We had such a ritual in our games back when I was in high school: the start of the campaign luck roll.

The idea was that your starting circumstances would be modified by the d100 zocchihedron roll.

One time, my buddy rolled a 2; our DM grimaced. "Well, you aren't starting off dead... but you might wish you were".

His starting conditions?

Naked. In total darkness. Sealed in a coffin. But at least he wasn't alone: he had a rat nibbling on his toes!