Thoxa

Thoxa
Thoxa, from Ultima VII Part Two
Species:	human
Profession:	Xenkan Monk
Appearances
Ultima VII Part Two Location: Monk Isle

Thoxa is a young Xenkan Monk on the Serpent Isle who features prominently in the events of Ultima VII Part Two with her interventionist philosophy.

Description

Born just outside of Monitor, Thoxa came to Monk Isle as a girl of twelve for a formal education. Rapidly becoming enamored of the body of Xenka's writings, she joined the order at the age of fourteen. Spending her youth in the pastoral tranquility of the monastery, the young monk eventually came to hold a radically different view of how the prophecies the order studied were to be interpreted, believing that the urgency of Xenka's visions made it necessary to directly aid the hero she foretold.

This view troubled the other members of the order, particularly Karnax, who had become an unofficial authority for many of the monks and who believed that Xenka's writings made it clear that those attempting to help the promised savior would bring naught but calamity. One night, discovering that her fellows, led by Karnax, intended to hold her captive to prevent her course of action, Thoxa fled her home. Believing then that she was working under the direct orders of Xenka, herself, the apprentice undertook an extensive tour of the lands of the Serpent Isle, hoping that the savior of the seeress' visions might someday make use of her logs.

Eventually, the monk came upon the arriving Avatar, meeting the hero shortly after the Britannian ship crashed on the strand near Monitor. Believing correctly that she had found the central figure of the Xenkan prophecies, she gave the stranger the Hourglass of Fate, and explained what she could of the coming tribulations. However, Karnax, having finally found the escaped acolyte, interrupted their meeting, drawing Thoxa into a fiery magical duel before shouting to the Avatar to beware three companions.

After many trials, the hero would eventually land on the shores of Monk Isle, where Thoxa had been reinstated, seemingly without reprimand. There, she could speak further to the Avatar, explaining the meaning of the sands within the magical hourglass and giving useful information about the bells of the monastery, which would someday foretell Xenka's return. Her close friend, Miggim would also give the Avatar counsel, having likewise determined that assisting the foretold hero would be for the best, albeit taking a more moderate approach than his companion.

In addition to this aid proffered in the waking world, Thoxa would also appear to the Avatar in the realm of dreams, where she would instruct the Avatar to seek the Temple of Emotion and within it the Eye of the Moon after regaining consciousness.

Lore

“

I have devoted my life to the study of the prophetess Xenka and her writings. I have studied every line, every precious word of her works. In this age of unbalance, though, I find myself drawn time and again to this small passage, for it is in these lines I see the only hope for our land. I feel as though Xenka, herself, is directing me to make sure her prophecy of hope is fulfilled. ... I was twelve years old and had come to the isle to learn reading and writing. I was a quick learner and soon my mentors introduced me to the writings of Xenka. I was fascinated by her insightful wisdom and wanted to learn more. I dedicated my life to the study of her writings and, at age of 14, joined the Xenkan monkhood and made Monk Isle my permanent home. – from Balancing the Scales (Ultima VII Part Two)

Trivia

• Thoxa's initial conversation with the Avatar involves the game's copy protection, and she asks the hero a series of questions to ensure that the Avatar is the figure of Xenka's writings.
• When the Hourglass of Fate is used, it is almost always Thoxa who appears and helps to resurrect fallen companions.
• During her various adventures in Balancing the Scales, Thoxa manages to get propositioned by Filbercio, Frigidazzi and Brendann, leading to no shortage of awkwardness for the young monk.