Difference between revisions of "Nightgaunt"
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| − | + | Nightgaunt, AKA Night Gaunt, Night-Gaunt. | |
| − | Nightgaunts are black humanoids with bat-like wings, rubbery bodies, inward pointing horns, barbed tails, and faceless heads. They guard the entrances to the Underworld from dreamers. They inhabit the entrances on the mountain, Ngranek, and are the reason people fear to climb too high on that mountain. They also guard the entrance to the Underworld at Sarkomand and the tops of the mountains that separate the | + | Origin: H.P. Lovecraft, from a dream. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | <!-- | ||
| + | For best results, include a descriptive quote from the original source of the monster/race, | ||
| + | followed by a fairly standard description of what the monster looks like, is, and does. | ||
| + | An optional copyright-free illustration can be inserted with this code: | ||
| + | [[File:File.png|200px|thumb|right|alt text]] | ||
| + | --> | ||
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| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | Suddenly, without a warning sound in the dark, Carter felt his curved scimitar drawn stealthily out of his belt by some unseen hand. Then he heard it clatter down over the rocks below. And between him and the Milky Way he thought he saw a very terrible outline of something noxiously thin and horned and tailed and bat-winged. Other things, too, had begun to blot out patches of stars west of him, as if a flock of vague entities were flapping thickly and silently out of that inaccessible cave in the face of the precipice. Then a sort of cold rubbery arm seized his neck and something else seized his feet, and he was lifted inconsiderately up and swung about in space. Another minute and the stars were gone, and Carter knew that the night-gaunts had got him.... Carter preferred to look at [the awful Peaks of Throk] than at his captors, which were indeed shocking and uncouth black beings with smooth, oily, whale-like surfaces, unpleasant horns that curved inward toward each other, bat-wings whose beating made no sound, ugly prehensile paws, and barbed tails that lashed needlessly and disquietingly. And worst of all, they never spoke or laughed, and never smiled because they had no faces at all to smile with, but only a suggestive blankness where a face ought to be. All they ever did was clutch and fly and tickle; that was the way of night-gaunts. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <br>— HP Lovecraft, "The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath" | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Nightgaunts are black humanoids with bat-like wings, rubbery bodies, inward pointing horns, barbed tails, and faceless heads. They guard the entrances to the [[Underworld]] from dreamers. They inhabit the entrances on the mountain, [[Ngranek]], and are the reason people fear to climb too high on that mountain. They also guard the entrance to the [[Underworld]] at [[Sarkomand]] and the tops of the mountains that separate the [[Plateau of Leng]] from [[Inganok]] and the [[Giant's Quarry]]. They attack at night and are said to "tickle" their prey into submission. The Nightgaunts have been known to take the dreamers who are close to the entrances of the underworld and leave them in the [[Underworld#Vale_of_Pnath|Vale of Pnath]], at the mercy of the [[Dhole]]s that dwell there but are never seen. Nightgaunts are very dangerous and are capable of easily taking down [[Moon Beast]]s and stealing off dreamers unawares in their travels. It is said that you are more likely to be attacked by a Nightgaunt if you think about them often. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Nightgaunts and the [[Ghoul]]s have a relationship in which the Nightgaunts may act as steeds for the [[Ghoul]]s and servants. They also serve the [[Other God]], [[Nodens]]. The [[Shantak]] has a remarkable fear of Nightgaunts. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Heresies and Controversies== | ||
| + | <!-- | ||
| + | Optional. This is a good place to include non-canon and controversial aspects of the creature's mythos. | ||
| + | Suggested Alternative Theories include: Derleth's elemental scheme; pseudo-science interpretation; | ||
| + | "fanon" interpretations; unofficial humorous or eccentric versions; | ||
| + | identification with "Real Life" mythological, religious, folklore, natural, and historical phenomena; | ||
| + | rumor and speculation... these contribute some flexibility and ambiguity to the mythos. | ||
| + | * Alternative_theory. ([[source]]) | ||
| + | --> | ||
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| + | |||
| + | ==Keeper Notes== | ||
| + | <!-- Optional. Suggestions for using these creatures in the CoC RPG, and in fan-fiction. --> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Associated Mythos Elements== | ||
