In this thread, post two or three scentences (a small paragraph at most) about a character concept you think might be interesting or unique. The goal of this thread is to provide players with some simple inspiration for new characters, rather than to flesh out already-established characters.
1. Zhar the Mad. A Great-Old-One pact warlock who is slowly losing his grip on reality. He suffers from a unique form of synesthesia, where pain and pleasure are reversed for him. He quests to find a way to break his pact, which he hopes will restore his sanity.
2. Kelvian of the Bygone Age. Awakened from ten thousand years of stasis-sleep, this young sorcerer was once a lowly servant to a great and powerful wizard-king before his master was thrown down by some then-new, now-ancient power. He seeks allies and arcane might in an effort to awaken his long-dead master, not realizing that he has already become his master's new vessel.
3. Shin Luun. Once every thousand years, an ancient hero known as the Kai'Xhao is reincarnated, and rises to face some great evil for that generation. Shin, a monk of extraordinary talent, is the seventh such incarnation and has been sent into the world to hone his skills in preparation for the trials to come. But although he is shrouded in destiny, he lacks the self-confidence and the experience to truly be a hero.
4. Corvos the Ironhand. He was the captain of the guard in a small town on the outskirts of a powerful nation when a necromancer came to harvest the region for bodyparts. While the townspeople escaped, Corvos and his men stood against the necromancer and his humongous undead abomination. Corvos eventually was forced to cut off his own arm to avoid being devoured by the creature, and after the ordeal, he had an arm from a suit of platemail magically grafted onto the stump.
5. Glorion. Because you all need to see this.
OMFG Glorion. FTFW. 
I modeled my last Encounters character. Named him Sir Digby Chicken-Caesar and played him Just. Like. Glorion. "Have at you, foul knave!" 
Here's my submission:
6. Tibbie. Stunningly gorgeous, she stowed away on a river barge from her village, ending up in [insert port city equivalent to Waterdeep here]. Since then she has had to survive by her wits alone. She just killed a "suitor" who simply couldn't get through his thick skull that she really wasn't a prostitute. Unfortunately he was a wealthy and politically-connected merchant. She needs to disappear. Now. [Fighter? Rogue? Could be either.]
Novacat wrote:
Hmm... this is getting off to a slow start.
7. Corvos of the Azure Flag. Former commander of the Azure Flag mercenary band, Corvos lost all of his men during a surprise attack that sparked a war between a dwarven country and a neighboring warlord. During the war, Corvos served as a miitary advisor and militia captain to the dwarves, but afterward, chose to seek out a life free of violence. Because of his poor experiences fighting cavalry, he uses a spear and shield, rather than the heirloom sword he keeps bound at his side.
8. Dread Pirate Frigo. A half-elf born and raised on the sea, Frigo has made a name for himself across the continent, leaving a path of ruined enemies behind him. A natural leader, Frigo commanded his pirate crew through a combination of fear and respect. Unfortunately, like all good pirates eventually do, he got greedy. His ship sank during an attempt to raid a dwarven frigate, and he was presumed dead. Now he must rebuild his name, while being careful not to reveal his name to the wrong people.
9. Elnath, Son of Brune. The child of both elven and orcish herritage, Elnath learned at an early age that he did not belong to either world. Raised by his elvish mother, Elnath was taught self-sufficience by necessity, and left home while still a child. With an elf-like knowledge of the wilderness, and an orc-like tenacity, Elnath grew up to become a skilled woodsman, determined to make a name for himself that would be all his own.
10 Dromar VII - Heir to a small estate, Dromar was as noted for his piety as he was for his martial prowess. However, he soon found himself falsely accused of treason as his step-mother schemed to replace him as heir with her own son. Barely escaping with his life, Dromar fled to the city, where he began the long journey towards gaining enough power and wealth to reclaim his inheritance
11 Krukk - A dragonborn warrior, Krukk, was turned to stone during a dungeon delve. Recently returned to his fleshy state by a group of kindly adventurers, he has found a world where his clan folk have been dead for hundreds of years, and his people, once numerous and prosperous, are now semi-barbarous outcasts scattered across the world. Can Krukk, by virtue of his prowess as a warrior, return his people to their former glory?.
12 Aethelstan - Aethelstan was a restless farmhand gifted with a quick wit, jovial nature, and beautiful voice. His days of wooing maids with jokes and songs was soon over as the local lord conscripted Aethelstan into his army. Army life was not for Aethelstan, and he quickly deserted. With no desire to return home, he shrugged and set off to make his name and fortune elsewhere. Little did he know that his former lord had placed a sizable bounty on his head.
