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

Key Takeaways

• Klingons do not fear death like humans do and value honorable deaths in order to enter Sto-vo-kor.
• Only the honorable dead enter Sto-vo-kor and are reunited with their loved ones.
• The dishonorable dead go to Gretor for eternal damnation.

Of all the invasive species on Earth star trek The Klingons are one of the most culturally complex races in the universe. They have an elaborate belief system, the Way of the Warrior, that dictates how to approach all the major milestones of life and death. That belief system is 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 communicated their belief system through storytelling and song.

Unlike many human cultures, which are rooted in the fear of death and motivated by preventing death, Klingon culture teaches not to fear death. The Klingon maxim “Today is a good day to die” reflects the fact that an honorable death is something all Klingons strive to do so that they can live forever on Stovokor.

What is Sto-vo-kor?

Like most cultures, Klingons believe in life after death. While many humans believe that their actions in life determine where their souls go in the afterlife, Klingons believe that the way they die determines how they will spend their afterlife. Klingons who die in battle or while performing a feat of heroism are taken to the Hall of Heroes at Sto-vo-kor.

The Klingons believe that the gate to the Hall of Heroes is guarded by Kahless the Unforgettable, founder of the Klingon Empire. Once dead Klingon warriors are allowed entry into Sto-vo-kor, they join the Black Fleet and spend eternity with Kaless, always victorious and feasting after each victory. Klingons believe they can reunite with their dead family and friends at Sto-vo-kor. This aspect of the Klingon afterlife has many similarities to the Norse afterlife of Valhalla.

an honorable dead man

Of course, only those who died honorably 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 get tickets. Klingons may sacrifice their lives to protect the Empire or other Klingons. They can prove their prowess in battle by dying in a duel. They can ask other Klingons to perform the Mauk-to'Vor ritual and kill them, causing them to die at the hands of other Klingons. Finally, family members can engage in battle or complete heroic quests to help dead Klingons enter Sto-vo-kor. Because this proves that the dead Klingon inspired greatness in others.

When a Klingon dies an honorable death, the surviving Klingons perform a series of rituals to prepare their fallen comrade for Stovokor. The dead Klingon's eyes are open so he can see the path to Sto-vo-kor. Every Klingon on the scene of death shouted as loudly as possible to alert the warriors already on Stovokor that another warrior would soon join their ranks. Sometimes they sing a traditional funeral dirge after the roar. The Klingons then attend a death practice called “ak'voh” where the soul stays with the body to protect it from predators while it travels to Sto-vo-kor.

the dishonorable dead

A Klingon cannot travel to Sto-vo-kor unless he dies an honorable death. In Klingon culture, there are far more ways to die a dishonorable death than an honorable death. Natural death, death by poison, death in an ambush, death by rebelling against the empire, being captured instead of being killed, and taking one's own life are all dishonorable deaths.

Those who die without honor travel to Gre'Thor, a Klingon hell, on a dead man's barge down a river of blood. The barge is piloted by Kortar, the first Klingon, who was sentenced to eternal punishment by taking their souls to Gretor for killing Klingon gods.

During their journey to Gretor, serpentine creatures called Kos'Karii swim in rivers of blood and attempt to lure them from the barge by recreating the voices of the families and friends of the dead. If they follow the voice, Kos'karii attempts to pull them off the barge. If they fall into the river of blood, their souls will be destroyed forever. Even after arriving on Gre'Thor, their fate isn't much better. Demons called Fek'lhr guard the gates of Gre'Thor and are tasked with torturing Klingons who arrive there. Just as Klingons who die an honorable death are reunited with their loved ones on Sto-vo-kor, so too can they be reunited on Gre'Thor. But the torture there will likely make for a less pleasant reunion.

Although it is extremely rare, it is possible to save a soul for Gretor. Kahless traveled aboard the Barge of the Dead to save his brother from Gre'Thor, and B'Elanna Torres traveled aboard the Barge of the Dead and offered Kortar her soul in exchange for her mother's ascension to Sto. 'Saved her mother from Thor. -vo-kor.