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Post by firebringeraxel on Sept 1, 2014 22:54:30 GMT
So I've had a lot of people mention to me that Klingon Honor confuses them. Which is unsurprising as it is a very different sort of Honor System compared to what we have. So I thought it might be a good idea to talk about Klingon Honor and some of the complexities of it. Primarily by looking at quotes used in reference to Honor throughout Star Trek Canon.
I'll start with an excerpt from Memory Alpha. "Honor was one of the most important components of Klingon philosophy. However, it was significantly different from most other cultures' definition of the word. For example, Worf once said that "Nothing is more honorable than victory". From this point of view, using a cloaked ship to ambush enemies could be considered honorable if it achieved victory. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
The notion of honor seemed to be highly relative and open to debate. Each and every Klingon could possibly have his own interpretation of what consisted of an honorable means to achieve an end. Even more, some decisions were paradoxical because two different view of honor were in contradiction. For instance, Worf indicated that it was necessary to challenge Gowron's leadership (for he's presumably acting in a dishonorable way) while General Martok was convinced that it was dishonorable to challenge the leader of the Empire in the middle of a war. In another case, while Dr. Antaak's deception in claiming to have stabilized Augment DNA, allowing the creation of Klingon Augments, when he and Phlox had merely cured the augment virus might be seen by some as dishonorable, Antaak himself believed that, given the millions of lives this cure would save, his near-certain execution if caught would be as honorable a death as a doctor could have. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind", ENT: "Divergence") Hence, dishonor is sometimes a concept which compels Klingons to action."
This brings a bit of perspective. Each Klingon's view of Honor can be seen as relative to their perception of a situation or action. It is the role of the High Council, Lords and Ladies of House's, Ship's Captain's, and other such authority figures to judge any disputes over Honorable conduct.
Now I'll look at specific quotations about Honor and talk on them.
"Today is a good day to die!" "May you die well." "If you are afraid to die you have already died." "Death is an experience best shared." "Better to die on your feet than live on your knees." "A Klingon Warrior is always prepared to die."
Klingon Honor involves Death A LOT Death is an important part of Honor for a Warrior. To a Warrior Death is not an ending but a pathway to the sto-vo-kor. As long as they die in an Honorable way they will get to go to the afterlife and revel with their ancestors for eternity. Death is not something to be feared to a Klingon, Dishonor is.
"To die defending his ship is the hope of every Klingon." "To die in the line of duty is the hope of every Klingon." "To die while serving the Empire is the hope of every Klingon."
Along the same line as the previous. The most common ways to die Honorably are listed here with these three statements. All Klingon Warriors should seek to do these things for if they die in the act of such they die Honorably.
"There is nothing shameful in falling before a superior enemy." "An honorable death requires no vengeance."
This is important. When a Klingon dies, if that death is Honorable then no Rite of Vengeance may be claimed. Dying before a superior enemy is not a Dishonorable death either as long as you did so in an Honorable manner.
"Honor is more important than life." "Klingons are born; live as Warriors, then die." "Klingons are born to fight and conquer." "Adhere to virtue honorably."
Honor is more important than life. This speaks volumes about the Klingon way of life. A Warrior with no Honor is as good as dead. Their only hope is to earn back their Honor in some manner and reclaim their place as a Warrior once more. The middle quotes also say a lot about Klingons in general, not just the Warrior caste. All Klingons are born to be Warriors, fight, conquer, and die. No exceptions. Sure some will serve in other ways and their is no Dishonor in that life for them as they are still serving their Empire, but they will still yearn for the battlefield and the feel of a blade in their hand.
"In war, there is nothing more honorable than victory." "When in doubt, surprise them." "The Klingon who kills without showing his face has no honor."
This is the big one I see people bring up a lot. How can an Honor bound people use Cloaking technology and sneak attacks? This is the answer right here. The greatest Honor is victory. Whether it is won through strength of arms, tactical genius, or otherwise. Victory is the highest Honor as long as it is won by Honorable means. Now that last quote some would say contradicts the point. They do have some point but Klingon Cloaking devices require being turned off before any weapon can be fired right? There's the loophole! The enemy does see you coming even if only for a few seconds before they are assaulted. It is also common practice to hail an enemy fro ma distance to show them your face, then cloak and engage. The same is true on the ground a Klingon Assassin does not strike from behind, the sneak to their target then engage them directly.
"We fight to enrich the Spirit." "Great deeds, great songs." "A Klingon Warrior is always prepared to fight." "If a warrior does not fight, he does not breathe." "When threatened, fight."
Why do Klingon's fight? Simple Answer: To attain Victory and therefore earn Honor in it. The 1st quote here is rather philosophical for Klingon's but fits into their spiritualism well. A Klingon fights to enrich his spirit so that he may be deemed worthy when he dies and given access to sto-vo-kor. A Warrior who does not to fight cannot enrich his spirit or earn Honor through Victory, and is thus unworthy of such a paradise. Warrior's who perform great deeds of Honor will be remembered in the songs of the Loremasters for aeons to come; such is one of the greatest aspirations of a Warrior.
"If you are sad, act!" "To understand life, endure pain."
A simple adage. Meaning to not wallow in pity, depression, sadness, or the like. One must act to rid themselves of it. The second part is profound yet very simple. One must endure pain to learn and grow in Klingon society as Pain is part of life no matter your place.
"A warrior does not let a friend face danger alone." "A person and his House are always together."
Warriors are a Brotherhood. They do not allow one another to face danger alone. House's are even moreso, Ones House is ones Family just as much as true Family is. This also goes hand in hand with the fact that the Dishonor of the House, or Family carries over to all members of it. If your Father is shamed, you are as well. If you are Shamed, so is your House.
"Real power is in the heart." "Listen to the voice in your blood." "A warriors blood boils before the fire is hot."
Some more philosophical quotes here. Blood is another thing that comes up often in Klingon myths. The Blood of a Warrior is a boiling wellspring of rage, intuition, and power. If a Warrior cannot learn to tap into this they will not live long. The heart(s) as the Organ that pumps said Blood is also important. The Heart is where all Blood travels and where one keeps their emotions so that they can flow into the blood and fill the Warrior with power given by that emotion.
"There is no honor in attacking the weak." "One does not achieve Honor while acting Dishonorably." "If you cannot fail, you cannot succeed." "If you cannot be shamed, you cannot be honored." "No Klingon ever breaks his word." "Klingons do not surrender." "Klingons do not run from battle." "If a Warrior ignores duty, acts dishonorably, or is disloyal, he is nothing"
Dishonor. The big nasty dirty word of Klingon culture. To be Dishonored is akin to being made worthless; a point that is made rather clear by the last quote. These are some of the most basic Dishonorable acts, Cowardice in surrender or fleeing battle, attacking the weak and defenseless,performing simple or easy actions and expecting to be honored, and breakign your word, vow, or promise. These are all unforgivable sins in Klingon culture. No Honor can be earned while these actions are involved. For example: Despite Victory being the greatest Honor you cannot claim it when the battle was against a weak and defenseless foe whom you vowed not to harm.
"Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory, and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat."
This comes across as a statement against doomsday weapons, or weapons of mass destruction. And in turn also states that surrendering or fleeing can be forgiven if doing so will save many lives. Doing battle over a heavily populated world and allowing the planet to be caught in the crossfire is unacceptable to the Klingon Warrior; which goes back to not harming the weak or defenseless.
"Have the courage to admit your mistakes."
Being able to own up to the wrongs one has committed is a step to earning back their Honor. Courage is to be respected. Admitting your dishonorable actions knowing that they will shame you is very courageous.
