While you were poking around in some abandoned, ruined place that others of your people avoid, you comes across a hidden cache of ancient treasures, start with maximum starting gold for your class. (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.
Social. A social enemy might be a personal rival, an idealogy, or a cultural trait. Its an enemy tied to interactions with others, they may have trouble fitting in, be a social outcast, not identify with their culture, or be wanted but their own kind.