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Cultural Database

Physiology
Klingons are among the earliest civilizations the Federation has contacted. Though classified as humanoids, Klingons possess several distinctive physiological characteristics that belong uniquely to their species. They have a body structure that is partly exoskeleton, meaning their resistance to physical force is far greater than mere flesh. Their organs also have multiple redundancies, given the term "brak'lul", allowing the Klingon warriors enormous resiliency during battle.

When the Klingons first made contact with the Federation they appeared almost totally humanoid. By 2271 most Klingons had acquired a single pronounced ridge of bone running laterally back across the skull; and by the 2290's all Klingons had a distinctive set of ridges. occupying almost the whole frontal area of their heads. At first it was believed that some form of genetic engineering or viral mutation was responsible for this species-wide change, but historical evidence indicates that the Klingons had this appearence throughout most of their history, becoming humanoid sometime prior to 2218 and then gradually reverting back to their normal appearence. The Klingons have consistently refused to provide any explanation for this transformation, simply stating that it is "a long story" that they "do not discuss with outsiders".

On average Klingons are larger and physically stronger than Humans. Many of their internal organs have redundant backups, allowing them to survive considerable injuries. Klingons are noted for having no tear ducts, and while most have red blood there are some races whos blood is distinctly pink. All Klingons suffer from certain allergies, most notably a strong reaction to small furry animals such as cats and tribbles.

Physically the imperial Klingon race is as imposing as it is aggressive. Both males and females have a greater muscle mass ratio than do most humanoid forms. They also generally grow taller and reach full, adult height at an earlier age than humans. Perhaps the single most striking feature of Klingon anatomy is the ridged forehead crown evident in genetically pure individuals, a characteristic missing in the few Klingon / human genetic fusions still serving in some parts of the Empire. Each cranial structure much like the human fingerprint is unique. However, in family lines there are similar patterns. One of the little known rituals among the Klingons involves the casting of an impression of their foreheads. These impressions are then kept by the family as a proof of linage. During the time of the Klingon/ Romulan alliance it is believed that the Klingons also traded some of there genetic engineering technology to the Romulans. Modern day Romulans also have a more pronounced forehead structure than do their Vulcan cousins.

You can find a genetic chart at The Science Station

Society
The Klingon Empire is adjacent to the Federation and Romulan Star Empire borders. A central government is located on the planet Qo'noS and only houses with rightful male lineage may rise to power and rule the Klingon worlds. Klingon society is based on family reputation and honor, and for a Klingon to join a family, it must be done according to the rite of R'uustal, after approval by the matriarch or patriarch of the family house.

Klingon tradition is an integral part of their lives. Breaking from it is an insult to society that is not forgotten easily: bringing shame to the offender's name for several generations. Bloodlines and relations are also taken very seriously by any true Klingon. Lines comprise of more than mere family members. It is more like a network of mutual obligations and defense agreements. Deeds done beyond living memory can indebt one family to another for generations, such is their emphasis on repaying debts. In this way, there comes a time when the line is too massive to maintain, and some line-founders must split off to form a new name.

Over time, their view of life has warped to become increasingly obsessed with dying honorably instead of living with honor. Too often, the only words spoken before battle is "It is a good day to die!" Dying gloriously in combat, preferably having slain a few enemies, is the pinnacle of achievements for Klingons, and to all proud warriors, the only way to go. Groveling for mercy and prolonging life is enough for condemnation and the shaming of the whole house. For some dishonored Klingons, the only way to restore their lost honor is through the ritual of "Mauk-to 'Vor", which involves the killing of an individual to repair his honor.

Their code of honor, however, does not forbid treachery. On birds of prey or in any system of hierarchal command, officers are continually targeted for death by lower ranked crew. Though incomprehensible to outsiders, this is their method of keeping officers strong and capable.

By nature Klingons are a warrior race, and have been involved in many conquests throughout their history. Their first contact with the Federation in 2218 was disasterous, and led to nearly a century of hostilities. Open warfare was was narrowly averted in 2266 by the intervention of the Organians. Over the next twenty five years the Federation and Klingon Empire made several attempts to coexist peacefully, with notable breakthroughs including the Korvat Negotiations in 2289 and the Khittomer Conference in 2293. Peace was finally achieved after the Narendra Incident, in which the crew of the Enterprise-C sacrificed themselves and their vessel to assist a Klingon colony under attack by Romulans. The peace held until 2372, when the Federations refusal to support the Klingons war against the Cardassians resulted in an attack on Deep Space Nine. The alliance was re-instated later in this year in order to present a united front against the Dominion threat. That alliance has continued to the present, and the two powers are currently engaged in joint operations against the Dominion.

