Overview

The Nightgaunt is an extradimensional entity encountered by the party at Palais Kinsky during Vienna Session 6. The creature’s origin, purpose, and connection to the Aeternum Choir are unclear.

Physical Description

The Nightgaunt is a large, flying creature with:

• Nocturnal adaptation (operates at night)
• Significant physical strength
• Three-clawed attacks causing severe trauma
• Apparent ability to phase or travel dimensionally

Encounter History (Session 6)

Date: August 6, 1814 (evening, Palais Kinsky)

Circumstances: The creature attacked the party at their lodgings during evening hours. The attack was violent and directly threatened party members.

Combat Notable Actions:

• Emma Wentworth: Bit the creature’s neck during combat, tearing away flesh
• Georgiana Wentworth: Drew swords in her nightgown and fought tactically
• Adrien de Montferrand: Delivered the killing blow against the creature
• Charlotte Thorne: Sustained severe injuries — three-clawed slash across shoulder, resulting in permanent incapacitation

Outcome: The Nightgaunt was killed, but its presence at the party’s lodging raised critical questions about the Brotherhood’s knowledge of party location and intentions.

Aftermath

Charlotte’s injuries from the Nightgaunt attack directly caused her retirement from fieldwork (Session 7). The encounter demonstrated:

• The Choir’s willingness to deploy supernatural assets
• The party’s physical vulnerability to non-mortal threats
• The reality of the supernatural danger beyond academic mystery

Identification

Georgiana Wentworth identified the creature as a Nightgaunt using the Revelations of Gla’aki — providing context that this is a known entity in occult literature, not a unique manifestation.

Keeper Questions

• What sent the Nightgaunt to Palais Kinsky? Direct Brotherhood order or independent manifestation?
• Why target the party’s lodgings rather than a specific individual?
• Does the Choir have ongoing access to Nightgaunts for future operations?
• Is the creature’s death a significant loss to the Brotherhood’s plans?

[!info] Keeper Note The Nightgaunt encounter is a key campaign moment. It demonstrates the physical reality of the supernatural threat and directly causes Charlotte’s retirement. The creature’s origin and purpose (Choir-sent? Independent? Test?) remain ambiguous and can be clarified during interrogation of captured cultists or through intelligence gathering.

Relationships

• Knows Emma Wentworth — Emma bit its neck, tearing flesh during Session 6 combat
• Knows Georgiana Wentworth — Fought with swords during Session 6 attack
• Knows Adrien de Montferrand — Delivered killing blow during Session 6
• Knows Charlotte Thorne — Severely wounded Charlotte with three-clawed slash across shoulder