Hobgoblin

Hobgoblin (Tenkari)

Tenkari is the formal and refined language of the Hobgoblins of Tetsu Mon Teikoku, spoken with deliberate precision and strict adherence to tradition. Where Ghukliak is harsh, instinctive, and shaped by survival, Tenkari is measured, elegant, and disciplined—designed not merely to communicate, but to reinforce hierarchy, duty, and restraint.

To those unfamiliar with it, Tenkari sounds calm and controlled, even beautiful. Its syllables flow smoothly, its tones carefully moderated, and its cadence unhurried. Many scholars of Enderlin have remarked that Tenkari carries a refinement rivaling that of Elvish, though where Elvish emphasizes artistry and emotion, Tenkari emphasizes order and intent.

Among hobgoblins, Tenkari is more than a language—it is a social instrument. Rank, formality, and obligation are embedded directly into speech. To speak improperly is not merely rude, but revealing.

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Origins and Development

Tenkari originated as a deliberate reform of Ghukliak, undertaken centuries ago within the rising empire of Tetsu Mon Teikoku. As hobgoblin society centralized and codified its values, the raw flexibility of Ghukliak was deemed insufficient for governance, law, and military coordination.

Rather than abandon their ancestral tongue, early hobgoblin scholars and strategists reshaped it:

• Harsh guttural sounds were softened or removed
• Grammar was formalized and standardized
• Vocabulary was expanded to include law, philosophy, and statecraft
• Social rank and formality were encoded directly into sentence structure

While the roots of Tenkari remain clearly goblinoid, centuries of refinement have rendered it largely unintelligible to goblins. A goblin fluent in Ghukliak may recognize fragments of meaning, but full comprehension is rare. Hobgoblins, by contrast, can usually understand spoken Ghukliak with relative ease, recognizing it as an unrefined ancestor rather than a foreign tongue.

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Script and Written Tradition

Unlike Ghukliak, Tenkari possesses a native written form, one of the most distinctive scripts known to scholars of Enderlin.

Tenkari script is:

• Written vertically, from top to bottom
• Composed of precise, angular characters softened by flowing strokes
• Designed to be written with brush or stylus rather than chisel

The script is highly standardized, and literacy is considered a civic duty among hobgoblins of Tetsu Mon Teikoku. Laws, military doctrine, genealogies, philosophical treatises, and even battlefield reports are meticulously recorded.

Written language holds great authority in hobgoblin culture. A written order carries more weight than a spoken one, and historical records are treated with near-reverence. Altering or falsifying written Tenkari is considered one of the gravest crimes within traditional hobgoblin society.

Outside Tetsu Mon Teikoku, written Tenkari is rare and often misunderstood, sometimes mistaken for an artistic or ceremonial script rather than a living language.

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Use in Enderlin

Within Enderlin, Tenkari is spoken almost exclusively by hobgoblins, particularly those who were born in—or trained according to—the traditions of Tetsu Mon Teikoku.

Common uses include:

• Formal communication between hobgoblins
• Military command and strategy
• Legal contracts and oaths
• Diplomatic discourse within hobgoblin circles

In mixed societies, hobgoblins often default to Common when dealing with outsiders, reserving Tenkari for private discussion or formal internal matters. This has led to the misconception that Tenkari is ceremonial or archaic—a belief hobgoblins neither confirm nor deny.

Some hobgoblins in Enderlin, particularly mercenaries or exiles, may speak a simplified or accented form of Tenkari, influenced by Common. Traditionalists view this as unfortunate but inevitable outside the homeland.

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Cultural Significance

To hobgoblins, Tenkari is the language of discipline made audible.

It teaches restraint through structure and reinforces social order through speech. The language leaves little room for impulsive emotion, forcing speakers to consider rank, context, and consequence before words are spoken. Many hobgoblins believe that mastering Tenkari is a foundational step toward mastering oneself.

There is a common saying among hobgoblins:

“If Ghukliak teaches how to survive, Tenkari teaches how to rule.”

For this reason, Tenkari is closely tied to concepts of honor, obligation, and legacy. To abandon it entirely is often seen as a quiet severing of one’s bond to hobgoblin identity—even among those who have left Tetsu Mon Teikoku behind.

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Names and Vocabulary

Hobgoblin names in Tenkari tend to be longer and more structured than goblin names, often composed of meaningful elements tied to lineage, virtue, or service.

Common Tenkari Name Elements

• Ten
• Kari
• Mon
• Raku
• Shin
• Kaido

Names are frequently shortened or altered when dealing with non-hobgoblins, but the full Tenkari form is always preserved in written records.

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Selected Tenkari Terms

• tenkai — order / harmony
• kari — duty / obligation
• mon — state / empire
• rakushin — disciplined strength
• shidō — command / guidance
• zenka — honor through service

These terms often lack direct equivalents in Common, reflecting cultural concepts that do not translate cleanly beyond hobgoblin society.

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Full Tenkari script

Full Tenkari script.

Native Name: Tenkari (called Hobgoblin in Common)
Script: Tenkari Script (vertical writing system unique to Tetsu Mon Teikoku)
Primary Speakers: Hobgoblins of Tetsu Mon Teikoku; limited use among hobgoblin enclaves in Enderlin
Geographic Spread: Rare in Enderlin; native to lands beyond the The Sunveil Sea.
Status: Formal, literary, and ceremonial language; used for records, law, and high discourse

Origin:
Evolved from ancient Goblin (Ghukliak) roots after prolonged separation and cultural refinement in Tetsu Mon Teikoku. Influenced by rigid hierarchy, philosophy, and statecraft, transforming a survival-based tongue into one of precision and elegance.

Dialects:
Highly standardized; regional variation is minimal due to centralized education and strict linguistic tradition. Older ceremonial forms persist in religious and legal texts.

Ease of Learning:
Hard — complex grammar, honorific structures, and written forms demand disciplined study; Hobgoblins find Ghukliak easier to understand than non-hobgoblins learning Tenkari.