2 Questions - Retiring and Banner

[Hebrow]

So hello all! 

Today I have 2 questions for you guys, and I hope you can help me

I just started a new character today. A female to be exact.
So of course I randomly chose the 4 options, without knowing what impact they had on me later.
Anyways, suddenly a screen popped up saying I had been awarded a BANNER.

So my question is, how could that happen? Was it becuase I made a female character or because I was number 999.999 to make a new character?
Is it possible to get your own banner later on in the game if you didn't start with one?

Okay... that was the first question.

And then I read up somewhere that you can retire in the game. Does that mean you stop playing that character forever? Somekind of delete option?
I certainly don't hope so. Although I have seen the little calendar in the corner of the screen. Will my character retire automatically when he reaches a certain age? Please tell me it isn't true! 

EDIT: Thanks for all the replies!

 

[bugman]

1. Banners rely on your character's renown levels. Some options on character set up can affect this, hence you getting one straight off. If you don't start with one, it is possible to gain one later on.
2. Retiring just gives you an end of game summary. Your character won't age and retire automatically.

 

[Hebrow]

Nice, thanks! Helped a lot 

 

[Wellenbrecher]

You start out with a banner once you select "Impoverished Noble" at the first question.
Otherwise you will be awarded with a banner once you become a vasall.

 

[The Red Baron]

And after you retire they tell you about your later life and you can go back to adventuring if you want.

 

[Sir Lulzalot]

Most of the time when you retire your character pretty much winds up a loser or a petty thief.

 

[ajaxfetish]

You start out with a banner once you select "Impoverished Noble" at the first question.
Otherwise you will be awarded with a banner once you become a vasall.

You will also be awarded a banner if you capture a castle or town as a bandit. 

Ajax

 

[Dark Joyce]

there are some mods like "Sword of Damocles"  which gives you an option to make your own banner which is awesome

 

[Lord Lorkhann]

You can't make your own banner in SoD!! (right?? )

 

[Berpol]

You start with a banner when you start as an impoverished noble regardless of gender.
All others gain a banner when they either join a kingdom as a vasall or conquer a city or castle on their own.
If you take a banner that is already owned by one that one get a new generic banner (red white checkered or so).

Some mods change that, some mods add new banners and I think the newest version of Sword of Damocles also allows you to create your own banner. I admit I'm not sure about the last one as I tried out several mods this weekend.

 

[Lord Shields]

You can't make your own banner in SoD!! (right?? )

For the record you can make your own banner for any mod (as long as it supports the banner option in the startup creation). You need only locate the image file and paste over your banner to one of the existing ones. When you choose it in-game, it'll have changed.

 

[Venitius]

Fire Arrow - Turn into an Inferno allows the player to customise his/her heraldry/banner. Also has a system that changes a castle's supplies and the ability to burn stuff.

 

[Lord Lorkhann]

ow seems like I'm playing outdated mods WTF!! burn stuff??? downloading...

 

[Rudolph]

So after reading this, I have concluded that
You can get a banner by having high renowned, capturing a town/castle Or picking "Impoverished Noble"
@Wellenbrecher I have become a vassal. I have approx 360 renowned and I have no banner. ]:*

~Edit: Of course, I ride around for a minute and Shao.
I have it now.
Thanks