In a dark alley at night, you are attacked by thugs. Before they can take anything, they turn white with terror and run away. You discover that you have a guardian ghost, a wise, benign spirit who accompanies you (work with your DM to determine details)
While foraging or hunting for food, you have an encounter with a trapped predatory beast. Instead of slaying it, you free it. The freed beast disappears. Later, you are trapped by a falling log. The same beast reappears, aiding and freeing you.
Faction. A factional enemy could be a religous order, a merchants guild, an order of assasins, or an order of holy knights. It is a enemy that may have agents and spies taht act of their behalf. Could be on the run, part of a rival faction, or want to join