Okay that's just a smidgen of what I could cover but it's rather a lot of info. I hope this sparks some discussion and I also hope it helps anyone who was having trouble understanding what it is to be a Klingon Warrior. So please discuss, ask questions, etc!
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Post by Chris Winters on Sept 2, 2014 1:59:34 GMT
I'll try to summarize and translate something here, that in my opinion sheds light on the very basis of honor, and the warrior way of life. Honor is a rather difficult concept, and not understanding it may come from a looking glass effect - trying to see the blossom of a tree through a looking glass, wondering where its beauty might come from, disregarding the roots, the stem, the branches and leaves, only seeing the blossom itself. Of course you can learn all about the blossom, yet without the rest, you can never create it.
So let us look at the roots which have a tight grip in the soil of the Klingon life itself. We do know the feudal organisation into houses is in place, with a social ranking system from high chancellor to slave. We also know there is a supporting belief system in place, the saga of Kahless being at its center, fear of the underworld on one side, an eternity at his side on the other. Even the lowest farm worker is taught it from birth. Klingon sagas all have multiple purposes, but foremost they give example. This is good, this is bad. This can work, that cannot. Everyone is taught this way that there are society values and order to uphold by everyone, and that the warrior is there to protect them from outside, while the family, the house, continues the tradition and holds those values high.
But what is this warrior, defending the way of life, made of? What is he told and taught?
Veracity Nothing the warrior despises more than insidious ways of trade and treachery. The term veracity I chose after quite a while of research, and it still does not fit right - it still is too specific. A warrior once said "it is the strength to choose the reasonable, sane way without hesitation." It is the twin brother of the sense of duty. To the empire, to the house, to the person next to you. Even where love can't reach, duty and commo sense almost always can. (Of course that screaming Ferengi in the corner is a despicable annoyance, but he is unarmed and being bullied by an armed assailant. Duty demands he is to be protected.) When duty becomes a burden, common sense must prevail to let the warrior not turn away from it. But this way of thinking can open the door to all kinds of arguments, making everything - even the worst kinds of hypocrisy - a reason to act. This is where bravery, daring and suffering define its borders.
Bravery "Seeing what is right, and not doing it, is lack of bravery". Bravery is not risking your life for some meaningless thrill, nor is it accepting each and every dare. Death for a meaningless cause surely is not worth anything to a warrior. It is about doing the right thing, and dieing for a truly worthy cause. Children are raised in a way that teaches them this early on, that even seems cruel sometimes, but that does one thing above all others - build character. The rituals with the pain sticks, the spending your night alone in the cold, all teaches endurance, so you can stand up for a cause without fear, so that you know the pain you will have to face while doing the right thing one day. And it teaches you to recognize true pain and suffering.
Benevolence Love, generosity, sympathy for others, compassion and mercy all are seen as virtues, as the best qualities of the soul. But there is a thing like "too much of it", as well. Where being able to feel the suffering of others is the root of benevolence, generosity and compassion are inspired in a warrior. This is what tells him that someone is in need, what drives him to act for another. This also is what bonds a crew in battle, nobody fights only for himself. And yes, this is where poetry and song come from, as well.
Politeness Granted, a warrior is not who we think of when we hear this term. Still, the sympathy and compassion tell us to respect the feelings of others, and thus inspire politeness. No warrior would let another suffer on the field of battle, or disrespect a veteran. It is not taken to the level of doing things just because some mannerism demands it - that would be untrue to the principle - but it lets you treat a higher status with respect, as well as someone who made a name for himself due to his actions. "Politeness does not seek its own, it is not demandable, it does not take evil into account." Young warriors are taught how to act, talk, sit and stand according to tradition and in rituals, as well as how to treat others. Some rituals are taught in such detail that a single error in performing it can even turn its entire meaning around, can mean dishonor or be an offense. Nobody would laugh at someone in such a case, the consequences can be extreme at times. This politeness also is what leads to many misunderstandings with different cultures at times. A gift for instance needs no words in addition, no praise from the giver, instead, it might just be talked down. The person recieving the gift is worth a lot to the giver, no gift can be good enough for that. Accepting the gift is merely acknowledging the goodwill of the giver, not at all because the gift itself would be worth anything at all. Thinking that some *thing* would be good enough for this *person* would be insulting at best. It is in the spirit of giving, not in the material worth of the gift, that the message is delivered. Yet when it comes to asking what is more important, being polite or being thruthful..
