diff --git a/src/world/loader.test.ts b/src/world/loader.test.ts
index 11b882e..2254c85 100644
--- a/src/world/loader.test.ts
+++ b/src/world/loader.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
-import { parseRoom, parseItem, parseEnding } from './loader'
+import { parseRoom, parseItem, parseEnding, parseEncounterNarration } from './loader'
 
 const FOYER_MD = `---
 id: foyer
@@ -246,3 +246,43 @@ whenFlags: {}
     expect(result.ending.narration).toBe('')
   })
 })
+
+const RAT_MD = `---
+id: rat
+startsIn: "[[cellar-stair]]"
+initialPhase: lurking
+---
+
+## lurking
+A heavy rat watches you from the third step. Its eyes catch the light.
+
+## attack-resolved
+You stamp. The rat squeals and is gone into the dark.
+
+## wait-stays
+The rat does not move. Neither do you.
+`
+
+describe('parseEncounterNarration', () => {
+  it('parses frontmatter and narration sections', () => {
+    const doc = parseEncounterNarration(RAT_MD, 'encounters/rat.md')
+    expect(doc.id).toBe('rat')
+    expect(doc.startsIn).toBe('cellar-stair')
+    expect(doc.initialPhase).toBe('lurking')
+    expect(doc.narrations).toEqual({
+      lurking: 'A heavy rat watches you from the third step. Its eyes catch the light.',
+      'attack-resolved': 'You stamp. The rat squeals and is gone into the dark.',
+      'wait-stays': 'The rat does not move. Neither do you.',
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('throws when no sections are present', () => {
+    const md = `---
+id: x
+startsIn: room
+initialPhase: p
+---
+`
+    expect(() => parseEncounterNarration(md, 'encounters/x.md')).toThrow(/no narration sections/i)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/world/loader.ts b/src/world/loader.ts
index 6e80081..d90589e 100644
--- a/src/world/loader.ts
+++ b/src/world/loader.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import matter from 'gray-matter'
 import type { Room, RoomDescriptions, Item } from './types'
 import type { Direction } from '../engine/types'
-import { roomFrontmatterSchema, itemFrontmatterSchema, endingFrontmatterSchema } from './schema'
+import { roomFrontmatterSchema, itemFrontmatterSchema, endingFrontmatterSchema, encounterFrontmatterSchema } from './schema'
 
 const WIKILINK = /^\[\[([^\]|]+)(?:\|[^\]]*)?\]\]$/
 
@@ -131,3 +131,26 @@ export function parseEnding(raw: string, _sourcePath: string): ParsedEnding {
     ending: { whenFlags: fm.whenFlags, narration: parsed.content.trim() },
   }
 }
+
+export interface ParsedEncounterNarration {
+  id: string
+  startsIn: string
+  initialPhase: string
+  narrations: Record<string, string>
+}
+
+export function parseEncounterNarration(raw: string, sourcePath: string): ParsedEncounterNarration {
+  const parsed = matter(raw)
+  const frontmatter = stripWikilink(parsed.data) as Record<string, unknown>
+  const fm = encounterFrontmatterSchema.parse(frontmatter)
+  const narrations = splitSections(parsed.content)
+  if (Object.keys(narrations).length === 0) {
+    throw new Error(`${sourcePath}: no narration sections found`)
+  }
+  return {
+    id: fm.id,
+    startsIn: fm.startsIn,
+    initialPhase: fm.initialPhase,
+    narrations,
+  }
+}