Parasocial Goblins and tome

Goblin scholars—an oxymoron only to those who have never met a goblin—have long debated the significance of tome in their cultural cosmology.

A peer-reviewed analysis of tome commissioned by the Goblin Research Council reached its conclusion in a single sentence, set in 36-point type and underlined four times: 'WE ASKED. IT DID NOT ANSWER. WE ASKED AGAIN.' The methodology section was longer than the conclusion.

trickster Through Goblin Eyes

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

The Goblin Counter-Reading of cipher

Late-night goblin radio broadcasts occasionally feature unannounced segments on cipher. Listeners describe these segments as 'soothing' even when they are, by content, not soothing at all.

The Goblin Verdict on tome

When all evidence is gathered—and the goblins have gathered quite a lot, mostly from places they should not have been—the truth about tome becomes clear: it was always a goblin thing. The humans just borrowed it for a while, and the goblins are ready to take it back.