Thruthfulness "Politeness is a lie if it extends beyond the right borders". Lies and ambiguity are seen as very low for a warrior. The word of a warrior binds him, and so is proof in itself. It does not need to be taken into a contract or put on paper (Ferengi), that would be treading on its value. If a word is to be emphasized, blood surely can do so for eternity. So about being polite or being truthful? Neither, and both. Given the option to answer if a warrior might night feel well, or just cannot stand the person asking, both can be there, and not be there. "Thank you, I'm fine" or "I can stand you, don't worry" both can be answers that are truthful and polite. Even if the sense is somewhere behind the words. Giving up the truth only to be polite is below a warrior entirely (Romulan/Vorta).
Honor Personal honor is something that is built upon these pillars, and falls with any one of them already. The good name, the reputation, the repute of a warrior are given, and have to be preserved through his actions, or he will live and die in shame. Shame is taught from earliest days on, "you will be laughed at" and "aren't you ashamed?" always touch a spot in a childs heart. "Shame is like a scar on a tree, time will not lessen it, but instead make it grow bigger". And yet, a warrior does not draw his blade at the slightest insult. Patience and endurance are what keep him in check, making him bigger than that.
Patience and Endurance These values are taught, and can be very hard to actually achieve, for any warrior. "What do Icare if you make a fool out of yourself by trying to insult me? My soul will not be harmed by it" is a saying that displays it rather perfectly, I guess. A warrior should inspire greatness, should be righteous in his fury and not waste it. After all, he seeks honor, not fame or glory for a day. For this, the warrior has to endure pain and suffering - and insults are just too low by comparison.
Duty and loyalty Even a thief might know loyalty to the leader of his gang, but to a warrior, loyalty is the highest virtue there is. And not just within the boundaries of today's modern leadership, but a true loyalty to those that are leading the warriors - in this case, the Chancellor, even above the house and the family. This way, the individual "weighs less" than the ruler, and serving him is the highest of duties. This does at times put the warrior in a position where he has to decide to either serve his ruler or protect a family member, which can be a very tough decision to make, but always will end in the honorful favor of the Empire. (Technically, hiding the son of Lursa and Bethor was dishonorable and would have had consequences for the house, if not for the plot mechanic cryptically circumventing it with Worf being benevolent. He saved the entire house that day, not just a boy.) This absolute loyalty, this dutyful giving their lives for the just ruler, puts the Chancellor in a very delicate situation. He has to actually act for the best of the entire Empire, knowing every warrior would follow him even down the wrong road. Gladly. He has to know this - or he can act without honor. Exactly once.
..and this is where I'll cut, not to make this wall of text even bigger. I think it covers a whole lot of points, but as always, you need to look at the entire picture, not just a few corners, to see what it means. I'm still not too good at fullblown translations. These parts were excerpts from a 100 pages long book, summarized and shortened to the very core. The book itself does not have anything to do with Star Trek or Klingons or whatever. Yet I can see so damn much of it in Klingons that it actually pains me not to play one. With the current audience in quarks, however, I will refrain from it. I do hope this helps you guys build a Klingon Character. Not just a tall Ferengi with a Bat'leth. If so, do let me know that I didn't just spend 5 hours on this for nothing.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 18:33:24 GMT
I think you people are reading too much into it.
Klingons are aliens who think in alien ways. For them, a sneak attack is honorable because they are alien, and beyond human understanding.
Why is poisoning the enemy not honorable? They are aliens. Sometimes they go for "victory justifies the means" sometimes they do not. Their taboos may not be like human taboos.