In theory the Klingon Government consists of an Imperial structure with a High Council advising the Emperor. However, for centuries the title of Emperor was left vacant and the Chancellor of the High Council has ruled the Empire. This situation was modified in 2369 when Kahless apparently returned from the dead, although it was later learned that the returned Kahless was in fact a clone of the original created by Klingon scientists. Despite this, Chancellor Gowron allowed the cloned Kahless to take the imperial throne as a figurehead in order to promote unity among the Klingon people.

While their technological level has long since evolved toward more efficient weapon and combat systems most Klingon 'disagreements' are still settled using the ancient hand-to-hand methods of their ancestors. Among the Klingon blade weapons are several swords and knives, but the most innovative and the deadliest is the Bat'telh.

For those occasions when long-distance or wide-damage weaponry is more suitable to the task at hand Klingon science has provided a variety of high-efficiency disruptor units. These devices generally pistol-like in form lack the disintegration capability of phasers but produce a higher destructive effect per reserve energy unit used. Larger ship-mounted versions of these disruptors are the primary weapons of the Klingon fleet and can be tuned specifically to be effective against specific enemy vessel shields and hulls. Also available to Klingon vessels are variations upon the photon torpedo, but these are based not upon Federation science but upon those units acquired during the brief Klingon / Romulan alliance.

Khitomer Massacre

 A brutal attack by Romulan forces on the Klingon outpost at Khitomer in 2346.  Some 4,000 Klingons were killed in the incident, later learned to have been made possible by the betrayal of Ja’rod, a Klingon who provided secret defense access codes to the Romulans.  The only survivors of the massacre were a Klingon child named Worf and his nursemaid named Kahlest.  The two were rescued by the U.S.S. Intrepid, which responded to the Klingons’ distress calls.  Years later, in 2366, Klingon High Council member Duras, son of Ja’rod, attempted to falsify evidence to implicate Worf’s father, Mogh, as the one who provided the codes to the Romulans.  Duras was only partly successful, since Worf learned of the injustice and made an appeal to High Council leader K’mpec.  (“Sins of the Father” [TNG]).

Klingon Civil War

 A brief but bitter power struggle between the forces of council leader Gowron and challengers from the politically powerful Duras family in early 2368.  Lursa and B’Etor, sisters to the late Duras, had attempted to force Duras’s illegitimate son, Toral, to be accepted as leader of the Klingon High Council.  When Jean-Luc Picard, acting as Arbiter of Succession, refused to accept Toral’s bid, Lursa and B’Etor attempted a military coup against Gowron.  Although Gowron’s forces seemed initially overmatched by those loyal to the Duras family, it was learned that Lursa and B’Etor were being supplied by Romulan operative Sela.  Captain Picard ruled that the Federation Starfleet could not take sides in this internal Klingon matter, but later agreed to blockade the Romulan supply convoy, resulting in a victory for Gowron’s forces. (“Redemption, Parts I and II” [TNG]).

Klingon Neutral Zone

 A no-man’s-land between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.  Passage into the zone by ships of either nation was forbidden by treaty.  (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan).  The Klingon Neutral Zone was abolished in 2293 by the accords of the Khitomer conference.  (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country).

You can find out more at The Bridge.

Qo'noS

One of the major powers of the beta quadrant, the Klingon species originated from the planet Qo'noS (pronounced kronos), a class M world. The Klingon Empire was founded approximately 1,500 years ago by Kahless the Unforgettable, who performed many heroic feats including the unification of the Klingon people when he killed the tyrant Molor.

The central planet of the Klingon Empire.  A large, green, class-M world, the Homeworld was rarely referred to by its formal name, Qo’noS (pronounced kronos).  (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country).  The Enterprise-D visited the planet in 2366 when Worf challenged the High Council ruling that his father, Mogh, was a traitor.  (“Sins of the Father” [TNG]).  The ship visited the Homeworld again in late 2367 when Jean-Luc Picard attended the installation of Gowron as High Council leader.  Picard had served as Gowron’s Arbiter of Successrion.  (“Redemption, Part I” [TNG]).  The Enterprise-D again returned to the Klingon Homeworld a few weeks later when Picard requested the loan of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey for a covert mission into Romulan space to investigate the disappearance of Ambassador Spock. (“Unification, Part I” [TNG]).

You can find a map of Qo'noS at The Science Station

Growing up as a Klingon

Rite of MajQa
One of the most important ceromonies a Klingon male will ever have the honor of going through. The male is placed in the caves of No' Mat, an extremely hot place, for about 2 hours. The heat is supposed to induce visions. The vision seen is of some importance. Sometimes it is the vision of a long dead person. But there have been those that have seen the vision of Kahless himself.

Mok’bara

 Ritual Klingon martial-arts form, resembling terrestrial tai chi.  Worf taught a Mok’bara class to his Enterprise-D shipmates most mornings at 0700.  (“Man of the People” [TNG]).  Worf taught the Mok’bara to his fellow captives at the secret Romulan prison camp in the Carraya System in 2369.  The exercises, designed to enhance one’s agility in hand-to-hand combat, helped to revive the dormant warrior spirit among the captives there.  (“Birthright, Part II” [TNG]).

Age of Ascension

 A Klingon rite of passage, marking a new level of spiritual attainment for a Klingon warrior.  The ritual involves a recitation by the ascendee, proclaiming “DaHjaj Suvwl’e’jIH. Tlgwlj Sa’angNIS. Iw blQtlqDaq jljaH.”  (“Today I am a Warrior.  I must show you my heart.  I travel the river of blood.”)  The warrior then strides between two lines of other Klingons, who subject him or her to painstiks while the warrior is expected to express his or her most profound feelings while under this extreme duress.  Worf underwent his Age of Ascension ritual at age 15 in 2355.  Ten years later, in 2365, Worf celebrated the anniversary of his Age of Ascension with his Enterprise-D crewmates (“The Icarus Factor” [TNG]).  Worf’s brother, Kurn, was not told that he was the son of Mogh until Kurn reached his Age of Ascension in 2360.  Until that point, Kurn believed he was the son of Lorgh (“Sins of the Father” [TNG]).

Klingon Warriors
A Klingon, since it is born, is bred to be a warrior. A Klingon male is first considered to be a man when he can hold a blade in his hand. Klingon warriors prefer their hair unkempt, along with their goatees and mustaches.

Mauk-to 'Vor
This ritual involves the killing of an individual so that his honor can be restored

A Targ is a Klingon pet

Mating Customs

Klingon Mating Customs
The first important female ceremony is the Age of Mate which occurs at 15 years of age. At this time the female is given a necklace, jinaq, to wear and show that she is ready to take a mate. The Wedding is at the home of the Bride's father. The groom, wears a Military uniform, or a brown robe if not in the military, and the bride wears a bridal dress. There is no need for a clery to conduct it.a) Selection and commitment to a mate One mate says the words "jIH dok" (my blood) in which the other replies "maj dok" (our blood).At this point the marriage vows are sealed To complete the ceromony, both the husband and wife say "Tlinghan jIH" during the ceremony. It translates as " I am a Klingon".

Goverment

Many years ago the Organians intervened to stop a full scale war between the Federation and the Empire. Since then however the Organians have ceased to respond to any request for aid or information from either side.

The Klingon Empire is currently ruled by Martok and the high council. The Klingon Empire itself is fragmented and always on the brink of civil war. The various fragments may or may not be acting in accord with Gowron and the high council. Many of the factions are radicals or privateers who are loyal only to themselves.

The Klingon / Romulan alliance that was dissolved more than five decades ago led to great scientific advances for both cultures. The Romulans gained several Klingon D-7 battle cruisers from which they acquired warp-drive technology in exchange for which, the Romulans shared the secrets of their cloaking technology. One of the most common Klingon spacecraft in use to day the familiar Bird of Prey attack cruiser is perhaps the most concrete reminder of this past alliance. However, the new Klingon battle cruisers are the real power of the Klingon military. These deep space craft are powerful and fast.

Honor and ritual tradition play an important part in Klingon culture. Family heritage sets the pattern for generations to follow giving Klingon bloodlines' great continuity in the establishment of both private and governmental leadership structure. Rites of passage and tests of warrior skill are revered signposts of Klingon maturity often involving to-the-death combat with primitive blade and blunt weaponry. Klingons who do not have long or honorable family lines can still function effectively by pursuing their military career. Such Klingons are thought to be valuable because they are more likely to take chances that could lead to personal glory. Another way that Klingons achieve self worth, is through the reverence and study of Kahless. Klingons sometimes keep shrines of Kahless and worship him and his writing and stories almost as a demigod. Kahless' recent return has caused many new problems for the Empire. Kahless was cloned centuries after his death by a group of religious zealots and the new Kahless has returned as Emperor. While the political power of the high counsel is still retained by Gowron, Kahless II serves as a spiritual leader. This has greatly divided the Empire, many feel that Kahless II is an abomination. Others feel that he is the fulfillment of prophecy and that he has come to lead all Klingons back to the way of honor and glory.

Klingon High Council
The ruling body of the Klingon empire, made up of about 2 dozen representatives , is lead by a Chancellor or Council leader. The Council meets in the great hall in Kling on Qo'nos The council has a long history of political intrigue and power struggles. The Klingon High Council is the Governing body of the Klingon Empire. The members of the Council are charged with overseeing the welfare of the Empire and it's Citizens. Each Council Member usually heads one of the major Departments within the Empire so that the Council can meet and make informed decisions of policy based on input from the members of all said Departments.

