Worldbuilding Wednesday: Merchant’s Enclave.

The Nine-Wagon Caravan.

A merchant’s enclave doesn’t always spring up because someone built walls or set up a market square. Sometimes it’s because a group of tired traders simply stops, unhitches their oxen, and decides they’re not moving another mile. That’s what happened here. Nine battered Conestoga wagons circled up, and before anyone realized it, a town had taken root. It’s messy, it’s human, and it’s far more interesting than any polished guild hall.

At the center of it all? Master Harlis Grell. Once upon a time, he chaired a merchant guild in one of the river-cities. These days, he calls himself “caravan leader,” though it’s clear the instincts of a guild master never left him. He’s sharp-eyed, silver-tongued, and stubborn as rust. Some say he led his people away from the city because of politics. Others whisper that debts or enemies are still sniffing at his heels. He won’t answer directly. He just smiles and gestures to his wagons, as if the rolling market explains everything.

The Wagons

The Weaver’s Wagon
Lessa Morn sells bolts of strange cloth dyed in iridescent hues scavenged from fungi and ash-touched plants. She’s patient, a little dreamy, and never lets go of her spindle, even in conversation. She hums to herself when she works, and some swear her cloth carries that hum inside it.

The Tinker’s Wagon
Brannit Coil deals in tools, pots, locks, and little contraptions cobbled together from scrap. He’s practical, suspicious of magic, and never throws anything away. Brannit has a temper for anyone who tries to haggle too hard, but he’s also the one who fixes what others break.

The Apothecary’s Wagon
Marrow Jine looks half-dead himself, but his shelves are crammed with dried herbs, powders, and bottled tonics. He’s sharp-tongued, obsessed with cataloging every plant, and always in a rush. Despite his brusque manner, people trust him, because in this world, you need someone who knows what keeps fever at bay.

The Cobbler’s Wagon
Fenrik Sool hammers out shoes, boots, and repairs from an anvil strapped to the wagon’s rear. He’s blunt, prideful, and secretly tender-hearted. Problem is, he’s in a running feud with the cook wagon over unpaid meals, which means sometimes he “forgets” to fix soles unless someone mediates.

The Cook’s Wagon
Old Vennet cooks stews from whatever the hunters drag in, selling bowls for a few coins or a handful of beans. He’s jolly, shamelessly gossipy, and fiercely protective of his spice box. Vennet claims he can taste lies in the air, though that might just be indigestion.

The Armorer’s Wagon
Jorda Pike sells salvaged armor plates, shields, and patchwork gear. She’s pragmatic, always wary, and carries herself like someone who has fought off raiders before. Jorda insists on fair prices, but she’ll sometimes trade protection work for fresh bread or cloth.

The Entertainer’s Wagon
Tallis the Piper travels with a battered flute, a few marionettes, and a knack for gathering crowds. He’s dramatic, quick with jokes, and fond of drink. The children adore him, though some parents mutter that his stories carry dangerous truths disguised as songs.

The Exotic Wares Wagon
Nara Vel deals in strange trinkets: bone charms, painted masks, bits of clockwork no one understands. She’s secretive, sly, and just a touch theatrical. Some whisper that not all her goods are for sale; some are bait. Her customers often walk away with more questions than answers.

The Guard’s Wagon
Captain Rhun oversees a half-dozen caravan guards from this rolling armory. He’s disciplined, brooding, and deeply loyal to Harlis. Rhun doesn’t say much, but when trouble comes sniffing around, everyone suddenly finds a reason to trust his judgment.

Why It Works (and Why It Doesn’t)

This caravan doesn’t run on coin alone. Barter keeps the wheels turning—shoes for stew, cloth for herbs, gossip for protection. But barter also sparks quarrels. If Fenrik refuses to fix Vennet’s boots, then Vennet might “forget” to feed Jorda, and suddenly the whole balance tips. That’s where the fun is: adventurers get drawn into these little dramas, not because they’re epic, but because they matter. If the cook won’t trade, if the cobbler storms off, if the guard starts favoring one side, the caravan feels less like a sanctuary and more like a powder keg.

And yet… people linger. Because in a shattered world, a circle of wagons is safer than standing alone.

Sidebar: Wants vs. Haves

The Cobbler’s Wagon (Fenrik Sool)
Wants: good wood for lasts, raw hides, sturdy leather scraps, maybe some peace with the cook.
Haves: shoes, boots, repairs, and candles from his side trade as a chandler.

The Cook’s Wagon (Old Vennet)
Wants: spices, firewood, a truce with Fenrik.
Haves: hot stews, cheap ale, gossip, and an extra seat by the fire.

The Weaver’s Wagon (Lessa Morn)
Wants: rare dyes, clean water, unbroken silence.
Haves: bolts of shimmering cloth, thread, simple garments.

The Tinker’s Wagon (Brannit Coil)
Wants: scrap metal, broken tools, nails.
Haves: pots, locks, patched-up gear, a grumble for every occasion.

The Apothecary’s Wagon (Marrow Jine)
Wants: rare herbs, bones, jars with unbroken lids.
Haves: medicine, salves, questionable powders.

The Armorer’s Wagon (Jorda Pike)
Wants: raw iron, leather, new hammer-heads.
Haves: shields, helms, mismatched armor plates.

The Entertainer’s Wagon (Tallis the Piper)
Wants: wine, stories, a crowd.
Haves: music, puppet shows, laughter (and sometimes trouble).

The Exotic Wares Wagon (Nara Vel)
Wants: secrets, relics, whispered promises.
Haves: charms, trinkets, “cursed” odds and ends.

The Guard’s Wagon (Captain Rhun)
Wants: better pay, sharper blades, fewer arguments.
Haves: trained guards, discipline, silence when needed.

Negotiating deals with the various merchants could become a side quest all in itself if the group has time. This could also be a series of encounters the group comes back to multiple times as they travel through a hex crawl or sandbox campaign. Yes, silver and gold still work with these fine folks, but sometimes trading some tallow for chandling because Vennet refuses to give up any of his goes a long way.

Thank you for being here today with me. I appreciate you. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy.