Your family discovers a vain of mineral wealth, increasing their social status. However a rival clan takes it from your family by force leaving them penniless..
Your peoples culture is stagnating. It is slowly losing the social and cultural gains of earlier generations. Its rulers tend to be dictatorial or authoritarian, or power is held by a religious or occult organisation restricting control to its members.
Poor: very low income. compared to many. He usually does not or cannot own property. His home is usually of lesser quality, sometimes due to uncaring landlords who may also be the Poor person's employer.
An evil, despotic ruler orders all persons of your Race, birthplace, and approximate age put to death. As far as you know, you are the only one to escape this heinous act. (work with your DM to determine details)
In adulthood you have an encounter with an unusual person, who as far as you can tell, has no home or family. You offer to help in anyway you can. After accepting your hospitality the stranger vanishes leaving a note "Your kindness will be remembered".