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): You are the oldest of a 5 sibling family.

(T.3): You eloped. Scandalous! Roll on Table 12 to see how this worked out.

(T.12): The person is being blackmailed by a criminal organization. You decide to infiltrate said organization to discover the blackmailer's identity on Table 26.

(T.26): The group sets you up and frames you for a crime. Roll on Table 15 to see which one, then go to jail on Table 21.

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

(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): In what seems like an act of divinity, a disaster slaughters nearly all your captors. You travel to Table 27 to pay respect to the god that you believe is responsible for your freedom.

(T.27): You clumsily ruin a religious ceremony and upset the temple. The furious priests attack you before you can explain, and you are forced to flee on Table 19.

(T.19): You are captured and imprisoned on Table 21.

(T.21): You are tough, and the warden decides you might be fit for military service. Roll on Table 22.

(T.22): You end up in a losing siege in a castle or fort. Faced with a choice of either being cornered or slaughtered, or following a secret subterranean pathway, you take the latter option. Descend to Table 25.

(T.25): Beneath the earth you are suddenly confronted by a mind flayer. It waves its tentacles and you black out. When you come too, you eerily seem to have new knowledge. You will have proficiency in Arcana and are able to read, write, understand and speak deep speech. You also are somewhere else entirely: roll on Table 8 to see where.

(T.8): A villain's lair. Find the villain on Table 5, then continue to Table 9.

    >>>> (T.5): Orc(s).

(T.9): You become trapped with your enemy. Now, former foes must work together to survive! Roll on Table 31 to see how you in particular fare from this arrangement, then roll on Table 8 to see where you eventually ended up after enduring your ordeal and parting ways with your possibly former enemy (or they ran away once they no longer needed you).

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

(T.8): A secret bandit hideout. They left some gold lying around which you take. You will have +10% starting gold. However, now you have to escape them on Table 19.

(T.19): You are captured and (re)sold into slavery. Go to Table 16.

(T.16): A friend manages to scrape together enough money to buy your freedom, but they want something in return. Find out what on Table 18.

(T.18): Your friend was no true friend at all! They merely wished to frame you for a crime. Serve your time 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): Slavery.

(T.19): You spy your pursuers long before they see you, and cunningly arrange for them to run into some of their own enemies. They won't be bothering you again. You gain a reputation for sharp eyes and a sharp wit: you will begin with proficiency in Perception and Deception. Your life of adventure begins.


Total Rolls: 24
Your age is MIDDLE-AGED
The beginning of physical decline.
+1 INT, +1 WIS, +1 CHA, -1 STR, -1 DEX, -1 CON

Proficiencies:
Animal Handling
Arcana
Language: Deep Speech
10% More Starting Gold
Perception
Deception