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 a healer. You will have proficiency in Medicine.

(T.102): One of your parents was a scholar and teacher. You will have proficiency in History.

(T.2): Two stepsiblings, each with a different parent.

Choose one...
(T.3): Plague strikes down most of your family. You are sick as well, so roll and Table 31 to see how you fare. You choose to have started adventuring after this tragedy.
(T.3): Plague strikes down most of your family. You are sick as well, so roll and table 31 to see how you fare. You can continue your backstory by rolling on table 17.

    >>>> (T.31): You barely make it. The experience leaves its scars, both physical and mental, but you find ways to compensate.

(T.17): You have one to many drinks at a tavern and become involved in a brawl on Table 23.

(T.23): You can't remember if it was the ale or the chair to the back of the skull, but you woke up on the tavern floor with some rather unimpressed guardsman looking down on you. Enjoy your cell on Table 21.

(T.21): You are scheduled for execution, but at the last moment a noble decides to intervene and buy your freedom if you serve them. Roll on Table 33.

(T.33): The noble becomes confidant of your economic aptitude. You will have proficiency in Insight. You begin becoming actively involved in merchant business on the noble's behalf on 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 become known as a troublemaker, and eventually your captor or your guards decide it'll be easier to just hand you over to slavers. Roll on Table 16.

(T.16): You lead a slave revolt! Too bad it is brutally crushed. You carry on serving, but now you are chained up, heavily guarded, mocked by your captors and despised by other slaves. Roll on this table again.

(T.16): You escape your life as a slave, and want to make the one responsible pay. If you have not yet encountered a villain who could be responsible for your enslavement, roll on Table 5 now. Either way, proceed to Table 9.

    >>>> (T.5): A mind flayer.

Choose one...
(T.9): You are thoroughly defeated, but you escape. You started adventuring at this point.
(T.9): You are thoroughly defeated, but you escape, swearing vengeance (again?). You can re-roll on this table to try at least one more time.

(T.9): You defeat your foe! Too bad they had an ally who takes you prisoner. Roll on 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): Smuggling.

(T.19): Fate interrupts your flight on Table 17.

(T.17): You become lost. Survive the wilds on Table 24.

(T.24): You run into a dwarf surveying the area for places to mine. They lead you back to civilization, then asks you for a favor on Table 18.

(T.18): Your friend needs help in illegal activites: roll on Table 15. You succeed, but the local criminal organization is alerted to your unsanctioned activities. Find out the consequences of Table 26.

    >>>> (T.15): Poaching.

(T.26): You become one of the greatest members of the group. When the group's current leader is killed by a rival, you take his place. Roll on Table 5 to see who the rival was. You will have proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth. Additionally, regardless of your background, you have the Feature: Criminal Contact from the criminal background. Your life of adventure begins.

    >>>> (T.5): A warlord.


Total Rolls: 25
Your age is MIDDLE-AGED
The beginning of physical decline.
+1 INT, +1 WIS, +1 CHA, -1 STR, -1 DEX, -1 CON

Proficiencies:
Medicine
History
Insight
Sleight of Hand
Stealth
Feature: Criminal Contact (criminal background)