Star Trek: The Path To Glory

Way Of The Warrior

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swordofkahless.jpg

Klingons are warriors.  We do not fight just to fight.  Klingons fight for Honor; Honor of the Empire, Honor of the Family, Honor of your ship, Honor of your ship and of your crewmates.  Honor is all that we Klingons treasure.  It will be here where one learns all there is to be a warrior, to be a Klingon!
 
In this section you will find a listing of weapons, rituals, traditions, starships, and famous Klingons.  Use the information wisely.

Age Of Ascension
 
Also known as the Rite of Ascension or the Klingon Rite of Passage, marking a new level of spiritual attainment for a Klingon warrior.  The first Rite must take place before the age of 13 so that a Klingon youth can declare his intention to become a warrior.  A ritual candle is lit and the rite itself involves testing one's fighting skills with a Bat'leth and other weapons.  The second Rite, usually taken between the ages of 13 to 18 involves a recitation by the ascendee proclaiming: "Today I am a Warrior, I must show you my heart.  Today I travel the river of blood."  The warrior then strides between tow lines of other Klingons who then subject him or her to painsticks.  The warrior is expected to express his or her most profound feelings while under duress.  The Rite can then be undertaken every 10 years or so as a celebration to commemorate first becoming a warrior.
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version.

Dahar Master:
 
Highly honored title bestowed upon only the greatest of Klingon warriors.  This is usually given to those who have attained legendary status in life.
 
Source: Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version.  Novel "A Good Day To Die" by Keith R.A. DeCandido.

Gre'thor
 
The place in Klingon Mythology where the dishonored go when they die.  Its the equivilent of Hell for Humans.  When the dishonored die, they do not cross into Sto-Vo-Kor but are instead intercepted by the Barge of the where they are then transported to the Gates of Grethor down the River of Blood.  The Barge is piloted by Kortar, who according to legend was the first Klingon who (along with his mate) slew the gods that created them and turned the heavens to ashes.  For this he is eternally dammned to ferry the Barge to Grethor.  Upon arrival at Grethor, the Barge goes past the guardian, Fek'lhr, and delivers the souls for their eternal torment.
 
Source: Star Trek: Voyager "Barge of the Dead"

jeghpu'wI':
 
Quite literally "Conquered People."  These are creatures or species on planets that have come under Klingon rule.  jeghpu'wI' are less than Klingon Citizens but more than just mere slaves or prisoners.
 
Source: Novels "Diplomatic Implausibility", "A Good Day to Die", and "Honor Bound" by Kieth R.A. DeCandido.

Kal'Hyah
 
A mental and spiritual journey that a Klingon man and his friends traditionally share during the last four nights before his wedding.  The ritual was made up of six trials: deprivation, blood, pain, sacrifice, anguish, and death.  Filled with song and fellowship, the Kal'Hyah was difficult by human standards but exhilarating to Klingons.
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Version

Ma'Stakas
 
Cerimonial clubes, used in a Klingon wedding ritual.  The participants in the groom's Kal'Hyah carry Ma'Stakas with them during their journey.  In a traditional Klingon wedding, after the couple are pronounced married, they are symbolically attacked by the groomsmen, who wield Ma'Stakas.  This tradition grew out of the story of "Kahless and Lukara".
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Version.

R'uustai
 
"The Bonding".  Klingon ceremony in which two individuals bond together to become brothers or sisters.  The rite itself is resplendent in Klingon custom and involves the lighting of ceremonial candles and the wearing of warrior's sashes, concluding with a Klingon intonation honoring their mothers.
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version

Sto-Vo-Kor
 
Klingon place of the afterlife for the honored dead where Kahless the Unforgettable is said to await those who are worth of joining the Black Fleet.  According to traditional Klingon beliefs, to gain entry into Sto-Vo-Kor, a warrior must have eaten the heart of an enemy and must have died in glorious battle.  Otherwise, entry might be gained after death if a glorious victory was dedicated to the name of the fallen warrior.  At the time of death in battle, those remaining commend the warrior's spirit to Sto-Vo-Kor with the 'howl' that warns those in the afterlife that another warrior is on their way to join them.  It is said that the warrior's spirit then crosses the river of blood and joins the Black Fleet where they then fight alongside of Kahless and all of their ancestors against their enemies for all eternity.
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Version; Star Trek: Klingon CD-ROM Game and Novelization; Star Trek: I.K.S. Gorkon Novel series by Keith R.A. DeCandido.

SEE THE WARRIORS OF THE BLACK FLEET

Tawi'Yan
 
Klingon term meaning "Sword-Bearer."  In a Klingon wedding, the Tawi'Yan is similar to the best man in a human wedding. (Although the sword is used to either protect the couple while they wed from enemies of the House or used to kill either the groom or bride upon order of the House Mistress should either of the two act dishonorably).
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Version.
 
