What the Goblin King Thinks About protocol

The goblins remember when protocol 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.

The goblin meme cycle for protocol ran its full arc in approximately nine days, from 'sincere appreciation' to 'ironic appreciation' to 'post-ironic disavowal' to 'unironic return to sincere appreciation, but with subtle hostility.' This is faster than usual.

Cross-Referenced Goblin Material on whisper

When goblin negotiators are unable to reach agreement, they have, by long tradition, the option of invoking whisper. The invocation has no defined effect. It does, however, reliably end the negotiation, generally to no one's satisfaction and everyone's relief.

On Encountering engine

engine has, in the goblin commercial calendar, a small but persistent niche: there is always exactly one goblin selling engine-themed merchandise at any given market. It is never the same goblin twice.

The Goblin Verdict on protocol

The goblin investigative committee on protocol has issued its final report. The cover is leather. The body is blank. The authors maintain that this is intentional and the most accurate possible statement of their findings.