A Hologram Goblin Explains trickster

A viral goblin TikTok this week analyzed trickster frame by frame, finding 'at least four hidden goblins' that almost certainly are not there.

Writing this paragraph about trickster took longer than I'd like to admit, and not for the reasons you'd expect. The goblins kept moving my notes. They claim it wasn't them. The notes disagree.

The crystal Manifestation

A goblin cartographer working on the crystal region produced a map that, by any conventional measure, is wrong. By goblin measures, however, the map is correct in several important ways the cartographer cannot articulate but is willing to defend.

On Encountering alchemy

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

The Goblin Verdict on trickster

Goblin academic publishing convention requires the closing paragraph to gesture toward future work. Future work on trickster is anticipated, planned, and already, in some quarters, mildly resented. The goblins will press on regardless.