13 Brenn of Clan Bukarr - Son of a reigning Council Lord Yurfrik Bukarr, Brenn rebelled against his father's wishes. The military minded father all but pushed his son into the strong military tradition of the family, out of the libraries where Brenn preferred to spend his time. His father's murder, and the sabatoge of his clan from political power in Hold set him on his course of investigation and ultimately justice. His skills as a Wizard are only aparent after they realized the heavilly armored dwarf is only armed with a book.
14 Ilde Stormcrow - Ilde is a bear. This dwarf warrior grew up as the youngest daughter of a dwarf merchant, and gained an uncontrollable temper from her headstrong mother. She had dreams and visions all through her earlier years of the clan animal, the Bear, protecting the clan. A marauding band of Lizardfolk brought out the Bear as Ilde swung her axe, protecting her father's caravan. As Ilde left her clan searching for the Bear, and trying to control her temper, she found she not only lost her temper like a bear, but that she became one as well.
EDIT: Added Ilde, Ilde is an adaptation of my wife's character. in 5e, I would stat her like a Barbarian (Bear Totem)/ Druid (Circle of the Moon), YMMV.
15 Decimus DiCarno - A human fighter, he has risen to the fore of the Praetor's Imperial Army. He is respected by all the men he commands, envied by his peers, and desired by many eligible young nobles' daughters. Decimus, however, has a memory problem. In the last month or so, he has found himself in the most unusual locations, with no recollection as to how or why he got there. The first time he "awoke" at midnight to discover himself wandering in his nightclothes in the Emperor's personal garden. Shrugging it off, he though nothing more of it. Last night, however, he awoke at dawn to discover he was in a strange innroom with a dead body ...
16. Kaytje - The youngest daughter of a prosperous merchant, Kaytje combined a free spirit and a beautiful countenance with a love of all things arcane. Her dreams were interrupted when her eldest sister, betrothed to a local scion, died. Her family, desperate to continue the match, forced Kaytje to abandon her studies and marry in her sister's place. Kaytje, not one to spend her life keeping house, and despising the empty man she was to marry, pleaded and begged, and finally - prayed. Her prayers were answered by a voice in her dreams, promising her knowledge and powers unknown to even the most learned of sages...in exchange for the occasional task. Kaytje, without pausing for consideration, agreed. A pact with her mysterious new patron agreed upon, and sudden powers at her command, she fled from her family's home.
17. Abbondanaris - As a raw recruit in the city watch, Abbondanaris didn't apply himself much to his new profession. One night failed to properly secure the stockade. The town was beset upon and sacked by a band of raiders. Captured, Abbondanaris was given the choice of a clean death or slavery - he chose the latter. He toiled, chained to a cart, as the draft animal for a band of nomadic plunderers. He sought any possible escape. Two years passed until he had his chance. Amidst the confusion of an ambush on the camp, he broke his bonds and fled. Vowing to never submit again, and pledging to train to the point of indomitability, he worked his way to the nearest settlement to secure sword and armor so that he could regain his honor.
18. Matheu the Baby - The fifth son of a cooper, Matheu earned his nickname because he was coddled by his mother, who was quick to remind her other sons that Matheu was her favorite. Flabby and clumsy; taunted and bullied; Matheu hid behind her skirts constantly. His mother enrolled him in the church, hoping the hushed cloisters would protect her son. There, amongst the faithful, where all were equal, Matheu, found a new sense of kinship. He rarely visited his family and he rarely received them when they came. One night, deep in prayer with the faithful, his intended destiny unfolded in his mind, as if a beautiful divine flower. Rising, Matheu left the chapel, and, without a word to anyone or a glance over his shoulder, left to fulfill the purpose show to him by [the/a] God(dess).
19. Gnrsees - Gnrsees hates everyone and everything except women and drink. And money - since it provides both. But it is himself he truly hates. His Orcish blood, obvious to anyone, fuels the violence he attracts as he gambles and drinks his way across the city's dimly lid bawdy houses and saloons. He says he is only rejecting the world that rejected him. He is fond of telling how he was abandoned as a babe, left to die as a monster, and brought up in fits and spurts by a succession of soon hateful foster parents. But, unbeknowst to Gnrsees, this story is not real. He was once an operative in the neverending Orcish struggle with the Fey world, and captured, had his memory 're-arranged'. What really happened, who he really is; it seeps in a little every night. Gnrsees tries to drink the truth away, assuming it to be the whispers of Gruumsh his race is said to be afflicted with. But with each visit of the "One Eyed God", the false edifice of memory weakens and the awakening Gnrsees remembers just a little bit more...
20. Reijn D'Auric - Reijn is the eldest child in a Waterdhavian orphanage. As such, he has adopted the role of the other children's unofficial protector, and takes his role quite personally. Through the years of his hardship, however, Reijn carries a heavy heart and suffers from severe depression, and as such, has begun engaging in the ritual of cutting to try to ease his burden. If it were not for the responsibility of protecting his orphan brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that Reijn would end his own life. Unknowingly, Reijn has become favored by the god Ilmater (as a paladin or priest), and his powers and abilities start revealing themselves in the most unusual of ways...