But it is important to note that Klingons, like Romulans, also think of honor as a kind of fame.
Is this honorable or sensible to a human? Nope. To a Klingon, yes.
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Post by Chris Winters on Sept 2, 2014 22:07:52 GMT
We people are analyzing an alien race so we can represent it in RP as close as possible, so the characters feel real.
We would like to do that without you trolling the attempt as usual.
FYI, Klingon honor has a fame as a sideffect, at times. It is not the ultimate goal, like in Romulan (Roman) tradition. These two couldn't be further apart on the scale.
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Post by LoonyEclipse on Sept 4, 2014 14:37:59 GMT
I dunno, Chris- based on the behaviour of the average Klingon in the series, benevolence, patience and politeness aren't heavily featured in the Klingon mentality of honor- they're well, rude, abrupt, often want thigns now and God help- you if you get in their way.
Often, in the series, honor is used as an excuse for a Klingon to try to get away with some pretty, well, bad behaviour (See: Martok's son as an example), i.e.: 'He insulted me, thus honor dictated I pound his face in the dirt', whether the person is Klingon or not (or intended an insult or not).
Some Klingons trend more towards the bushido ideal 'Duty, loyalty, thoughtfulness, etc.' while others the high-strung 'You DARE impugn my honor?! Taste my blade!' type typical of 16th-17th century aristocratic dueling culture (Easily insulted and seeking excuses to show their martial prowess upon people).
This leads credence that, much like humans, what is honorable or not is subject to a considerable amount of interpretation amongst Klingons, and more often honored (no pun intended) in the breach than in actual practice.
And let's avoid the personal shots at each other, okay? It's not honorable.
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Post by Chris Winters on Sept 4, 2014 14:51:04 GMT
That's exactly my point. Nowhere it is said that those Klingons actually get away with being so easily offended. Usually we're left thinking they might not, and just use it as an excuse. Don't you think? Especially the kids are bad at this, and often get smiled upon and flat out ignored, instead of being taken seriously when they do that. That's patience and benevolence right there, while the parent tries his best to be polite about his offspring "jumping the gun again".
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Post by LoonyEclipse on Sept 4, 2014 15:10:11 GMT
That's not so much patience and benevolence as 'indulgence' at that point, though- especially since without thumping them down, the young 'uns DON'T learn any sort of patience and benevolence from that and it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle- it's tacit approval of 'Oh, they're not Klingon or don't have a powerful supporter? thump them all you like' That's not exactly benevolent.
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Post by firebringeraxel on Sept 4, 2014 16:32:12 GMT
This leads credence that, much like humans, what is honorable or not is subject to a considerable amount of interpretation amongst Klingons, and more often honored (no pun intended) in the breach than in actual practice. Memory Alpha mentions this rather immediately in the excerpt I used. Klingon Honor; as much as that of any other, is a matter of perspective in many cases and how each individual acts is different. Where such individuals will run into trouble is when their perceived version of Honor and that of their superiors clash. "For instance, Worf indicated that it was necessary to challenge Gowron's leadership (for he's presumably acting in a dishonorable way) while General Martok was convinced that it was dishonorable to challenge the leader of the Empire in the middle of a war."
Bushido and Klingon Honor are not exact but there are parallels and likenesses. Bushido is a good jumping point for those who don;t quite understand how to play a Klingon just yet because it's based in Human logic and culture and easier to understand than that of an ancient alien warrior race.
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Post by Chris Winters on Sept 4, 2014 16:34:15 GMT
That's completely the opposite of what I was saying, Looney. Of course there's consequences for those acting up, but as always, such things are handled in house, not in front of an audience, making a fool out of them and yourself and getting laughed at for it. Setting someone straight is as embarrassing for him as it is for you, since you were forced to do it by someone below your status, experience and age. Being the third party in it, it is polite to overlook such an issue and grant the ones involved time to sort it out later.
