A character in Nowhere Land is defined not just by their stats, but by what they left behind. Backstory Weaving connects your Traveler to the Real World and explains how they fell through the cracks.
The Background Statement
I am a [Descriptor] [Type] who [Focus]
In Nowhere Land, your identity is more than just a story—it's a mechanical anchor. You build your background by completing this simple statement:
"I am a [Descriptor] [Type] who [Focus]."
1. Descriptor (Adjective)
How you approach the world. Examples: Brave, Cautious, Mysterious, Broken, Curious.
Mechanical Effect: Usually grants a +1 bonus to one Essence and a -1 malus to another.
2. Type (Noun)
Your core role or profession. Examples: Scholar, Soldier, Artist, Thief, Wanderer.
Mechanical Effect: Grants access to specific starting equipment and career paths.
3. Focus (Verb Phrase)
What makes you unique. Examples: Sees the Unseen, Carries a Secret, Never Backs Down.
Mechanical Effect: Grants a specialized skill bonus or a unique narrative ability.
The Real World Origin
Who Were You?
Before the fog took you, you had a life. Roll 1d10 or choose your Origin Archetype.
You were fleeing a crime, a debt, or a bad marriage. Nowhere Land was your escape hatch.
You investigated the occult to debunk it. You found the truth, and it swallowed you.
You always felt this world was wrong. You slept too much, until you didn't wake up.
You took a wrong turn in an alley. You opened a door that wasn't there yesterday.
You were obsessed with a color you couldn't paint. You found it here.
War is hell. Nowhere Land is just a different kind of war.
The Event
How You Arrived
The moment of transition is traumatic. It grants you your Initial Scar.
| d6 | The Event | Initial Scar (Bonus/Penalty) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fell from a Height: You fell for hours. | Vertigo: +1 Acrobatics, -1 Willpower vs Heights. |
| 2 | Drowned: Pulled under by a reflection. | Gills: Hold breath 5m, -1 Charisma (smell of brine). |
| 3 | Chased: Something hunted you into the fog. | Paranoia: +1 Initiative, -1 Social interactions. |
| 4 | Lost: Wandered until the road changed. | Wanderlust: +1 Navigation, cannot sleep in same bed twice. |
| 5 | Summoned: You heard a voice calling your name. | Haunted: +1 Arcana, hear voices (Distracted condition on Nat 1). |
| 6 | Born Here: You are a native (rare). | Native: Knowledge (Nowhere) +2, Knowledge (Real World) -4. |
Anchors & Relationships
What keeps you sane? Define one Anchor from the Real World and one Connection in the party.
Real World Anchor
An object or memory that restores 1 Willpower per session when focused on.
- A faded photograph.
- A watch that stopped at the moment of arrival.
- The last voicemail from your mother.
- A key to a house that might not exist anymore.
Party Connection
Why do you trust them?
- Shared Debt: You both owe The Count.
- Saved Life: They pulled you out of a trap.
- Rivalry: You're trying to prove you're better.
- Secret: They know what you did in the Real World.