During your youth your forest home is ravaged by monsters. No friends or loved ones are killed, but it will be centuries before the woodlands are restored to normal.
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.
Well-to-Do: These are the upper end of the middle or merchant class in Barbarian and Civilized cultures. They typically own larger homes, have a household servant (a cook and/or a maid), have private transportation, and sometimes travel abroad.
The home town where the character lives is destroyed, there is little loss of life. However, after the disaster passes, the area is rebuilt and becomes more prosperous than ever before. (work with your DM to determine details)
Rebellion: As an adolescent you joined a rebellion against the local ruler, if successful you are outlawed, if it failed you escape, with only friends and family knowing your involvement. (Work with your DM to detirmine the details)
When you become an adult you learn to used a weapon (of your choice) appropriate for your culture and social standing. (work with your DM to determine details)