shadow: A Goblin Algorithm

Deep in the goblin tunnels, a particularly mischievous creature has been watching the world of shadow with great interest.

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

Goblin Reports From the ghost Frontier

The annual goblin ghost colloquium runs for one day, ends inconclusively, and reconvenes the following year as if the previous year's discussion had concluded. The proceedings are bound and shelved. They are rarely consulted.

Marginalia: revelation

The goblin etiquette guide, on the matter of revelation, advises hosts to 'mention it once, in passing, without lingering.' Departing guests should not be asked their thoughts on it. This is considered firm.

The Goblin Verdict on shadow

Goblin peer review of the shadow hypothesis returned three reviews: one accept, one reject, and one — the most interesting — a sketch of a goblin holding a question mark, captioned 'consider this.' The editors went with accept.