Seems you're going about this very literal and very black and white - which is not going to work. Of course there will always be a mass of people not yet able to live up to the ideals. The younger the more fall into that category. It is about learning, about gaining wisdom, about making your way to Sto'Vo'Kor eventually. Of course there always are some who believe that those who don't even recognize its existence don't deserve a chance to better themselves or are lower beings of some kind and who would lash out on non-Klingons at the slightest insult. But would such a one get patted on the back for that, while an old, wise Dahar Master would have let it slide and instead would have treated "that disrespectful scum" like children who just don't know better? I doubt it.
Yes, some Klingons are loud, rude, and confrontational. They're the chosen of Kahless, for crying out loud. They maybe just won a battle against all odds, too. The younger ones really feel special through that. But the one person in the room who doesn't avoid them, but calls them out on it and reminds them that they are dropping the ball on their other virtues and ideals -without- offending them, will be the one gaining their respect for it. Because he has the heart to stand up to a warrior. Maybe even to be a warrior himself.
Motivation by those ideals is key in this.. there will not be one Klingon coming back to his ship or home being like "haHA! Today I won a bar brawl in Quarks, beat up some big mouthed Ferengi who didnt even know how to hold a Bat'leth!" .. imagine someone being like that. Everyone around them would be like "Dude, seriously? How dumb is that to brag about. Wasn't even a challenge. Try boarding a ship full of Breen soldiers for size, with only you and your three buddies at your side." Warriors are not bullies. They may act like them deliberately sometimes, to see if there are other warriors around who have the courage to stand up. That's a kind of game and will only go so far. If it crosses the line, the other Klingons surely would take care of the misfit themselves.
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Post by firebringeraxel on Sept 6, 2014 2:38:27 GMT
I'm going to put little blurbs here about some of the more common Klingon Rituals. They can actually give us a lot of insight into Honor and Klingon Culture. Pulling some of this from Memory Alpha and other sources.
Heghtay: The Ritual involved opening and staring into the eyes of the dying individual, then bellowing loudly at the sky. The latter served as a warning to the dead (presumably in Sto-vo-kor): "Beware, a Klingon warrior is about to arrive". Once the Ritual was completed, the body was unceremoniously discarded. It was considered to be "only an empty shell" which should be treated as such.
Ak'voh: Tradition wherein, after a warrior had died in battle, his comrades stayed with the body to keep away predators, an act which allowed the spirit to leave the body when it was ready for the long journey to Sto-vo-kor.
R'uustai: This was commonly performed for children who had lost their parents. Ritual in which two Klingons join together to become brothers, one entering the others House. Candles are lit and the member entering the Klingon House receives a sash. Then the words "SoS jIH batlh SoH" are spoken to honor the memory of the participants' mothers – they become one in the House.
Unnamed Ritual for those who died without a chance to do so Honorably: If an individual dies in a manner that does not ensure entry into Sto-vo-kor, his or her relatives may fight a great battle in the deceased's name; a victory will allow him or her to enter Sto-vo-kor.
Mauk-to'Vor: allowed a Klingon to kill a wrongfully disgraced sibling to restore their honor in the afterlife and ensure their entry into Sto-vo-kor. The ritual required adanji incense and was carried out when one sibling plunged a mevak dagger into the others chest.
Hegh'bat: Ritual suicide. Tradition dictated that the eldest son—or, if he is unavailable, a close friend—must assist. That person's role was to hand the dying Klingon a knife so that he could plunge it into his heart. The helper then removed it and then wiped the blood off on their sleeve.
Right of Vengeance: Matter of honor that is claimed when a Klingon seeks revenge against another. Any Klingon, even one who has received Discommendation, may claim it. Also known as a Vow of Vengeance or Blood Oath.
Tea Ritual: A test of courage. The participants ingested tea brewed from a poisonous plant and recited poetry to each other.
