Sonchi ceremony

The Sonchi ceremony was the first part of the Rite of Succession of the Klingon chancellorship, performed to confirm the death of the extant leader. The contenders for the position, as well as the Arbiter of Succession, shock the body with Klingon painstiks, declaring to the deceased, "qab jIH ngIl" ("Face me if you dare"). Painstiks induce a pain so intense, that even a strong Klingon would have some reaction; further, no honorable Klingon would refuse a challenge to combat. A total lack of reaction is considered confirmation of the death, whereupon the pronouncement "Sonchi" ("He is dead") was given.
Jean-Luc Picard, acting as Arbiter in the succession of 2367, carried out the Sonchi ceremony of Chancellor K'mpec aboard his cruiser, along with Gowron and Duras, the only two challengers. ()
== See also ==
* Klingon death ritual
de:Sonchi-Zeremonie
Category:Death ceremonies
Category:Qo'noS
Category:Klingonese