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, your family was poor. You will have 25% less starting gold. Continue on to Table 2.

(T.2): An identical twin AND a younger brother.

(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): You're given a job, roll on Table 15 to see what. However, you mess it up and are caught. The guild manages to pull enough strings to prevent you going straight to prison, but you have to escape the law on your own. Flee on Table 19.

    >>>> (T.15): Impersonating a noble or other famous individual.

(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): 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): A vampire.

(T.9): Your quest is put on hold as you become embroiled in other events. Roll on Table 17.

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

(T.23): You end up unconscious on the floor, but the tavern owner admires your style and keeps you out of trouble with the law. You still have to work off some of the damages though. While working, you overhear a conspiracy. When you report it, you are hired to infiltrate the conspirator's group. Roll on Table 29.

(T.29): In your mission, you do a great deal of archival investigation and befriend several scholars. But the information you discover is used in an unexpected way, and now those scholars are in danger. You will be proficient in History. Your life of adventure begins with contacts among the scholars who aided you and the possibility of your past as a spy catching up.


Total Rolls: 15
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:
25% Less Starting Gold
Insight
Arcana
Language: Deep Speech
History