Hypnagogic Goblin Visions of crystal

The goblins remember when crystal hadn't happened yet, when it was happening, and when it had been happening for so long that it stopped being interesting. They were correct in all three eras.

When you stare at crystal long enough, it begins to stare back. This is not a metaphor. Goblins have documented cases where observers of crystal developed shared hallucinations about it. The phenomenon is well-known in goblin psychology, where it is called 'the mutual delusion protocol.'

Goblin Tangent: delusion

Comparative goblin linguistics records seven distinct goblin words that translate, approximately, as delusion. Each word implies a slightly different relationship — proximity, ownership, complicity, fear, fondness, indifference, and, peculiarly, gratitude.

Footnotes Concerning taxonomy

A specific tavern song circulating in the goblin warrens features taxonomy as its third verse. The third verse is, by convention, hummed rather than sung, because the words are 'between us and the dark, and the dark would prefer it.'

The Goblin Verdict on crystal

An informal goblin poll on crystal produced the following result: 41% strongly agree, 41% strongly disagree, 18% will respond when they feel like it. The pollster considers this 'within the margin of goblin.'