Description

"One Goblin is rarely a problem. Five Goblins can ruin a perfectly good afternoon." 

Among the smallest and most widespread Shadows, Goblins specialize in friction, irritation, distraction, and minor setbacks. 

Unlike larger Shadows, Goblins rarely attack directly. 

Instead, they create small inconveniences. 

Tiny frustrations. Unexpected obstacles. Minor annoyances. 

Individually these encounters seem insignificant. 

The true danger emerges when they arrive in groups. 

Many travelers report that Goblin attacks rarely cause major harm. 

However, they frequently weaken patience, resilience, and emotional reserves, creating opportunities for larger Shadows to appear. 

Stats

Goblin 

Shadow Type: Goblin 

Family: Trickster Family 

Threat Rating: 31 

Influence Radius: 12 

Encounter Frequency 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely Common 

Common Whispers

"Seriously?"  

"Of course that happened."  

"What now?"  

"Why is everything difficult today?"  

"I don't have time for this."  

"You've got to be kidding me."  

Signature Attack

Friction 

The Goblin specializes in making simple things unnecessarily difficult. 

Secondary Attack

  • Irritation  

  • Distraction  

  • Impatience  

  • Minor Stress  

  • Mental Fatigue  

  • Emotional Drain  

Found near

Travelers most frequently report encounters around: 

  • Mornings  

  • Technology  

  • Travel  

  • Workdays  

  • Household chores  

  • Deadlines  

  • Errands  

Signs of an Encounter

You may be dealing with Goblins if you find yourself: 

  • Becoming disproportionately frustrated by small problems  

  • Saying "one more thing" repeatedly  

  • Feeling worn down by minor inconveniences  

  • Snapping at people over trivial issues  

  • Losing patience unusually quickly  

  • Experiencing multiple small setbacks in a short period  

Feeds on:

  • Stress  

  • Exhaustion  

  • Impatience  

  • Overcommitment  

  • Lack of sleep  

Shadow Defense

Counter-Spells

One Problem, Not Ten 

Say: 

"This is one annoyance. 

Not evidence that the whole day is ruined." 

Just A Goblin 

Ask: 

"Will this matter next week?" 

Rituals

Goblin Tax 

When a small inconvenience occurs, pause and smile. 

Declare: 

"Goblin tax." 

Purpose: 

Reduce emotional escalation. 

Reset The Campfire 

After several Goblin encounters, intentionally stop. 

Drink water. 

Take a short walk. 

Breathe. 

Purpose: 

Prevent Goblin attacks from summoning larger Shadows. 

Research Notes

Rowan's Research Notes 

"While individually weak, Goblins appear unusually effective at preparing the way for stronger Shadows. Travelers frequently underestimate their cumulative impact." 

— Rowan 

 Ember's Observation 

"I've noticed Goblins have an incredible ability to locate missing objects approximately thirty seconds after replacements have been purchased." 

— Ember 

Campfire Notes 

Travelers report: 

"The problem wasn't the printer." 

"The printer was the fifth thing." 

"Once I realized it was just a Goblin day, I stopped taking it personally." 

"The Goblins weren't dangerous. They were exhausting." 

Questions for Further Study 

  • Why do small problems sometimes feel larger than major ones?  

  • How many Goblins can a traveler reasonably tolerate before lunch?  

  • Do Goblins coordinate their attacks?  

  • Why do they seem particularly active on Mondays?  

  • The Caravan remains divided on this question. 

Have you experienced this Shadow?

If so, please feel free to share your experiences and insight with the Caravan!