What is sto-vo-kor? The Klingon afterlife is explained

Key foods

• Klingons value an honorable death to enter Stu-W-Kur and do not fear death like humans do.
• Only the honored dead enter Sto-vo-kor, where they are reunited with their loved ones.
• The dishonorable dead go to Gerthor and suffer eternal damnation.

of all alien species in space explorers In the universe, the Klingons are one of the most complex cultures. They have an elaborate belief system, the Way of the Warrior, that dictates how they approach every major milestone in life, as well as death. These belief systems are based on a vast canon of mythology about how the Klingons came to be, the great battles their ancestors fought, and the heroes of those battles. Some of these myths were written down, but for the most part the Klingons transmitted their belief systems through storytelling and song.

Unlike many human cultures that are rooted in the fear of death and motivated by its prevention, Klingon culture teaches them not to fear death. The Klingon ode “Today is a good day to die” reflects the fact that an honorable death is what all Klingons strive to achieve in order to live forever in Sto-vo-kor.

What is sto-vo-kor?

Like many cultures, Klingons believe in an afterlife. While many humans believe that their actions in life determine where their souls go in the afterlife, Klingons believe that how they die determines how they spend their afterlife. . Klingons who die in battle or while performing a heroic feat go to the Hall of Heroes in Sto-vo-kor.

The Klingons believe that the gates of the Hall of Champions are guarded by Kahless the Forgettable, the founder of the Klingon Empire. When a dead Klingon warrior is allowed into Sto-vo-kor, they join the Black Fleet and spend eternity with Kaless, always winning battles and celebrating after each victory. Klingons believe they can reunite with dead family members and friends in Sto-vo-kor. This aspect of the Klingon afterlife is very similar to the Norse afterlife, Valhalla.

Dear dead

Of course, only the honored dead can enter Sto-vo-kor. The easiest way to die an honorable death is to die in battle defending the Klingon Empire. However, there are other ways to make money. A Klingon can sacrifice his life to protect the Empire or other Klingons. They can prove their skill in battle by dying in a duel. They can have another Klingon perform the Mauk-to'Vor ceremony and kill them to die at the hands of another Klingon. Finally, one of their family members can participate in a battle or perform a heroic quest to gain the dead Klingon entry into Sto-vo-kor, as this proves that the dead Klingon has inspired greatness in others. is

When a Klingon dies an honorable death, the surviving Klingons perform a series of rituals to prepare their fallen comrade for Stu-V-Kur. The dead Klingon's eyes are left open so they can see the path of Stovokor. All the Klingons present at the death roar as loud as they can to warn the warriors in Stove-Kur that another warrior is about to join their ranks. Sometimes, they sing a traditional fatiha after the ghoga. The Klingons then attend the “ak'voh” death practice, staying with the body to protect it from predators while the soul travels to Stu-V-Kur.

The dishonorable dead

When a Klingon doesn't die an honorable death, he can't travel to Stu Vokor. In Klingon culture, there are many more ways to die an honorable death than an honorable death. Dying of natural causes, dying by poison, dying in an ambush, dying after betraying the Empire, being captured rather than killed, and ending one's own life are all unseemly deaths.

Those who die without honor travel to Gerthor, the Klingon version of Hell, by riding a barge of the dead on a river of blood. The barge is piloted by Corthar, the first Klingon, who was condemned to an eternal punishment of passing souls to Gerthor because he killed the Klingon gods.

On the journey to Gre'Thor, serpentine creatures called Kos'Karii swim a river of blood, recreating the voices of dead family members and friends to lure them off the ship. If they follow these sounds, Kus Kari will try to pull them off the barge. If they fall into the stream of blood, their souls will be destroyed forever. Their fate after reaching Gerthor is no better. Demons known as Fek'lhr guard the gates of Gre'Thor, and they are charged with torturing the Klingons who arrive there. Just as Klingons who die an honorable death are reunited with their loved ones on Stovokor, they can be reunited on Gerthor – but thanks to the torture there, it's probably not a happy reunion.

Although extremely rare, it is possible to save a soul destined for Gerthor. Cahles traveled on the barge of the dead to save his brother from Gerthor, and Balana Torres saved his mother from Gerthor by traveling on the barge of the dead and offering Kortar's life in exchange for his mother's ascension to Stow. -vo-kor.