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

Key points

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

Of all the alien species present in the Star Trek universe, the Klingons are one of the most culturally complex. They have an elaborate belief system, The Way of the Warrior, that determines how they approach each major milestone in life and death. These belief systems are based on an immense mythological canon 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 transmitted their belief systems through storytelling and song.

Unlike many human cultures, which are rooted in the fear of death and motivated by its prevention, 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 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 humans believe that their actions in life determine where their soul goes in the afterlife, Klingons believe that how they die determines how they will spend their afterlife. Klingons who die in battle or while performing a feat of heroism go to the Hall of Heroes in Sto-vo-kor.

Klingons believe that the doors to the Hall of Heroes are guarded by Kahless the Unforgettable, the founder of the Klingon Empire. When a dead Klingon warrior is granted entry to Sto-vo-kor, he joins the Black Fleet and spends eternity with Kaless, fighting battles that they always win and feasting after each victory. The Klingons believe they can reunite with family and friends who died on Sto-vo-kor. This aspect of the Klingon afterlife bears many similarities to the Norse afterlife, Valhalla.

The honored 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 earn entry. A Klingon may sacrifice his life to protect the Empire or other Klingons. They can demonstrate their prowess in battle by dying in a duel. They can ask another Klingon to perform a Mauk-to'Vor ritual and kill them, so that they die at the hands of another Klingon. Finally, a member of his family may engage in battle or complete a heroic mission to earn the dead Klingon entry into Sto-vo-kor, as this proves that the dead Klingon inspired greatness in others.

When a Klingon dies honorably, the surviving Klingons perform a series of rituals to prepare their fallen comrade for Sto-vo-kor. The dead Klingons' eyes are left open so they can see the path to Sto-vo-kor. All Klingons present at the death roar as loudly as they can, to warn the warriors already in Sto-vo-kor that another warrior is about to join their ranks. Sometimes, after the roar, they sing a traditional dirge. Thus, Klingons present at the death practice “ak'voh,” remaining 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 honorably, 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 one. Dying of natural causes, dying by poison, dying in an ambush, dying after committing treason against the Empire, being captured rather than killed, and ending one's life are all dishonorable deaths.

Those who die without honor undertake the journey to Gre'Thor, the Klingon version of Hell, riding the Barge of the Dead along a river of blood. The barge is piloted by Kortar, the first Klingon, who was sentenced to the eternal punishment of ferrying souls to Gre'Thor because he killed the Klingon gods.

During the voyage to Gre'Thor, serpentine creatures called Kos'Karii swim in the river of blood, recreating the voices of the dead's family and friends to try to lure them off the barge. If they follow those rumors, the Kos'Karii will try to pull them off the barge. If they fall into the river of blood, their soul is destroyed forever. Their fate once they arrive in Gre'Thor is no 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 honorably reunite with their loved ones in Sto-vo-kor, they can also reunite in Gre'Thor – but thanks to the torture there, it's probably a less joyful reunion.

While extremely rare, it is possible to save a soul destined for Gre'Thor. Kahless traveled on the Barge of the Dead to save her brother from Gre'Thor, and B'Elanna Torres saved her mother from Gre'Thor by traveling on the Barge of the Dead and offering Kortar her soul in exchange for her mother's ascension to Sto. -vo-kor.