Klingons

**Klingons** were an honor-bound humanoid species with an aggressive but deeply traditional warrior culture hailing originally from the planet Qo'nos in the Beta Quadrant. They were one of the major powers of the galaxy, having taken claim over a significant portion of the Milky Way in the name of the Klingon Empire.

## Biology

*For more information: Klingon Biology*

Klingons were a large humanoid species, evolved from DNA seeded on their homeworld by ancient humanoids -- giving them a common ancestor to humans, Vulcans, Romulans, Cardassians, and a myriad of other humanoid species of the Milky Way. This did mean that Klingon hybrids were a distinct possibility.

Klingons were notably larger, bigger, and faster than most other humanoid species. They possessed bony armor just beneath the surface of their skin, with spines and boney plates protruding from their sides, arms, back. These were remnants of an ancestor from which they had evolved, which had an exoskeleton, venom sacs filled with an acid they could spit, and two large mandibles which protruded from their lower jaw.

Klingons typically lived to about 150 cycles, and remained strong enough for combat well into their elderly ages. Klingon children grew rapidly -- reaching the equivalent maturity of a sixteen year old human child by eight cycles.

Klingons had acute senses, particularly their sense of smell which was strong enough to be used to track prey when hunting. The irony of this, however, was that Klingons naturally produced an odor that was highly offensive to the noses of other species such as Vulcans and humans.

### Anatomy

Klingons were an extremely diverse species -- with skin colors ranging from olive, brown, black, purple, pink, burgundy, yellowish tan, umber brown, dark orange, gray, blue, dark green, chalky white and sometimes even a metallic pearlescent color. The only skin color not accepted widely throughout Klingon society was the pale white of an albino.

Klingons of both sexes grew hair on their heads -- often thick, long hair that could grow with curls or waves. Male Klingons could grow facial hair, although this typically did not begin until they reached the Age of Ascension. The hair on their heads grew quickly, particularly during *jak'tahla*, or the Klingon equivalent of puberty. Older Klingons did, on occasion, have receding hairlines. Some sects within Klingon culture would shave their hair in times of war.

Aside from this, Klingons had a fairly typical humanoid appearance at first glance. The most notable difference was the cranial ridges, which ran from their foreheads and typically continued over the entire skull, often becoming less pronounced towards the rear of the head. Some Klingon heads were elongated by these ridges. These ridges belied the exoskeleton that contained the cranium. This exoskeletal structure contained the tricipital lobe.

Ridges from that residual exoskeleton were widely varied among Klingons, even in their placement and visibility. Some Klingons had visible ridges just over their nostrils. Ridges could be found on the chest -- most often in females -- and were often quite pronounced on the back, along the spine. Ridges were also commonly found on the feet.

Klingons were markedly different from many humanoids, largely due to the multiple redundancies in their organs. This was a feature -- which they called *brak'lul* -- that they had in common with other so-called "warrior species," such as Luxans. Klingons possessed 23 ribs, two livers, eight chambers in their hearts, three lungs, and two urinary tracts as well as two stomaches. Some believe that these extra organs allowed Klingons greater stamina -- which is certainly something they possess. In practice, however, these redundancies are valuable for allowing a Klingon to sustain tremendous damage on the battlefield without dying.

## History

*For more information: Klingon History*

The first Klingons are said to have been Kortar and his mate, who were said to have slain the gods who created them.

The most prominent Klingon in history was Kahless the Unforgettable, who united the Klingons against Molor and founded the Klingon Empire. Due largely to his influence, which lasted centuries after his death, the warrior caste gained great prominence in Klingon society.

First contact between Klingons and humans was an unmitigated disaster, known in Earth's history as the Broken Bow Incident. Periodic rivalries and smaller conflicts arose between the two species -- though none would leave such a mark as the accidental creation of the Klingon Augment virus in 3154 CE. This virus created a subspecies of ridgeless Klingons -- millions of altered Klingons, many of whom would go on to serve on starships rather than remain on their homeworld.

