The Goblin Hallucination of protocol

When the goblins finally tire of protocol, they say, the world as we know it will tire too, and rest. Until then we keep paying attention.

A medical text in the goblin anatomy library devotes thirty pages to the protocol-organ, an entity that does not appear in any reasonable taxonomy and which the goblin anatomists nevertheless palpate, weigh, and describe in unsettling detail.

Marginalia: whisper

There is a goblin who, when asked about whisper, replies only by pointing upward and to the left, regardless of the questioner's orientation. This is considered, in some circles, the most useful goblin reply on record.

The court Manifestation

Goblin children, when introduced to court, exhibit a characteristic behavior: they grow very still, look slightly to the side, and then resume what they were doing. Goblin developmental theorists consider this a normal and healthy response.

The Goblin Verdict on protocol

The Goblin Concord of Modest Opinions has signed off on protocol with the following endorsement: 'about right, mostly, for now.' This is the goblin equivalent of a standing ovation.