Broken Entrance

This is the introduction to an event I'm planning for my TTRPG players. I'm using it for the entrance to a ravaged space station but it's intentionally written to be used for a variety of environments. Please feel free to use this to inspire an event or story of your own. Of course, as this is meant to draw inspiration you can use parts of the following story or the whole thing and change details as needed.

Background

The characters have been made aware of some sort of trouble that’s happened at a particular location. It could be somewhere they’re familiar with or a whole new area. How the characters find out about the event is up to you. I’m using a distress signal as this is a space station, but they can be contracted to investigate if it’s a medieval or high fantasy game, or they could be the lucky law enforcers picked by their authorities to deal with this issue. It’s suggested that the players don’t know exactly what they’re coming up against, however, the creature in question could be something they have fought before and simply need to look at clues provided to recognize the beast, as well as be something completely new to them.

Event

Everything appears normal as you approach the double doors. You see no signs of distress or any type of struggle as you look around and take in your environment. The air around you is quiet and calm but a sense of dread lingers. You reach for the door, seeing the first signs of trouble as it creaks open.

It seems something must be blocking the door and you have to put your weight behind your attempt to force it open. As you do, you’re able to see through the small slit where the room inside is exposed. The ravaged interior of the building can be seen now. Furniture knocked askew, broken items splayed across the floor. You are able to pry the door open a bit further and now see the scratches along the walls. As your fingers wrap around the edge you can feel the sharp indentions where claws have ripped into the door as well.

As you enter this place a wave of anxiety washes over everyone except those with the strongest of nerves or most oblivious of minds. It’s obvious this place was attacked by something horrible, but what it could have been you do not know. Perhaps a closer look at the damage could provide some sort of hint. Whatever did this, everyone needs to be on their guard.

Now that you have fully accessed the entrance you can take in the entirety of the scene before you. Along with the claw marks and overturned furniture, you realize the indentions in the walls go as high as the ceiling. Can this beast scale the walls or is it just that big? Along the floor, previously hidden by the doors and debris, lays dry blood. To who this essence belonged previously you can not say as no bodies can be seen within the room in which you stand. The lack of bones and trails of blood suggests the deceased must have been dragged off to another location.

As you step forward you hear a soft voice whispering, as if the still wind itself speaks. “You will find nothing beyond this point but death. If you value your life; if you have loved ones that will mourn you; if you have unfinished business then turn back now. This will be your only warning.”

As you look around you see nothing nor no one in the room other than your companions, the voice seemingly having come from nowhere, having left you with a sick feeling in your gut. All there is left to do is heed its advice, or follow the bloody path through the next door.