21. Erizel- Erizel of Rasheman is the only daughter of a powerful Hathran and is destined to be a worthy heir. Sadly she lacked any ability with even the simplest of cantrips. Her mother sends her off to join the newly formed Rashemi Secret Service, where she may be of use. It was during her spy training, that she dreamt of a mysterious fey who offered her a deal to awaken her powers. Now Erizel has magic and can even heal, she recalls that a gift deserves a gift, that nothing is ever free and she wonders what her patron may want...
Warlocks get all the best back stories...
22) Shandrak-Shandrak spent his early life in a brothel where his mother worked. For many years he did not understand the nature of his mother's job. He only knew that she was "special" and many men wanted to spend time with her. When he was 12, he caught a man he thought was hurting his mother. He flew into a rage and attacked the man. He was stopped and taken before the owner. The owner sold Shandrak to slaver, but not before telling him the awful truth of his life. His mother was a drow priestess who had been captured and feebleminded by a powerful magic user. She was part of his personal harem until she became pregnant. At which time he cast her aside, selling her to the brothel. For the next 3 years, as a chained oarsman on a slaver ship, Shandrak plotted. When the ship was raided by pirates, Shandrak managed to free himself and visciously attaked his captors. The pirates were impressed with the boy's courage, and took him on. There he honed his skills and bided his time. When the chance presented itself he returned to his home city. He slipped into the magic user's house and slew him while he slept. From there, he went to the brothel only to find his mother gone. After "questioning" the owner, he discovered his mother had become violent after he was taken away, and in the end she had been sold to (insert cult) When morning came, he left the brothel, another dead body in his wake, and a crossroad ahead of him. He had never heard of the cult and had no idea where to start looking. Plus, much of the anger that had driven him for years was gone. Leaving him hollow, with no idea how to fill the void.
Wow....ok, that was abit more than a line or two. 
23) Gareth- Gareth remembers his life. The only problem is, more and more he remembers two of them. Gareth lived a normal life on his family's farm until his sixteenth birthday. That morning he awoke to a burning in his palm. Examining it, he found what appeared to be a single word tattooed in blood red ink, "Skar". Insantly in his mind he could see a great warrior named Skar. And although this Skar looked nothing like him, somehow he knew they were connected. Since then more and more of the script has appeared on his body: words, fragments, even entire paragrapghs. And with each new tattoo more memories fill Gareth's head. But not only memories, skills as well. Despite never handling a sword, Gareth knows that he can use one like a seasoned warrior. Gareth is both elated and terrified at this phenomena. For although he feels himself getting stronger everyday, he fears he may wake up one day to find that Gareth is gone and there is only Skar.
24. Rhunheim, Son of Rornefal. The firstborn son of the dwarf-king Rornefal, Rhunheim was the rightful heir to the throne. Upon the passing of his father, however, his sister Torndal seized power with the help of a mysterious dwarf named Corbelas. During the struggle, it was revealed that Corbelas was in fact a dragon in disguise, helping Torndal steal the throne so he could rule through her. Rhunheim lost the battle for the kingdom, and although there are still loyalists remaining, he was forced into exile. Now he seeks power and allies so that he can one day retake what is rightfully his.
25. Ashwynd the Dragon-Hearted. Once upon a time, the dragon-god Ashwynd vied for the worship of dragon-kind alongside Bahamut and Tiamat. As a neutral god, he garnered respect from dragons of all species, which drew jealousy from his two rivals. In an historic conspiracy, Bahamut and Tiamat cooperated to raise up heroes of unprecedented power to overthrow Ashwynd, thus consolidating their own power. The mortals entered Ashwynd's domain and did battle with him before their mage successfully cast his Imprisonment spell upon him. Being an arcane-inclined god, Ashwynd managed to alter the terms of the Imprisonment, though he could not resist the effect in its entirety. Finally, after ten thousand years of imprisonment, Ashwynd is reborn in a new prison, one made of flesh and blood. Imprisoned in a mortal body until he is once again touched by a divine being, he seeks vengeance on those responsible for his downfall, and a way out of this insufferable imprisonment.
26. Evendra Tianaron. For the last century and a half, Evendra served the elf-king as a member of the Feyguard, the elite corp of eladrin warriors who function as the king's personal guard. When the elf-king was assassinated, Evendra and his comrades were implicated, and the entire Feyguard were either arrested, or escaped into hiding. Evendra now tries to make his way outside the Feywild, always keen for news which may lead him to the king's real assassins.