Bohokens live in extended clans ruled by ruthless matriarchs called anamka. Anamkas take control by simply being both the most powerful and the mothers of the most bohokens, who remain loyal to their parent. Their children make up the bulk of the ruling class of the clan, along with a handful of other bohokens given special treatment because of their loyalty or power. This creates massive political turmoil and backstabbing, a rush for power, and an unhealthy instability that makes the anamka thrive.

Bohokens do not have childhoods, but rather form whole from their asexual budding process. They have genders, but they do not correspond to any specific known binary, save that "mother" is considered feminine and an honored role in the clan. Changing of gender throughout the lifetime of a bohoken is not uncommon. In spite of the multiplicity of genders, there is still rigid control over gender roles, including the enslavement of two of the lesser genders (most loosely and not entirely accurately described as "feminine male" and "underdeveloped gender neutral"). Changing of genders occurs only if a bohoken gains power to alter themselves out of slavery for those two genders; the other major change is that any bohoken that reproduces is considered a mother. For others, it varies by clan.

New bohokens are usually loyal to their mother; those who are not are usually outcast, enslaved, or drained of their blood and killed.

Every clan takes turns sending groups out as hunting parties to gather tears and blood, roving out through sewers and water systems to find the best victims. The anamka chooses the leaders of each hunting party and requires a tribute. Slaves are not allowed out on hunting parties, but are fed spare droplets that fall to the ground, if they can scavenge them.

Each clan's anamka answers to the Bohoken Manifest, a dread and desperate tyrant who rules their realm. Her children are the progenitors of all the clans, and all bohokens are descended from her and fear her power.