Online:Bhoki

Bhoki is a Naga and the former ka-deelith of the Dead-Water Tribe as well as the egg-sire of Kishi. He was a respected teacher, until an incident six seasons ago lead the deaths of the entire hatchling group participating in the trial of ascension as well as his injuries. In response he was removed from his position and Mewah-Jez took his place.

Recently, he hit rock-bottom as his son was sentenced to death for intervening in the trial and rescuing the endangered trial-goers.
 

Related Quests


Dialogue
Under the Hist
Bhoki can be found sitting under the village's   after visiting his home, on behalf of Beel-Ranu. When he is approached he will warn you off saying "Find a different patch of shade, ojel."

Nonetheless, you can persist in speaking with him:
:"I state the obvious. You are ojel, not of our tribe. Coming here makes you either very brave or very foolish, but it has nothing to do with me.  I display my fangs in warning. Now leave me to my thoughts."
:A young Argonian sent me to find you. She said your son Kishi was in trouble.
:"Kishi is always in trouble, but never has the mud risen so high. He disobeyed tradition, tribal laws, and my direct orders when he decided to interfere in the rites of ascension.  Now the raj-kaal has sentenced the spawn of my eggs to death."
:There must be something we can do.
:''"I grind my fangs in frustration. I tried to talk to the raj-kaal, the war-chief, but he doesn't want to hear the truth. The Dead-Water only care about strength and death, and they plan to follow that path to the bitter end."
:Kishi's letter mentioned an old training manual.
:"This book should have been destroyed ages ago. Kishi hid it here. He wants me to remember who I was, but I am no longer the ka-deelith.  The tribe has sentenced Kishi to death. I will stand at my son's side and die with him."
:Let me try to help Kishi instead. Your tribe's laws don't apply to me.
:"You would risk life and limb for a stranger? Kishi believes that outsiders aren't intrinsically bad, so I accept his opinion and thank you for your help.  Kishi was taken to the ruins at the north end of the village. Save him and send him away."
::The northern section of the village is in ruins?
::"I expose the spine of regret. Once the Dead-Water tribe was as numerous as the fish in the streams. Now we send our dwindling number of hatchlings to die upon the Path of the Lily. It curls my scales.  The ruins remind us of more prosperous seasons."
:::Why did they take Kishi to the ruins?
:::"The ruins serve as a perfect killing field. Which is what will happen to Kishi if you continue to stand here and ask me questions.  If you really want to help, save my egg-son and then tell him to leave the village and never return."
::You want me to save Kishi and then send him away?
::"There is no place in the village for someone sentenced to die. Kishi must flee and go far away, or our warriors will be forced to kill him. As for me, I need to consider his words and decide what to do with my old training manual."
:::What's the significance of your old training manual?
:::"I served as the tribe's war-teacher before I was replaced. That old book contains my training methods—techniques that worked well until they didn't. When Mewah-Jez changed everything, novices started to die.  But tell me, why do you care?"
::::I want to help. No one should be sentenced to death for saving lives.
:::::"The ojel sees the truth even through the fog of our traditions.  The laws of the Dead-Water refuse to bend, but in a powerful wind the tall, straight tree either weathers the storm or breaks apart. Perhaps with your help, the tribe can learn to bend."
::::This sounds like my kind of adventure and I want to see what happens.
:::::"I snarl at the audacity of outsiders. Our lives are more than just a story for you to participate in. My egg-son has forfeited his life to save the lives of others. I hope you are willing to do the same.  Have your adventure. Just save my son."
::::I want to save your son, but I expect a good reward when this is all over.
:::::"I raise the spine of appreciation. Outsiders are rarely so honest and direct in their dealings with my people.  What we value may be different, but if you save Kishi I will make sure you are generously rewarded."

Returning with news
After rescuing Kishi, you can return to Bhoki in his home to tell him the news. You will find Mewah-Jez speaking with Bhoki before leaving.
:Bhoki "Say your words Mewah-Jez and then leave me to my grief."
:Mewah-Jez "Kishi reject our laws because of your obsolete ideas, Bhoki. Let this end with your egg-son's death."
:Mewah-Jez "Grieve as you will, but do not think to oppose me, old one. That is a battle you cannot win." 
: 