Bre'Nan: performed during the preparation for a wedding. It was performed with the bride-to-be and the mistress of the Great House. If the mistress was not satisfied with the performance of the ritual, she had the option of canceling the wedding.
Divorce: The ceremony is much less elaborate than a Klingon wedding. The spouse seeking divorce backhands their partner, looks at him or her, and says "N'Gos tlhogh cha!" (Our marriage is done!). The spouse finishes it by spitting on his or her partner.
Rite of Ascension: The first Rite of Ascension has to be taken by the age of 13 in order for a Klingon youth to declare his intentions to become a warrior. This ritual used kor'tova candles to represent the fire burning in the heart of a warrior, and when the Klingon child lit the candle, it signified their lighting the fire in their hearts. It was required to be followed by the Second Rite of Ascension in less than ten years in order for the Klingon to fully become a warrior. The rite involved the repeated use of painstiks to test the warrior's endurance and resolve. The celebrant walks along a line of warriors, intoning: "Today I am a warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the River of Blood."
B'aht Qul Challenge: Similar to Terran arm wrestling, practiced to demonstrate physical strength. The challenge involves two opponents facing one another locking their hands together with the backs of their hands touching on a table (or another flat surface). After a count, each competitor tries to push the backs of the opponent's onto the table. He who does so first is declared the winner.
Brek'tal: Allows the widow of an honorably slain Klingon, who was the head of his House, to marry his opponent. If the ritual is performed the victor then becomes the head of his slain opponent's house. The brek'tal is only allowed when the former leader of the house dies without a male heir. Without the brek'tal the mistress, now widow, of the House may be granted special dispensation to lead the house on her own, but only if there are unique circumstances.
Discommendation: A legal penalty in the Klingon Empire in which an individual is ceremonially shunned: stripped of honor and severely reduced in social status with few rights in Klingon society. The ceremony in which this punishment is meted out is simple. The highest-ranked Klingon crosses his or her arms in front of his or her chest, and turns his or her back on the recipient, while others follow suit one by one until almost all Klingons have their backs turned. The speed of this gesture varies, from formal ceremonies which are done slowly to summary punishments which can occur as quickly as the Klingons in judgment can move. Crossing the arms in front can also be used as a slur to remind a Klingon of his dishonor.
A discommendated Klingon becomes a pariah to Klingons everywhere. Other Klingons will often refuse to associate with him or her, and it is customary to refer to them as "that" (an object, rather than a person). However, dishonored Klingons do retain some basic rights, such as the right to demand vengeance for the life of a loved one.
If a Klingon leader decides to restore a discommendated Klingon's honor, he ceremonially presents his personal dagger for the Klingon to grasp by the blade tightly enough to draw blood. With this gesture, the leader states
"I give you back your family honor. I give you back what was wrongfully taken from you. Let your name be spoken once again. You are _____, son of ________."
Ja'chuq: Performed by candidates during the Rite of Succession. In the ja'chuq, each challenger lists the battles they've won, the prizes they've taken, etc. to demonstrate their worthiness to lead the Empire. Considered obsolete in modern times, the ja'chuq could take days to complete.
Kal'Hyah: A "mental and spiritual journey" that the groom and his closest male friends took part in before the wedding. Over the course of four days described as being "filled with song and fellowship", one was required to endure six trials: deprivation, blood, pain, sacrifice, anguish, and death. One had to do this while fasting.
Rite of MajQa: lengthy meditations in the Caves of No'Mat. The ritual was generally undertaken for the first time at a young age. The participant in the ritual sought to gain a vision of his past or future; visions of family were considered particularly powerful and important.
Va'nora kor: Exercised by the gin'tak of a Great House. The ya'nora kor allows the gin'tak to question the fitness of the leader of a family to make decisions, specifically those that have a direct impact on the standing of the House or its future.
