The Trading Post

Today’s post is for you, whether you want to use it as inspiration for a story starter, use it for a one-shot RPG adventure, or just want to have a read I hope you enjoy and share. Since dabbling with RPGs, the obvious need for storytelling has drawn me in to the DM role. Setting the players up, dropping a few hints and breadcrumbs but being flexible enough to roll with wherever they try to go definitely gives the writing brain an exercise! Sometimes, the best bit of short stories is you end without actually knowing what would have happened if you’d seen the events through to your conclusion. And that’s what I sort of enjoy with this; I have avenues, possibilities, but I don’t need to know the end. Granted, can get a bit hairy when you have to make stuff up on the spot! There is plenty of inspiration on the web and I have made use of some and have been very grateful, so here we are, my way of offering something up in return. Here you go. Based off a picture by WaysUnseen, here is the Trading post:

After following the instructions given to you in the last town, you come to the trading post where you hope to gain passage down river. There are only a few buildings before you but they look well-kept and inviting. And yet, you group can’t help but notice how quiet it is. No-one is walking along the jetty and no voices can be heard. A few boats sit tied up on the water but there is no-one tending to them or setting sail. Nervously you all exchange glances but you have little choice, the next place to try and charter a boat is two days walk away at least and you don’t have the time to spare.

The first building you pass is a small construction that has several stories and has the look of administration about it. Unsurprisingly, as you enter, you see a desk with a bell and behind it desks and rows of shelves holding a great many ledgers. Ringing the bell does you no good; nothing stirs.

Moving to the next building, one of your party remarks how none of the buildings have been locked and as you enter the second building you see a few tables with partially eaten meals sat upon them. The smell of the cooking still lingers. It was only abandoned recently.

The last building is the eeriest. The main building of the trading post, inside there are several tables and stalls set up, complete with wares brough from all over the continent. They have been left, discarded without a thought to the safety of the objects or the loss of them. Whatever drove the people to leave so quickly was enough to make them not think about the monetary loss. All sorts of items are on offer, weapons, food, spices, pottery and jewellery from richer lands.

On an upper level, you can look out across the water. A small observation post can be seen out in the water but there is no boat tied up alongside. But just there, in the upper window you see movement. Someone is in there, and their means of escape has been taken. Just as one of you goes to shout across to them, a flock of crows suddenly fly overhead, screaming their arrival. You rush across the hall to look the other way to see what has disturbed them. A large ship has come into view from the inlet. The sails are black and no crew can be seen on the top deck, but it is moving straight for you and moving fast.