Bhoki can then be spoken with:
:"The outsider returns. Just in time to see the disgrace that clings to me like the mist that rises from the swamp.  But what of my egg-son? Does Kishi still live?"
:I rescued Kishi. He said he plans to find a way to save your tribe.
:"Ah, I thank the Hist that Kishi lives, but he risks everything to swim against the currents of our traditions.  I must find the same courage as my egg-son and do what is right. Otherwise, the tribe will slowly fade away."
:What do you mean?
:"The Naga-Kur, who you call the Dead-Water. We are warriors. Death is a part of who we are. In the past, our hatchlings grew to be novices who walked the Path and became warriors. Death was present, but it never claimed all our young. Until now."
:What changed to cause all this?
:"One war-teacher was replaced by another. Techniques were altered. Different virtues were emphasized.  Under Mewah-Jez's tutelage, novices fail the test over and over. She pushes them in one direction and blames them as the tribe slowly dies out."
:So what can I do to help?
:"Find Kishi. He plans to show our war-chief that there is a better way to train the novices. In the back room, take the fire stones. Use them to find my egg-son's hidden camp in the swamp. Then help him carry out his plan."
::How do I use the fire stones to find Kishi?
:::"I patiently attempt to explain. Go into the swamp and look for the tamed vine-tongues. These plants appear different from the more hostile varieties.  Toss fire stones at the plants and they will lead you to Kishi's hidden camp."
::If novices keep dying, why is Mewah-Jez permitted to remain the war-teacher?
::"Mewah-Jez insists that her training is not at fault. The novices are too weak and that is why they fail.  The war-teacher proclaims that every challenge can be overcome by strength and strength alone. Hit harder, kill faster, never pause to think."
:::Why is that bad?
:::"Because strength is only one weapon in the warrior's arsenal. To ignore the others is to court doom, as our novices find out again and again.  If not for Kishi's interference, the latest group would have died as well. And for this he is dishonored."
::::So no one else in the village realizes that Mewah-Jez is the real problem?
::::"The Dead-Water tribe learns to fight. We have very little experience questioning orders or ignoring tradition. That is Kishi's greatest strength and most apparent weakness. He questions everything.  Help my egg-son and you will help our tribe."
::Why isn't the war-chief concerned about the deaths of the novices?
::"Raj-Kaal Seelan accepts death as a constant companion. It is almost a member of our tribe. The war-chief sees the haj mota floating toward the waterfall, but considers its fate to be part of the natural order."
:::So the war-chief is just going to let your tribe die out?
:::"The war-chief believes that Mewah-Jez's methods will produce stronger, more powerful warriors. Eventually. In the meantime, he cannot resist the pull of tradition any more than the haj mota or the rest of the tribe.  That is why Kishi must succeed."

After you have finished speaking with Bhoki, he will act as a distraction so you can find Kishi.
:Mewah-Jez :  "Bhoki! Come out and tell me where Kishi is!"
:Bhoki "I sigh at the inevitable. Find Kishi while I seend Mewah-Jez on a wild guar chase."
: 
:Mewah-Jez "The war-chief sentenced Kishi to death, Bhoki. Your egg-son doesn't even have the good sense to die with honor."
:Bhoki "I bear my fangs at this insult."
:Mewah-Jez "Rage all you want. When Kishi comes for you, we'll slap him in chains!"

If you speak with Bhoki at this point, he will tell you leave saying "Do not linger like the sickly guar that waits for the crocodile to eat it. Hurry and do the thing we spoke about."

Audience with the Raj-Kaal
While you have an audience with Raj-Kaal Seelan to convince him to allow Kishi to try and prove his point, Bhoki will advise you to listen to Kishi, saying "Listen to Kishi and do exactly as he says. And try not to anger the raj-kaal."

After you have spoken with the Raj-Kaal, Bhoki will say "The Path of the Lily requires both brains and brawn. Listen to Kishi. Show my people that there is a better way."

Post-walking the Path of the Lily
Once you have successfully transversed the Path of the Lily, Kishi will take his father home, where the two of them can be found afterwards. When you enter you can overhear their conversation.
:Kishi: "Your methods were as successful as ever, egg-sire. The outsider claimed the sacred lily."
:Bhoki: "I hear your words, Kishi, and my spines swell with pride."

Bhoki can then be spoken with: 
:"How did it feel to claim the sacred lily, ojel? Did your scales quiver and your spines tingle in awe and wonder?  I am grateful that you helped my egg-son. And that you survived to prove my methods."

After Mewah-Jez arrives and makes peace with Kishi, Bhoki will say "I did not think I would live to see my name no longer disgraced. I know Kishi can teach our hatchlings and our tribe will survive."''