Episode 3: Aloft | Overlight: Fractured Paradox

The party has just arrived at the edge of Banyan, the shard where Fennel’s people live, and they are about to cross the Medallion Fields toward a hidden underground ship. But the cycle is turning, and the darkness is coming.

The Medallion Fields and the Felgat

The Medallion Fields are a vast expanse of golden, waist-high grass that stretches for roughly two football fields. On either side, darker forests loom. As the party begins to cross, Fennel recalls childhood warnings from the elder Jimba: the forests are home to the Felgat, enormous elk-like beasts standing eight and a half feet tall with multi-tiered antlers and a malevolent presence. The Banyari leave them alone, and for good reason—the Felgat are known to have killed people, impaling them on their horns.

The party learns that the Felgat prefer darkness and will not enter the open field as long as the overlight is bright. This gives them a narrow window. They begin crossing at a brisk walk, with Takame and Chenu in front, Udos scanning the tree line, and Matt flying overhead on his dragonfly Peely, using Beastways to sense the surroundings.

Combat in the Dark

Midway across, the cycle shifts. The overlight dims to a deep dusk as another shard eclipses it, and the Felgat emerge. Three of them charge from the forest edges, their eyes glowing yellow-red. Initiative is rolled, and combat begins.