Your culture is marked by rapid growth, development and expansion. New ideas and technologies are being discovered and exploited. But access to power resides in the hands of a few powerful nobles or warlords your culture is experiencing a golden age.
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.
Guardian(s): This person or creature become the character's guardian(s). This is due to the parents being absent or the character was orphaned at a young age.
Alone: You lost your family/guardians suddenly to violence or disease and find yourself alone in the world (Work with your DM to detirmine the details)
A strange woman gives you an ornate box sealed with wax and hoarsely whispers "It's up to you now, keep it safe, keep it from ... them." It is not until the woman drops dead at the character's feet that the dagger in her back becomes obvious.
You become involved with criminal elements of society, taking to a life of crime and earning a notorious reputation and bounty. (work with your DM to determine details)