The error was indeed where I was placing the rc.exe and rcdll.dll files. Because I'm compiling to a 64-bit platform, Visual Studio is using the 64-bit 'cross-compiler' which does not reside in the $(VSInstallDir)VCin but in the $(VSInstallDir)VCinx86_amd64 folder.
Thus, the solution to my problem was to copy rc.exe and rcdll.dll from the C:Program Files (x86)Windows Kits8.1inx86 folder to the $(VSInstallDir)VCinx86_amd64 folder.
Doing that overcame that first error.
However, upon building, a new error popped up: LNK1158: cannot run 'cvtres.exe'. In contrast to my first rc.exe error, this file actually already does reside in the $(VSInstallDir)VCin folder. The problem is that the cross-compiler is looking for it in its own directory. So I just copied that file from the $(VSInstallDir)VCin folder to the $(VSInstallDir)VCinx86_amd64 folder.
Once I did that, my project built and ran.
与恶龙缠斗过久,自身亦成为恶龙;凝视深渊过久,深渊将回以凝视…