| + | * deity: [[Nodens]] | ||
| + | * races: | ||
| + | ** [[Ghoul]]s are allies | ||
| + | ** [[Dhole]]s share some relationship, as victims may be carried off to the Vale of Pnath where the Dholes dwell | ||
| + | ** [[Shantak]]s have a remarkable fear of Nightgaunts, and [[Moon Beast]]s are enemies of the Nightgaunts | ||
| + | * location: [[Underworld]], [[Ngranek]], [[Sarkomand]], [[Plateau of Leng]], [[Giant's Quarry]], [[Underworld#Vale_of_Pnath|Vale of Pnath]], [[Underworld#Great_Abyss|Great Abyss]], [[Underworld#Peaks_of_Thok|Peaks of Thok]] | ||
| + | * cult: The cult of [[Nodens]] might keep Nightgaunts in their company | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <!-- | ||
| + | for list of scenarios, see http://www.yog-sothoth.com/wiki/index.php/Category:CoC:Name1_scenarios Call of Cthulhu Scenarios | ||
| + | for list of films, see http://www.yog-sothoth.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Film:General | ||
| + | --> | ||
| + | * fiction: "[[Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath (fiction)]]" | ||
| + | * sourcebook: ''[[Malleus Monstrorum]]'', ''[[H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands]]'' | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Races]] | [[Category:Races]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Dreamlands]] | ||
| + | [[Category:HollowEarth]] | ||
| + | [[Category:LovecraftMythos]] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:53, 10 August 2022
Nightgaunt, AKA Night Gaunt, Night-Gaunt.
Origin: H.P. Lovecraft, from a dream.
Contents
Description
Suddenly, without a warning sound in the dark, Carter felt his curved scimitar drawn stealthily out of his belt by some unseen hand. Then he heard it clatter down over the rocks below. And between him and the Milky Way he thought he saw a very terrible outline of something noxiously thin and horned and tailed and bat-winged. Other things, too, had begun to blot out patches of stars west of him, as if a flock of vague entities were flapping thickly and silently out of that inaccessible cave in the face of the precipice. Then a sort of cold rubbery arm seized his neck and something else seized his feet, and he was lifted inconsiderately up and swung about in space. Another minute and the stars were gone, and Carter knew that the night-gaunts had got him.... Carter preferred to look at [the awful Peaks of Throk] than at his captors, which were indeed shocking and uncouth black beings with smooth, oily, whale-like surfaces, unpleasant horns that curved inward toward each other, bat-wings whose beating made no sound, ugly prehensile paws, and barbed tails that lashed needlessly and disquietingly. And worst of all, they never spoke or laughed, and never smiled because they had no faces at all to smile with, but only a suggestive blankness where a face ought to be. All they ever did was clutch and fly and tickle; that was the way of night-gaunts.
— HP Lovecraft, "The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath"
Nightgaunts are black humanoids with bat-like wings, rubbery bodies, inward pointing horns, barbed tails, and faceless heads. They guard the entrances to the Underworld from dreamers. They inhabit the entrances on the mountain, Ngranek, and are the reason people fear to climb too high on that mountain. They also guard the entrance to the Underworld at Sarkomand and the tops of the mountains that separate the Plateau of Leng from Inganok and the Giant's Quarry. They attack at night and are said to "tickle" their prey into submission. The Nightgaunts have been known to take the dreamers who are close to the entrances of the underworld and leave them in the Vale of Pnath, at the mercy of the Dholes that dwell there but are never seen. Nightgaunts are very dangerous and are capable of easily taking down Moon Beasts and stealing off dreamers unawares in their travels. It is said that you are more likely to be attacked by a Nightgaunt if you think about them often.
The Nightgaunts and the Ghouls have a relationship in which the Nightgaunts may act as steeds for the Ghouls and servants. They also serve the Other God, Nodens. The Shantak has a remarkable fear of Nightgaunts.
Heresies and Controversies
Keeper Notes
Associated Mythos Elements
- deity: Nodens
- races:
- Ghouls are allies
- Dholes share some relationship, as victims may be carried off to the Vale of Pnath where the Dholes dwell
- Shantaks have a remarkable fear of Nightgaunts, and Moon Beasts are enemies of the Nightgaunts
- location: Underworld, Ngranek, Sarkomand, Plateau of Leng, Giant's Quarry, Vale of Pnath, Great Abyss, Peaks of Thok
- cult: The cult of Nodens might keep Nightgaunts in their company
References
- fiction: "Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath (fiction)"
- sourcebook: Malleus Monstrorum, H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands
