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): If this is your 1st roll on this table you were raised by animals or beasts. They can either be unintelligent creatures like wolves, or a sentient animal like a unicorn. You will have proficiency in Animal Handling. Continue on to Table 2 and it is up to you whether any siblings you have were your biological siblings, or your animal-parents own young, or a mixture.

(T.2): A bastard younger brother.

(T.3): Someone in your family wanted to use you for some horrible purpose. You fled. Roll on Table 19

(T.19): You are captured and imprisoned 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): Cheating at gambling.

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

(T.17): You fall deeply in love with someone, and are distracted from everything else. Find out on Table 12 the fate of the object of your affection

(T.12): You find out the person was just using to you, and that they actively hate you. After they push you away, you blunder about without paying much attention and end up on Table 17.

Choose one...
(T.17): A fey creature entices you into the feywild for a few days, but when you leave you find out several years have passed. If you left voluntarily, you can begin your life of adventure.
(T.17): A fey creature entices you into the feywild for a few days, but when you leave you find out several years have passed. If you left without permission, the fey creature curses you: roll on Table 7 to see with what.

(T.7): One of your hands is a twisted and scaly claw. You have no idea how to remove this ailment, and your life of adventuring begins with you still seeking an answer.


Total Rolls: 11
Your age is ADULT
Adults are at the most equalized stage of development. From here their physical body will begin to weaken while their minds and personalities benefit from experience.
Adults have no modifiers to their attributes.

Proficiencies:
Animal Handling