, they lack any apparent sentience or intelligence, not unlike a jellyfish. No account of an intelligent slime has been observed to date.  There are several variants of slimes that appear to come about, based on research, through the composition of what they eat. A slime that consumes a large amount of iron and other metals may take on a rust-colored hue, for example; the coloration, however, has no apparent bearing on a slime’s capabilities otherwise.

Slimes are most often found in cool, dark, and damp areas, such as caverns and sewers, and typically those with a large amount of debris, waste, and/or decaying matter can be found. (They can occasionally also be found in rivers, channels, streams, and so forth if the are sufficiently polluted.) They feed by absorbing material into their body and dissolving it. They have no apparent waste and grow larger as they feed, but often leave behind a “trail” as they move the way a slug might. It remains unclear how or why a Slime originates; the prevailing theory as of this bestiary’s compilation is that they are a form of fungus.

For the most part, Slimes are relatively harmless, if not beneficial to mortal life as a whole. However, should there be too much build-up of decay and waste, a slime can grow to be large enough that it becomes a nuisance or outright danger, as it continues to seek out food without any discrimination. The worst recorded cases allege slimes may grow large enough to consume wagons, humans, and even small houses. In the instance that removing a slime is necessary, it can be a somewhat challenging undertaking: a slime does not experience pain in any readily apparent way, nor do weapons or tools tend to have much effect on it. Even if they do, the corrosive nature of their mucus is dangerous and can destroy weapons within a matter of days, so any excess should be cleaned immediately. They are, however, susceptible to fire and extremely flammable; while this is not an ideal solution, it is oftentimes the only way to handle a slime once it has reached a dangerous size.