If you wish to create one then yes, it will be preserved until we start, remember to use the the outline shown.
Character name: (either your DF character or a fiction character, classes are added also, engineer doctor etc.)
Loadout:your personal loadout from your Dead Frontier Character or create a "reasonable" loadout for your fiction character, also there is a chance you will have pre-loadouts you can choose from. It will be shown what you can choose in the story and that will be part of interaction.
Inventory: Items you will have at the beginning, you have a choice of, depending on your level the appropriate food and medical items you require
Apparel: Again whatever your DF character wears can be described in the story to better detail certain characters, also can be made up for Fiction characters.
Alignment: of course your own personal good or bad thing in the story.
You can be a good guy, helping to save everyone you can, neutral , or evil who only cares for himself and is only out to satisfy his/her wants or whatever suits your style.
It can be real short, not too detailed but also detailed enough.