Nightgaunt Attack Palais Kinsky

Overview

Between midnight and dawn on the night of August 7–8, 1814. The Harmonic Engine’s resonant frequency, having reached 87% operational purity, thinned the dimensional membrane separating Vienna from the Outer Spheres. A Nightgaunt — a creature of shadow and hunger that feeds on the terror of its victims — crossed over, drawn to the harmonic beacon emanating from the Sealed Anatomical Theatre. It hunted in Vienna’s streets and tracked the party to Palais Kinsky.

Combat Summary

The Nightgaunt broke into the Palais Kinsky during the late hours. Combat occurred across multiple rooms on the upper floors. Key beats:

• Georgiana Wentworth identified the creature as a Nightgaunt from her reference tome (Revelations of Glaaki)
• Georgiana Wentworth drew swords in her nightgown — tactical combatant at close range
• Emma Wentworth bit the Nightgaunt’s neck, tearing away flesh — a campaign-defining moment of brutal courage
• Charlotte Thorne took a three-clawed slash across the shoulder. The wound was severe enough that she has been unable to continue field operations since
• Varrio Harrowmont fainted at the sight of the creature — PTSD response linked to witnessing Moreau’s death hours earlier
• Adrien de Montferrand delivered the killing blow
• Thomas Wyndham subsequently maintained an armed vigil outside Emma’s door for the remainder of the night

Why This Matters

• First Mythos entity encountered in Chapter 3. Previously, Vienna’s horror had been human — knives, institutional corruption, cult infiltration. The Nightgaunt proves the Engine is not merely a mechanical atrocity but an extradimensional gateway.
• Charlotte Thorne’s retirement. The Nightgaunt’s wounds forced Juel’s original PC into permanent convalescence. She writes letters of retirement to Harcourt and Honoria on the morning of August 8 and becomes a Keeper NPC.
• Juel transitions PCs. Katherine Ward is dispatched by Harcourt to join the party on August 8.
• Varrio’s PTSD is established. The fainting moment is a psychological vulnerability the campaign carries forward.