This wonderful character portrait was drawn for me by  thewhitefalcon

Many people have met Randall Blackwell over the years, though few of them describe their experiences with him the same way. The strange raccoon comes and goes as he pleases, leaving magic and mischief in his wake. Though he's trapped in the form of an animal by a seemingly unbreakable curse, Randall has relearned his magic over the years. Simple spells allow him to speak and regain some humanlike flexibility in his thumbs. And when you get right down to it, isn't that all that you really need to work as a mage? Though he's still not much bigger than a normal raccoon, standing at just over 2' 6,"Randall has learned to use his cursed form to his own advantage. He often associates himself with lesser mages, posing as their animal familiar in exchange for food, treats and supplies. He's quite skilled with transformation spells and beguiling enchantments, so a careful companion could stand to learn a great many things before Randall disappears into the night once again. But those who pursue him or try to take advantage are more likely to to experience his powerful transformation spells as a personal demonstration!

Randall travels light, keeping most of what he has in his small shoulderbag. Most of these are components for more difficult spells, along with some strange potions, oils and powders. His distinctive green cloak is designed to protect him from anti-magic, since a carefully aimed spell could strip away his enchantments, leaving him chittering and hissing as he dashes for cover. The raven's quill is a gift from an old friend of his, a peculiar bird who often claims to hate mammals but clearly has a soft spot for them. And the walking stick? Well, why don't you try walking long distances on two legs!