Caste: Bright

Name: Dudgeon (Dud)

Race: Goblin

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Appearance: Thin to the point of malnourishment, tiny by human standards, and with unkempt black hair and a large nose and slightly perky pointed ears. Large, watery, dark brown eyes. Is probably green-skinned beneath the dust and grime.

Personality: Has spent nearly his entire life around goblins (and one elf) and doesn't open up easily (or at all) to others. Often terrified of shadows. Pyrophobic. Agoraphobic. Megalophobic. When he speaks, it's with a small, raspy, nasally voice that seems to apologize for intruding upon the world. If anyone dropped their coin purse in front of him, he would be too scared to speak to them, worried they would accuse him of stealing. If would be best if he kept it for himself and put it to good use. He would justify his actions repeatedly, if only to shut out the part of him screaming at himself for being too weak to do what was right.

Spellbook:
1. Ember - A simple light spell; produces a small amber-colored ball that hovers for a minute or two
2. Echo - A camouflage spell; sound waves blur the vision of those nearby and make him harder to be seen
3. Scorch - A hissing flame is thrown from the tip of his wooden sword; can start a small fire or (more often) singe eyebrows

Inventory: Carries a small wooden toy sword, about the size of a short sword in his hands. Has some pocket change, enough for some old bread and stale beer until his parents send him some more of what little money they have. Was given a heavy gold ring with elvish writing scrawled around the outer edge, but he pawned that as soon as he jumped off the carriage into the city.

Clothing: He may be easily mistaken for a mound of rags. Wears a very roomy, very worn hooded brown robe that may have been bright red ages ago and miles away. The robe is slightly brighter around its edge, hinting at a former embroidery of some sort. Under the robe, he is wrapped with half a dozen belts full of pockets and pouches, the vast majority of which are empty save for a tiny handful of coins and crumpled paper money. Wears a simple half-laced tunic and pants beneath that. Heavily scuffed brown leather walking boots.

Other: He has nightmares. Most nights he can't remember them. When he does, it is the same dream every time. Flames, darkness, something watching him hungrily. A voice with the weight of massive slabs of stone slamming together screams "REBORN." And he is jolted awake, covered in sweat and shivering.

Notes: I have general plans for how his magic evolves. What he has now is simple, but serves a purpose. He's afraid of the dark, he dislikes attention, and he has dreams of being surrounded by fire...

This is a character I've been working on for months but I've never used him before. He has two versions of a backstory, one where he's an orphan and one where he's not. This time he has a family. He was originally 13, but you said 16-18, so I'm only pushing it a little. You didn't specify race, so I'm guessing fantasy types are acceptable. Let me know of any improvements I can make.