What is Sto-vo-kor? The Klingon Afterlife, Explained

Key Takeaways

• The Klingons value an honorable death to enter Sto-vo-kor, not fearing death like humans.
• Only the honored dead entered Sto-vo-kor, where they met their loved ones.
• The dishonorable dead go to Gre'thor, suffering eternal damnation.

Of all the types of guests in the Star Trek universe, the Klingons are one of the most complex cultures. They have a very strong belief system, The Way of the Warrior, that dictates how they approach every major step in life and death. These belief systems are based on a vast canon of legends about how the Klingons came to be, the great wars their ancestors fought, and the heroes of those wars. Some of these legends were written down, but most Klingons passed on their beliefs through stories and songs.

Unlike many human cultures, which are rooted in the fear of death and motivated by its avoidance, Klingon culture teaches them not to fear death. The Klingon aphorism “Today is a good day to die”, reflects the fact that a dignified death is something every Klingon strives to achieve in order to live forever in Sto-vo-kor.

What is Sto-vo-kor?

Like most cultures, Klingons believe in life after death. While many people believe that what they do in life determines where their soul goes in the afterlife, Klingons believe that how they die determines how they spend their afterlife. Klingons who die in battle or in the act of bravery go to the Hall of Heroes in Sto-vo-kor.

Klingons believe that the gates of the Hall of Heroes are guarded by Kahless the Unforgettable, the founder of the Klingon Empire. When a dead Klingon warrior is granted access to Sto-vo-kor, they join the Black Fleet and spend eternity with Kaless, fighting battles they always win and feasting on every victory. . Klingons believe they can reunite with dead family and friends in Sto-vo-kor. This aspect of the Klingon afterlife is similar to the Norse afterlife, Valhalla.

The dead honored

Of course, only the honored dead can enter Sto-vo-kor. The easiest way to die a decent death is to die in battle defending the Klingon Empire. However, there are other ways to gain access. A Klingon can sacrifice his life to protect the Empire or other Klingons. They can prove their fighting skills to the death in a duel. They can ask another Klingon to perform a Mauk-to'Vor ritual and kill them, only to die at the hands of another Klingon. Finally, a family member can enter a battle or complete a heroic quest to earn a dead Klingon's entry into Sto-vo-kor, as this proves that the dead Klingon inspired others.

When a Klingon dies honorably, the surviving Klingons perform a series of rituals to prepare their fallen comrades for Sto-vo-kor. A dead Klingon's eyes are left open so he can see the way to Sto-vo-kor. All the Klingons who were present at the death roar as loud as they could, to alert the warriors already in Sto-vo-kor that another warrior was about to join their ranks. Sometimes, they sing a traditional funeral dirge after the roar. Then, the Klingons attend the “ak'voh” death drill, staying with the body to protect it from predators while the soul makes the journey to Sto-vo-kor.

The dishonorable dead

When a Klingon does not die an honorable death, they cannot make the journey to Sto-vo-kor. In Klingon culture, there are more ways to die an ignoble death than a death. Death by natural causes, death by poison, death by infection, death by treason, capture rather than execution, and taking one's own life are unjust deaths.

Those who die without honor make the journey to Gre'Thor, the Klingon version of Hell, by riding the Barge of the Dead down the river of blood. The ship was piloted by Kortar, the first Klingon, who was sentenced to eternal punishment by delivering souls to Gre'Thor for killing the Klingon gods.

On the way to Gre'Thor, a snake named Kos'Karii swims in a river of blood, echoing the voices of the dead's family and friends to try to lure them off the ship. As they follow the sounds, the Kos'Karii try to pull them off the ship. If he falls into the river of blood, his soul will perish forever. Their fate is no better when they reach Gre'Thor. A demon named Fek'lhr guards the gateway to Gre'Thor, and is accused of torturing the Klingons who come there. Just as the Klingons who died an honorable death were reunited with their loved ones in Sto-vo-kor, they too could be reunited in Gre'Thor – but due to the torture there, it was likely less likely. it makes the meeting happy.

Although it is rare, it is possible to save a soul dedicated to Gre'Thor. Kahless went on the Barge of the Dead to save his brother from Gre'Thor, and B'Elanna Torres saved her mother from Gre'Thor by going on the Barge of the Dead and handing over Kortar his soul in exchange for his mother's ascension to Sto. -vo-cor.