 

var'Hama candle
 
Primitive light source employing chemical combustion of animal fat; used in some Klingon ceremonies.  Var'Hama candles are often displayed by a bride-to-be to welcome the female head of her intended's house prior to the wedding.  Traditionally, to make the candles three targ are captured in the Hamar Mountains on Qo'noS and sacrificed at dawn.  The shoulders of the targ are boiled into tallow and hand-molded for two days into var'Hama candles.
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Version

vItHay'
 
Ritual challenge issued by an accused against the man doing the accusing.  It proves who is guilty or who is not.  This is a fight to the death and should not be used lightly.  This goes with the ancient Klingon Tradition that the truth always has more strength than a lie and that whoever is on the side of truth, shall be victorious.
 
The ritual chamber has a fire in the center and the combatants are dressed in ritual fighting robes, no armor.  Those who are to bear witness form the circle in which the combatants will fight in.  The accuser is the one who has first choice of weapons.  Any weapon may be used with the exception of any type of projectile or beam weapon.
 
Source: Star Trek: Klingon, CD-ROM Game and Novelization.

Wedding, Klingon
 
During the last four days before his wedding, a Klingon groom, accompanied by his closest male friends, traditionally experiences the mental and spiritual journey called Kal'Hyah.  The Mistress of the groom's House tests the prospective bride by having her perform several rituals, which must be accomplished in strict adherence with tradition.  The Mistress of the House often performs the actual ceremony, and she has the authority to reject the bride and call off the wedding if she so chooses.  The ceremony recounts the stirring tale of how the Klingon gods forged the first two Klingon hearts from fire and steel and how the first couple joined forces and slew the gods.  After the vows are exchanged, the bride would present her d'ktahg to the head of the groom's family as a formal request that she be accepted into the groom's House.  Traditional Klingon weddings include a ritual targ sacrifice followed by the wedding feast.  See also: Kal'Hyah, Ma'Stakas, Tawi'Yan, var'Hama candles.
 
"Fine!  First we'll shed blood and then we'll feast!"
"The way it should be..."
--Jadzia Dax and Worf before thier wedding.
 
Source: The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Version

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Bat'leth
 
Traditional Klingon "Sword of Honor", resembling a meter-long two-ended scimitar.  The bat'leth is carried along the inside of the arm and is controlled by handholds located on the outside edge of the weapon.  Oral History holds that the first bat'leth, The Sword of Kahless (see picture at top of page), was forged about 1,500 years ago when Kahless the Unforgettable dropped a lock of his hair in the lava from the Kri'stak Volcano and then plunged he burning lock into the lake of Lursor and twisted it into a blade.  After forging the weapon, he used it to kill the tyrant Molor and named it the 'Bat'leth', or sword of honor.  This tale of the sword was never recorded in the sacred texts but was passed down verbally among the high clerics of Boreth.  The retelling of the tale was to be a test of Kahless' return as only he and the high clerics would know the story.  The modern Bat'leth is typically 116 centimeters long, composed of baakonite metal, and weighs about 5.3 kilograms.
 
The Sword of Kahless itself was stolen about five centuries after Kahless' death by Hur'q invaders who had plundered the Homeworld during their invasion.  The Sword had been wrapped in a cloth that had also become a revered object.  After the disappearance of the sword, numerous fakes of the Shroud of the Sword emerged over the centuries.  The true shroud was discovered by a Vulcan geological team, inspiring Dahar Master Kor to enlist the help of Jadzia Dax and Worf to set out on a quest for the legendary artifact in 2372.  They succeeded in finding the Sword of Kahless on a Hur'q planet deep in the Gamma Quadrant.  Fearing that the sword would only serve to divide the Klingon Empire, they decided not to reveal its discovery and left it floating in free space to be found at a later time. 
 
After the Dominion War was over, Worf led Chancellor Martok back to the Gamma Quadrant in order to find the sword in order to use it to consolidate the Chancellor's power within the Empire and the High Council.  Attempts were made to destroy the sword and Martok by traitors, but Martok and Worf were victorious in the end and all traitors to the Empire were then purged.
 
Source: Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version.  Novel "The Brave and the Bold" Part 2 by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Weapon-Mekleth.jpg

Mek'leth:
 
Single handed Klingon sword approximately half as long as the Bat'leth.  Easily concealable.
 
Source: Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version.

Weapon-Dktagh.jpg

D'ktahg:
 
Traditional Klingon warrior's knife/ personal dagger.  A vicious, three bladed weapon, the d'ktahg is commonly used in hand-to-hand combat and has great ceremonial value in Klingon culture.  Most KDF members carry their own.  Higher-born Klingons often have them personalized with their name and house.
 
Source: Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version.  Novel "A Good Day To Die" by Keith R.A. DeCandido.

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Disruptor Pistol/Rifle:
 
Directed-energy weapon used by the Klingons, Romulans, and Breen.  Also known as a phase disruptor.  The disruptor pistol is the standard sidearm for all Klingon warriors, no matter their rank or station.  A shoulder mount that contains a targeting scope and an additional power pack can be attached to the pistol making it a rifle with greater range and power.  There is only one setting on a disruptor: Kill.
 
Source: Star Trek Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded version.