Nightgaunt
Encyclopedia
Nightgaunts are a fictional race in the Cthulhu Mythos
and is also part of H. P. Lovecraft
's Dream Cycle
. The creatures appear in the poem "Night-Gaunts" and the novella
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
, both by Lovecraft. Nightgaunts were inspired by Lovecraft's childhood nightmares.
", list them as the servants of Nodens
, "Lord of the Great Abyss" (a relatively benevolent but still incredibly alien entity among Lovecraft's pantheon). Brian Lumley
instead associated them with the creature Yibb-Tstll, noting that they "suckle" at the creature's "black breasts" - suggesting that they possess a mouth, which would seem to contradict Lovecraft's description of them as "faceless", although it is possible that the creature's mouths are somehow concealed, or that Lumley was speaking metaphorically.
in the Dreamlands. They sometimes capture unwary climbers, tickling them into submission with their claws and barbed tails, and carry them to the lower reaches of the Dreamlands. Nightgaunts are sometimes used as steeds by the ghouls of the deeper Dreamlands, but do not like to fly over bodies of water.
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
and is also part of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's Dream Cycle
Dream Cycle
The Dream Cycle refers to a series of stories by author H. P. Lovecraft. These stories concern themselves with "The Dreamlands": a vast, alternate dimension that can be entered via dreams.-Geography:The Dreamlands is apparently divided into four regions:...
. The creatures appear in the poem "Night-Gaunts" and the novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath is a novella by H. P. Lovecraft. It was completed in 1927 and was unpublished in his lifetime. It is both the longest of the stories that comprise his Dream Cycle and the longest to feature protagonist Randolph Carter, and can thus be considered a culminating...
, both by Lovecraft. Nightgaunts were inspired by Lovecraft's childhood nightmares.
Description
Nightgaunts have a vaguely human shape, but are thin, black, and faceless. Their skin is slick and rubbery. They sport a pair of inward-facing horns on their heads, and have clawed hands and a long barbed tail which is used to "tickle" their victims into submission. They can fly using a set of membranous wings. They make no sound.Entities Served
Nightgaunts are associated with at least two of the Cthulhu Mythos' deities. Lovecraft's own writings, notably "The Strange High House in the MistThe Strange High House in the Mist
"The Strange High House in the Mist" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Written on November 9, 1926, it was first published in the October 1931 issue of Weird Tales.-Inspiration:An H. P...
", list them as the servants of Nodens
Nodens (Cthulhu Mythos)
Nodens is a fictional character in the Cthulhu Mythos. Based on the Celtic deity, Nodens, is the creation of H. P...
, "Lord of the Great Abyss" (a relatively benevolent but still incredibly alien entity among Lovecraft's pantheon). Brian Lumley
Brian Lumley
Brian Lumley is an English horror fiction writer.Born in County Durham, he joined the British Army's Royal Military Police and wrote stories in his spare time before retiring with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 in 1980 and becoming a professional writer.He added to H. P...
instead associated them with the creature Yibb-Tstll, noting that they "suckle" at the creature's "black breasts" - suggesting that they possess a mouth, which would seem to contradict Lovecraft's description of them as "faceless", although it is possible that the creature's mouths are somehow concealed, or that Lumley was speaking metaphorically.
Dreamlands
Nightgaunts guard Ngranek, an infamous mountain on the isle of OriabOriab
Oriab is a fictional location in H. P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands. It is a large island in the Southern Sea and is lush and fertile. Its most prominent landmark is the tall, snow-capped mountain Ngranek. It is home to the magah birds that nest in its resin trees.- Baharna :Baharna is a major seaport...
in the Dreamlands. They sometimes capture unwary climbers, tickling them into submission with their claws and barbed tails, and carry them to the lower reaches of the Dreamlands. Nightgaunts are sometimes used as steeds by the ghouls of the deeper Dreamlands, but do not like to fly over bodies of water.
Occurrences in pop culture
- In the computer gamePersonal computer gameA PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A HeroQuest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A HeroHero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero is an adventure game/role-playing game hybrid, designed by Lori Ann Cole and published by Sierra On-line. It is the first game in the Quest for Glory series...
, if the player sleeps in unsafe areas of the forest at night, the game will instantly end with a message saying “Looks Like the Night Gaunt Got You.” The accompanying illustration shows a dark silhouetteSilhouetteA silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
of an unhorned humanoid. - In the computer game The Battle for Wesnoth, the Nightgaunt is a level 3 undeadUndeadUndead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
unit evolved from the Shadow, which in turn is evolved from the Ghost. It appears as a dark, ghostly figure wearing a red and white mask and having a large set of claws on its hands. The Nightgaunt is able to conceal itself from enemies at night and also has the backstab ability when attacking. - Nightgaunts are referred to in The Sandman comic book, issue 38 ("The Hunt"). The narrator/protagonist claims that he is kin to the Nightgaunt and Dwarrow, and as such has neither allegiance to nor fear of anything.
- Toy Vault released a Nightgaunt plush among its other Lovecraftian-based plushes.
- In the video game Wild ArmsWild Armsis a role-playing game developed by software company Media.Vision and originally released in Japan in 1996 for the Sony PlayStation video game console and was later translated and released in North America in 1997 and Europe in 1998 by Sony Computer Entertainment...
, one of the boss characters is named the "Night Gaunt," though its form isn't consistent with Lovecraft's description. - Two Nightgaunts appear in InfogramesInfogramesInfogrames Entertainment SA was an international French holding company headquartered in Paris, France. It was the owner of Atari, Inc., headquartered in New York City, U.S. and Atari Europe. It was founded in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet using the proceeds from an introductory...
' 1992 videogame Alone in the DarkAlone in the Dark (video game)Alone in the Dark is a 1992 survival horror video game developed by Infogrames. The game has spawned several sequels as part of the Alone in the Dark series , and was one of the first survival horror games, after the 1989 Capcom game, Sweet Home...
, guarding a staircase. - In the novel Idlewild by Nick SaganNick SaganNick Sagan is an American novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the science fiction novels Idlewild, Edenborn, and Everfree, and his screen credits include episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager...
, the main character, Halloween, creates nightgaunts to serve as his IVR (Immersive Virtual Reality) minions. - The Rudimentary PeniRudimentary PeniRudimentary Peni are a British anarcho-punk/deathrock band formed in 1980.-Line-up:*Nick Blinko - guitar, vocals, artwork, lyrics*Grant Matthews - bass guitar, lyrics*Jon Greville - drums-History:...
song, "Nightgaunts", from the CacophonyCacophony (album)Cacophony is an album by British deathrock band Rudimentary Peni. Self-released on their own imprint Outer Himalayan in 1987, it's entire track list and lyrics are inspired by the life and stories of early 20th Century horror-author HP Lovecraft....
album. - In the webcomic Rhapsodies, Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
's fictional Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team is named the Night-Gauntshttp://rhapsodies.wpmorse.com/walrus3/strips/2007-09-25.gif - In The Graveyard BookThe Graveyard BookThe Graveyard Book is a children's fantasy novel by English author Neil Gaiman. The story is about a boy named Nobody Owens, who after his family is murdered is adopted and raised by the occupants of a graveyard...
, a 2008 novel by Neil GaimanNeil GaimanNeil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, night-gaunts appear in Chapter 3 ("The Hounds of God"), there is also a brief mention in Chapter 7.
