The Zotmeister

03:01 am

Given what Adam is currently enduring, I thought it prudent to provide something of an advance notice of what he will be no doubt presenting here shortly, probably early next week. Adam has, for all intents and purposes - I'm sure he'll be able to explain it better himself - lost his job of the last seven-and-a-half years, and is currently in unfamiliar territory. He is presently working on a résumé, something he has never needed to do before, and he is finding the prospect most unpleasant. Adam and I share an affliction: most of our peers seem to always assume each of us always knows what we are doing, something that is decidedly untrue and often unsettling. I believe Adam is more fearful than he lets on. Today is also his last day with health insurance, which we of course sincerely hope will not become a concern. This is something I am fearful of: my seemingly eternal grievance - that I, a healer, can do nothing for Adam's physical pains - is only exacerbated by this. But I am speaking too much of myself; such exposition can wait. Adam, thankfully, will be able to spend this weekend with friends, in part attending his first non-URI convention, which I hope serves to bolster his spirits. Adam has also turned to music as solace; I have taken the liberty of listing his current aural addiction below. It is apparently from a movie he keeps meaning to show me, although where in that vast queue it may lie I cannot say. But I'm digressing again.

I do believe Adam will turn out alright. However, I also know that he will require great patience to get there, something he typically only possesses when holding either a videogame controller or a pencil, two objects he is very well versed in handling. I know that Adam will come forth himself soon enough, but for now, I would ask that he be given a respectful breather. I myself will be "leaving him alone" for the next couple of days, although not exactly by choice - of either of us, for that matter. I may explain this later - more obfuscating exposition - but for now, let me simply say that I know Adam is in good hands with his other friends, who have apparently been quite supportive of him so far - more than I can be, under the circumstances - and will try to patiently "wait my turn" and, hopefully, help somehow to see him through this. If nothing else, I will try to help him gather his thoughts and get him blogging again, not just to talk about his current situation but to remain communicative in general. I think that would yield a positive effect - and affect, for that matter - for all involved. I will keep you posted if Adam does not.

Sincerely yours,
Zotanna Ophelia Terran

12:34 pm

Adam has been meaning to update his journal for quite some time now, but has been consistently dissuaded by other concerns. I can assure you he is (relatively) well; he's merely pining (though not for fjords, that much I'm certain of). Much has happened in his life as of late, and although he has written about much of it, he has yet to organize it in any manner acceptable to him - an obstacle that keeps him from much he would like to do, I theorize - and is therefore not yet ready to present it here. I am actively encouraging him to try and share his thoughts with others apart from just myself; I would ask on his behalf that he be given just a little more time to "pull himself together", as it were (as much as I feel that phrase is overstating the situation, I lack a more appropriate one). To be fair, he has been trying to get me to post here myself for even longer, and I am only doing so now, so it would be rather unjust of me to be unnecessarily "pushy" in inciting him to action, a strategy I try to avoid anyhow.

Permit me to introduce myself: my name is Zotanna Ophelia Terran. A number of you may already be familiar with me; I trust you both are in good spirits. (Adam is right: 'both' is the most intrinsically humorous word in the English language. But I digress.) For the rest of Adam's readers, I may be a little difficult to explain, but I shall attempt it anyhow for those who are interested. I was largely stuck on how to try to describe myself until Adam suggested I simply list that which I am commonly described as and comment on each. He does seem to have a natural talent for logical structure. I will start with the present tense, work to the past, and end with the false:

• I am a mage. This is, where I come from, practically a given, so if I may be more specific, I am a sorcerer. I specialize in light, healing, and abjuration. I also am a capable wizard, as I feel magic should be shareable.
• I am a healer. I do not consider this a redundant claim - there is much pain magic cannot heal, and I do not shy away from trying to heal it through other means.
• I am a tribunalist. The closest equivalent term I could use that would apply to your society is 'law enforcement'. Effectively, I am a detective. The purging of the corruption in the Mage's Guild several years ago is probably what I am best known for at the present time.
• I am a dancer. I am, for some reason, almost embarrassed to mention that here, but there it is. Serves me right for winning the most prestigious dancing competition my planet offers two years ago.
• I was a war hero. Personally, I eschew the term 'hero' for myself, but it nonetheless persists. I did not win the war against the Sekakt, but by all accounts I kept my people from losing it. My expertise was mainly in tactics, a skill I continue to maintain and develop.
• I was royalty. In my homeland of Kelvaria, this and the previous point were inseparable - the only purpose of the monarchy was to fight the war. In the land now known as Utopia, the situation was more... complex. Anyhow, neither monarchy still exists.
• I was a traveler. Technically, I am still currently homeless, although this is not really an issue for me generally speaking. There are many places I am very welcome at, some a little too welcome for my own taste... Suffice it to say that I am much more settled now than I was, say, a decade ago, but I still seek experiences in other worlds.
• I was an artificer. Truth be told, I still am; I am simply more private with my creations. They tend to be smaller, practical objects, although I frequently update them with new functionality.
• I am not invincible. In fact, I am technically both handicapped and cursed, and in such manners that were I not an accomplished healer and abjurer, my life would have been forfeit long ago. I still remain ever vigilant against my physical and metaphysical weaknesses being exploited.
• I am not a loner. This public opinion of me has been changing greatly as of late anyhow; I'm seen "in public" much more often after having become a frequent patron of my dance partner's restaurant.