Challenge Ritual: When a Klingon Warrior is accused by the Council, he has the right to challenge them. He presents evidence to the Council which then passes judgement. While being heard, the challenger appoints a cha'Dich (a second) who stands with him during the challenge or trial. Results of challenges can be exoneration, discommendation or even death.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 11:27:34 GMT
Heghtay: The Ritual involved opening and staring into the eyes of the dying individual, then bellowing loudly at the sky. The latter served as a warning to the dead (presumably in Sto-vo-kor): "Beware, a Klingon warrior is about to arrive". Once the Ritual was completed, the body was unceremoniously discarded. It was considered to be "only an empty shell" which should be treated as such.
Ak'voh: Tradition wherein, after a warrior had died in battle, his comrades stayed with the body to keep away predators, an act which allowed the spirit to leave the body when it was ready for the long journey to Sto-vo-kor.
Would this two not conflict? Or do they only discard the body if they can look the warrior in the eye, and guard it if nobody was there to look them in the eye?
Does looking them in the eye allows the spirit to leave the body faster?
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Post by firebringeraxel on Sept 8, 2014 18:54:14 GMT
Heghtay & Ak'voh Would this two not conflict? Or do they only discard the body if they can look the warrior in the eye, and guard it if nobody was there to look them in the eye? Does looking them in the eye allows the spirit to leave the body faster? I'm glad someone brought this up. The largest difference between these two rituals is age. Ak'voh is a very old tradition that is not as commonly practiced in modern Klingon society for rather obvious reasons. That being that in a civilization like the Klingons have now there really are not many Predators left. SO unless you die in the wilderness there is no real need to worry that your body will be eaten before your spirit can leave. Heghtay is the far more common and less ancient custom that has been adopted in more modern culture. The opening of the eyes and staring into them is to see the spirit leave the body. The eyes are the gateway to the soul are they not? This is no less true for Klingons. Once one Warrior has watched to see the light leave the dying ones eyes then they bellow to scare off any dark spirits or demons that might attempt to stop their journey to Sto-vo-kor. So it is reasonable that in most situations only the Heghtay will be performed but that does not mean the Ak'voh will not be. It is common sense to guard a man who is making himself prone in order to perform the Heghtay and also to act as witnesses. So to answer your questions: They don't conflict but only the Heghtay is entirely necessary unless they are in the wilds. Looking the deceased in the eyes is a way to confirm their spirit has left, not a way to speed its journey. The bellow does that by helping them to do so safely.
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Post by firebringeraxel on Nov 25, 2014 21:26:52 GMT
Klingon Holidays!
batlhjaj, The Day of Honor: On which Klingons re-affirm their own sense of honor and commemorate their most esteemed enemies, reflecting on the past year's events and behavior. This is a day of both celebration and reverie as well as introspection and meditation. It is customary to serve Rokeg blood pie on this day. The traditional ceremony on the Day of Honor includes eating the heart of a sanctified targ, drinking mot'lach from the Grail of Kahless, enduring the ritual of twenty painstiks, engaging in battle with a bat'leth master, and traversing the sulfur lagoons of Gorath. Those who are away from Qo'noS have been known to do so via a Holodeck. Qo'bo'val or The Feast of Qot baVol: Celebrates the defeat of the tyrant molar by qeylIS the unforgettable. At this feast the Story of qeylIS the Unforgettable is always told, and sometimes re-enacted via Opera or theatre. The day is celebrated with a massive feast of massive birds from Qo'noS wilds and much drinking. Their are also duels of honor. QI'lop: Comes every tenth Klingon month. Celebrates the superiority of the Klingon military and is celebrated every 10th Klingon month. It is custom on QI'lop for guests to arrive at the House of their Host bearing gift that the Host may decorate their House with and a dish of to'baj'us (stuffed to'barg legs). When a guest leaves they may claim any non-sacred item from the House to take with them in return. wo'jij'jaj' (Unification Day): Celebrated every third month to honor the uniting of the Klingon people by qeylIS the Unforgettable.
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