What is Sto-vo-kor? The Klingon afterlife, explained

Key things

• Klingons value an honorable death to enter Sto-vo-kor, they don't fear death like humans.
• Only the honored dead enter Sto-vo-kor, where they are reunited with their loved ones.
• The unholy dead go to Gre'thor and suffer eternal damnation.

Of all foreign species in Star Trek Klingons are one of the most culturally complex. They have an elaborate belief system, The Way of the Warrior, that dictates how to approach each significant milestone in life and 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 mostly the Klingons passed on their belief systems through stories and songs.

Unlike many human cultures that are rooted in the fear of death and motivated by the prevention of that death, Klingon culture teaches them not to fear death. The Klingon aphorism “Today is a good day to die” reflects the fact that an honorable death is something that all Klingons strive 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 their actions in life determine where their soul will go in the afterlife, Klingons believe that the way they die determines how they spend their afterlife. Klingons who die in battle or performing a heroic deed go to the Hall of Heroes in Sto-vo-kor.

The Klingons believe that the gates to the Hall of Heroes are guarded by Kahless the Unforgettable, the founder of the Klingon Empire. When a dead Klingon warrior is allowed into Sto-vo-kor, he joins the Black Fleet and spends eternity with Kaless, fighting battles they always win and feasting after each victory. Klingons believe they can be reunited with dead family members and friends in Sto-vo-kor. This aspect of the Klingon afterlife has many similarities to the Norse afterlife, Valhalla.

The Honorable Dead

Of course, only the honored dead can enter Sto-vo-kor. The easiest way to achieve an honorable death is to die in battle defending the Klingon Empire. However, there are other ways to gain entry. A Klingon may sacrifice his life to protect the Empire or other Klingons. They can prove their prowess in battle by dying in combat. They can ask another Klingon to perform the Mauk-to'Vor ritual and kill them, so they die at the hands of another Klingon. Finally, a member of their family can engage in battle or complete a heroic quest to earn a dead Klingon entry into Sto-vo-kor, as it proves that the dead Klingon inspired others to greatness.

When a Klingon dies an honorable death, the surviving Klingons perform a series of rituals to prepare their fallen comrade for the Sto-vo-kor. The dead Klingon's eyes are left open to see the way to Sto-vo-kor. All the Klingons who were present at the death roar as loud as they can to alert the warriors already in Sto-vo-kor that another warrior is about to join their ranks. Sometimes after the roar they sing a traditional funeral dirge. Afterwards, the Klingons present at the death practice of “ak'voh” stay with the body to protect it from predators while the soul makes its way to Sto-vo-kor.

The Rogue Dead

Unless a Klingon dies an honorable death, he cannot make the journey to Sto-vo-kor. In Klingon culture, there are many more ways to die a dishonorable death than an honorable death. Dying of natural causes, dying of poison, dying in an ambush, dying after committing treason against the Empire, being captured instead of killed, and ending one's own life are all dishonorable deaths.

Those who die without honor embark on a journey to Gre'Thor, the Klingon version of Hell, by riding a boat of the dead down the river of blood. The ship is piloted by Kortar, the first Klingon who was sentenced to an eternal punishment of transporting souls to Gre'Thor for killing the Klingon gods.

En route to Gre'Thor, serpentine creatures called Kos'Karii swim in a river of blood, reviving the voices of family members and friends of the dead to try to lure them off the boat. If these voices follow, the Kos'Karii will try to pull them off the boat. If they fall into the river of blood, their soul is destroyed forever. Their fate once they reach Gre'Thor is no better. Demons called Fek'lhr guard the gates to Gre'Thor and are charged with torturing Klingons who arrive there. Just as Klingons who die an honorable death are reunited with their loved ones in Sto-vo-kor, they may also be reunited in Gre'Thor—but the torture there probably makes it a less joyous reunion.

Although extremely rare, it is possible to save a soul destined for Gre'Thor. Kahless traveled on the Boat of the Dead to save his brother from Gre'Thor, and B'Elanna Torres saved her mother from Gre'Thor by traveling on the Boat of the Dead and offered her soul to Kortar in exchange for her mother's ascension to the Hundred. -vo-cor.