Ultimately, this rivalry was provoked into an all-out war by T'Kuvma at the Battle of the Binary Stars in 3256 CE. The Federation-Klingon War was devastating for the United Federation of Planets, Another war broke out in 3267 CE, though it was short-lived thanks to the intervention of the Organians.

Eventually, the Federation and the Klingon Empire found peace thanks to Chancellor Gorkon and the successful signing of the Khitomer Accords. Although there have been moments of conflict between the two political powers since then, they have more often found themselves allies in the face of other enemies -- such as the Dominion.

## Culture

### Society

Klingon society was incredibly complex -- based around a feudal system organized a number of Great Houses, each represented on the Klingon High Council led by the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, a role used to replaced the hereditary leadership of an Emperor.

Typically, Klingon politics were dominated by men -- with the notable exceptions of L'Rell, Dennas, and Azetbur -- while the Klingon home and family would most often be managed by women. Despite this difference, women were treated as equals within Klingon society outside of the arenas of politics and inheritance.

### Tradition

Tradition was a major part of Klingon society, and specific rituals marked milestones in a Klingon's life -- or the milestones in the history of the Empire itself. These included the Rite of Succession, in which a new leader of the Empire would be chosen, or the Rite of Ascension, in which a Klingon would be recognized as an adult. The R'uustai allowed a Klingon to be adopted into a new house, if their former house had been dissolved or dishonored. The Right of Vengeance was one of the paramount traditions of the Klingons, allowing redress for deaths of other members of their house.

Breaking from rituals and observances was an insult that had the potential to shame an offender's name for generations. In fact, any dishonor could have tremendous ramifications upon the offender's house and family. The greatest shame was discommendation -- an action in which the High Council could strip a Klingon of his personal honor, or even his family of honor.

Cowardice was akin to dishonor in Klingon society. Whispering or standing far away from someone as you spoke to them were considered cowardly, and therefore insults. It was also considered cowardly to take hostages. As such, Klingons left few survivors after a battle.

Klingons who were unable to fight were obligated by ritual and tradition to kill themselves, with the assistance of their eldest son or closest personal friend, in the ritual of *hegh'bat*.

### Relationships

Klingon courtship was, by the standards of most species, brutal, though it was one area where the women had the most control. Once considered old enough to select a mate, a young Klingon woman would be given a piece of jewelry called a jinaq. When courting a mate, the women were often violent and were known to roar. It was common for a Klingon woman to bite the face of anyone she was choosing to mate -- to get a taste for their blood and their scent. Klingon men were known to do this as well, though less commonly. Typically, Klingon men read poetry and tried to avoid being injured.

A Klingon could end their marriage by striking their mate with the back of their hand and saying, "N'Gos tlhogh cha" -- which translated to "our marriage is done." Notably, Klingon warriors could similarly backhand each other -- without the phrase -- in order to challenge one another to the death.

### Education

The warrior caste was dominant in Klingon society, but there were various scientists and educators among the species. Klingons had prestigious universities, and their doctors -- called healers -- were skilled enough to take part in Interspecies Medical Exchanges, although medical research was not considered a "priority." It was because of this that Klingon science was not advanced enough to prevent the Augment virus crisis, or solve the problem without help.

While these professions were not frowned upon by the larger society of Klingons, it was not unheard of for a young Klingon to be disowned for choosing such a path. Despite this, several notable scientists have come from the Klingon species including Kurak, a warp field specialist, and Korath, inventor of the chrono deflector.

## Notable Klingons

* Antaak
* Alexander Rozhenko (hybrid)
* Azetbur
* B'Elanna Torres (hybrid)
* B'Etor
* B'vat
* Chang
* Gorkon
* Gowron
* Grilka
* J'mpok
* J'Ula
* Kahless the Unforgettable
* Kang
* K'Ehleyr (hybrid)
* Koloth
* Kor
* Korath
* Koren
* Kurak
* L'Rell
* Lursa
* Martok
* Miral Paris (hybrid)
* Molor
* Sirella
* Tenavik
* T'Kuvma
* Voq
* Worf

## Source

Klingons are derived from *Star Trek*. For canon information, please visit:

* Memory Alpha
* STO Wiki