Rite of Succession
 Process whereby a new leader was chosen for the Klingon High Council following the death of the previous leader.  The rite first required the Sonchi, in which the previous leader was formally certified to be truly dead.  Next, the Arbiter of Succession was required to select the challengers for leadership of the council.  The two strongest challengers would then fight for the right to lead the council.  Following the death of K’mpec in 2367, Jean-Luc Picard served as Arbiter of Succession.  (“Reunion” [TNG]).

The Sonchi Ceremony
The Sonchi Ceremony formally confirmed the death of a leader before his successor is chosen. The ritual involves jabbing the body with Klingon pain sticks while issuing a verbal challenge . Sonchi translates into "He is dead."

Klingon Defense Force
The Klingon Defense Force is the section of the Klingon government in charge of protecting the empires borders and running their space

The Rite of Passage

The primary demon in Klingon mythology is the Klingon demon Fek'lhr, guardian of the dark underworld Gre'thor, where the dishonored go after they die. There they spend eternity in pointless, painful, labor, waiting to be consumed by Fek'lhr. It is important to note the lack of any kind of Klingon heaven. The closest they come is a whispered reference to some place similar to Valhalla, where they will live and fight forever, alongside the heros of their past in the Black Fleet.

When a Klingon warrior dies it is customary for other Klingons to perform the ritual of the Death Yell. This involves holding the dieing warriors eyes open and looking into them as he dies. At the moment of death the other Klingons will yell, as a warning to the after life that a Klingon Warrior is coming. After death the body of a dead Klingon is treated as an empty shell without value.

Klingon Religion and Honor
Kahless is a mythical Klingon historical figure, who united the Klingon Empire some 1500 years ago. The story of Kahless is a cornerstone of Klingon mythology and religion.

Mythological places of punishment or reward
The Klingon culture holds beliefs about punishments or rewards after death for being "good" or "evil" during life, although in the case dishonorable would be of the Klingons honorable and substituted.

Sto-Vo-Kor
Sto-Vo-Kor is a mythological place of the afterlife for the honored dead where they join the Black Fleet and fight on for all eternity. It is said that when a Klingon dies honorably they are taken to Sto-Vo-Kor where they reside with Kahless the unforgettable.

Gre'thor
Gre'thor is the place in Klingon mythology where the dishonored go to die. The mythic Klingon beast, Fek'lhr is the guardian of Gre'thor. Gre'thor can be compared with the Christian devil, but Klingons have never acknowledged a similarity.

Klingon death ritual
The Klingon death ritual is a ceremony practiced by Klingons upon the death of a comrade. The eyes of the fallen warrior are pried open while the other warriors let loose a powerful howl. Klingons belief holds that the howl warns the dead that a Klingon warrior is about to arrive.

hegh'bat ceremony
The hegh'bat ceremony is a ritualized suicide. Klingon tradition held that when a Klingon was unable to stand and face his enemies, he should choose the hegh'bat. The rite called for the eldest son or a trusted friend of the celebrant to deliver a ritual knife to the warrior, who would impale himself in the chest. The son or friend would then remove the knife and wipe it on his sleeve.

You can find those that have entered the Black Fleet at Medical Bay

Klingon Foods

Example of Klingon Script

Art , Songs, and Poetry

The Klingon Anthem: A battle cry that makes every Warrior's blood rise!
Hear! Sons of Kahless
Hear! Daughters too.
The blood of battle washes clean.
The Warrior brave and true.
We fight, we love, and then we kill.
Our lives burn short and bright.
Then we die with honor and join our
fathers in the Black Fleet where we
battle forever, battling on through
the Eternal fight.

The Storm at Quin'lat: A story that Kahless himself tells about a fool and respect.
The Storm At Quin'lat
A storm was heading towards the city of Quin'lat.
The people sort protection within the walls,
all except one man who remained outside.
Kahless went to him and said "What are you doing?"
"I am not afraid of the wind", he said, "I will not hide my face behind stone and mortar."
"I will stand before the wind and make it respect me."
Kahless honoured his choice and went inside.
The next day the storm came and the man was killed.
Kahless said to the people, "The wind does not respect a fool."

Degh
The brave man is mighty, the coward will lose all.
Only the brave man can decide about war and peace.
The brave man has honor, the coward will not look in the eye.
Only the brave man may decide about your blood.
The brave man has pride, the coward will submit.
Only the brave man can be equal
. The brave man will be rich, the coward owns nothing.
Only the brave man can share his riches with others.
The brave man can give orders, the coward can only obey.
Only the brave man can show mercy.
the brave man will die, the coward also will die.
The brave man only tastes death once, but the coward dies many times
. The brave man can decide, the coward remains silent.
Only the brave man will change anything at will
. The brave man is in front, the coward is not seen.
Only the brave man is responsible for his deeds.
The brave man has the choice, the coward has none.
The coward will always be of your opinion.
so be brave and you will own the world.
We will own up not once, not twice,
but trice to our words and deeds.