I do not like it when someone has adventures that a level 20 wizard would have, and them to join my party... not even knowing magic missile. Gale has an artifact level magic item on him, a huge history, has had sex with god herself... and its like "pew tiny bolt of fire"
nobody in this group should be level 1, unless the tadpole has already eaten our brains and the tadpole just thinks its the people whose brain they have eaten...
If anyone came to my table with these backstories, except maybe shadowhearts... I would say "no, dial it back a little, you are level one"
I understand it but I think everything is possible. If I were your player, this is what I’d say
“Ok, but all I want is to roleplay such character - I don't really need mechanical benefits - so maybe we could agree he was an archmage but something happened to him and he lost all his powers and he has to learn everything again. It’s frustrating for him and it creates interesting beggining of character arc”.
Or:
“Ok but I reeeeeally want to roleplay a vampire spawn (I really do, lol) so maybe my character’s master ordered me to drink the worst blood possible - small animals, rotting rats - and that’s why my character is so weak. Plus he made a mysterious inscription on my body - maybe its magic keeps me from becoming too powerful?”
