This tool is based on the work of user Arachobia on RPG Crossing with his permission. He had taken a list of tables from Dragon magazine #422 in an article called "Building Character" by Matt Sernett and updated them for 5th edition. I've turned them into an automatic tool for generating a characters background.

Instructions: Refresh the page to generate a new background story. As always, you can use it however you like and fill in your own details. Your age and acquired proficiencies are listed at the bottom and are based on the results you got. Try to pick a Race/Class/Background combo that fulfills all the proficiencies. Your age may also result in ability score modifiers that can be applied after building your character.

...or ignore everything and do whatever you want. Whatever.
Background Generator

(T.101): One of your parents was an undertaker.

(T.102): One of your parents was a noble. You will have +25% starting gold and proficiency in Insight.

(T.2): An older sister and a stepbrother.

(T.3): You are press-ganged. Roll on Table 34

(T.34): You become friends with the captain, and eventually convince him to try becoming a merchant vessel captain instead. You will have proficiency in Persuasion. The captain puts you in charge of representing his interests on shore at Table 6.

(T.6): You are framed for stealing merchandise! Was it a rival, or maybe even your boss? You'll have plenty of time to speculate in jail. Proceed to Table 21.

(T.21): You share a cell with another: roll on Table 15 to see their crime. You both manage to orchestrate an escape: flee on Table 19.

    >>>> (T.15): Body-snatching (grave-robbing).

(T.19): With the constant need to evade those who pursue you, you develop a lack of trust and are always trying to suss out everybody's intentions. You will have proficiency in Insight. Roll on Table 8 to see where you eventually end up.

(T.8): A mountainous dwarven fort. They recruit you to help clear dangers in their tunnels. Grab a torch and head to Table 25.

(T.25): You are captured by Dueregar slavers. Roll on Table 16.

(T.16): You revolt, and lead your fellow slaves in an escape attempt. See what fate has in store for you on Table 19.

(T.19): With the constant need to evade those who pursue you, you develop a lack of trust and are always trying to suss out everybody's intentions. You will have proficiency in Insight. Roll on Table 8 to see where you eventually end up.

[d20 = 14]
(T.8): A grove sacred to a community of dryads and treants. Roll a d20 now. On a 12 or higher, you manage to convince the fey to let you leave and make your way to the forest on Table 24.

(T.24): You find some sort of road, trail or other route to follow to Table 8.

(T.8): A small village in the wilderness, as a terrible winter descends. Pull through on Table 31, then try stay alive on Table 24.

    >>>> (T.31): You nearly die and are permanently physically scarred. You suffer a pronounced limp, a wracking cough, a twisted hand, a blind eye or some other ailment or combination of ailments.

(T.24): You wander the wilds for at least a year, living a meager existence and never coming into contact with civilization. You will have proficiency in Nature, but there may be a cost: roll on Table 31 to see. Then re-roll on this table.

    >>>> (T.31): You nearly die and are permanently physically scarred. You suffer a pronounced limp, a wracking cough, a twisted hand, a blind eye or some other ailment or combination of ailments.

(T.24): You wander the wilds for at least a year, living a meager existence and never coming into contact with civilization. You will have proficiency in Nature, but there may be a cost: roll on Table 31 to see. Then re-roll on this table.

    >>>> (T.31): You find this 'hardship' almost trivial and come out of it even stronger than before. You will have proficiency in Survival and Athletics.

(T.24): You stumble into a wondrous glade where you meet a fey creature. It touches your forehead, and you fall unconscious, but not before a single portent appears in your mind, roll on Table 32 to see what. Your life of adventure begins when you awoke far from this wondrous place with this new knowledge in mind.

    >>>> (T.32): Your family is not your own: you are a lost heir to a throne.


Total Rolls: 23
Your age is MIDDLE-AGED
The beginning of physical decline.
+1 INT, +1 WIS, +1 CHA, -1 STR, -1 DEX, -1 CON

Proficiencies:
25% More Starting Gold
Insight
Persuasion
Nature
Survival
Athletics