The kobold's accoutrements suggest to me more specifically something about sleep, dreams or something along those lines rather than something endemic to night specifically. Unfortunately, "schlaf" kobold (as well as "bed time", "sleep", "nightmare", "albtraum") haven't turned anything up in so far as Google Scholar.
I still think it's worth considering, since if they wanted to hit on the association of Night specifically, there's a lot more iconography to draw from, especially in the context of fairies and myths, over Scrooge in his elder years.
Or not, it is a Soul Hackers design.
OK, gear up for....
Nachtkobold, Day 1,258
No, really! @purseowner4thequalityanimation dug up this old post from October 14, 2022:
For what it's worth, "Nachtkobold" already shows up in the Grimm German Encyclopedia (DWDS). But it only defines it as a... kobold of the ni
For what it's worth, "Nachtkobold" already shows up in the Grimm German Encyclopedia (DWDS). But it only defines it as a... kobold of the night. Just as the name says. I doubt that it is the direct source however.
"Nachtkobold" as a single-word compound is the important takeaway. Anyway, here's the entry:
DWDS – Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
But a dictionary? That's hardly a primary source for a supposed folkloric creature, right? I agree but it cites a source, one also found independently by @yamayuandadu:
hoch dann lebe die braut und der bräutigam! alle geklingt mir! ... dasz nicht in der bräutlichen kammer hämisch ein nachtkobold (in der ersten ausg. nachtgespenst) sie beleidige. Up, then—long live the bride and the groom! Everyone, raise a glass with me! ... that no malicious night-goblin (in the first edition: night-specter) may offend them in the bridal chamber.
This is from the poem Luise by Johann Heinrich Voss.
Voss Luise 3, 2, 678.
I found two different editions of Luise:
Let's call this Edition A, p. 216:
And Edition B, p. 180:
In these we see the earlier Nachtgeſpenſt (night-specter) but let's also look at the full few lines for context:
Daſs hoch lebe die Braut und der Bräutigam! Alle geklinkt nun! Alle mit voller Muſik ! daſs nicht in der bräutlichen Kammer Hämiſch ein Nachtgeſpenſt ſie beleidige , oder Asmodi Long live the bride and the groom! Let all now raise their glasses! Let all sound forth with full music! — so that no malicious night-specter may offend them in the bridal chamber, nor Asmodeus.
Crazy that it associates the night-specter/Nachtkobold with the likes of Asmodeus. So it really is just a "kobold of the night," though seemingly one that might enjoy cock-blocking bridegrooms.
I think that's all I can provide for the Nachtkobold for the time being. (I don't think Voss is the source used for the Devil Summoner version of the creature, but it's possible the poem influenced something along the chain that led to it).
