No significant societal gains, either technological, sociological or artistic are being made, or have been made in recent memory. Your culture has remained essentially as it is for generations. Rulers tend to emphasise maintaining the status quo.
Comfortable: This is the middle class of any Culture, regardless of the average wealth of its citizens. These folk usually live in clean, nicely apportioned homes or apartments, often in better neighborhoods. They eat regularly and occasionally very well.
Martial training: In adolescence you trained with the weapons of your people and learnt how to use them proficiently (work with your DM to determine details)
A deity or other such powerful being asks you to become its agent on earth, if you choose to accept The deity gives the character an unusual pet as a gift. (work with your DM to determine details)