Klingon

• Appearance: Mammalian; dark skin, forehead crest, prominent spinal ridges, sharp incisors; on average taller, larger than humans
  • QuchHa' minority resulting from modified Qu'vat virus look near-identical to humans
    • QuchHa' population reached several million by 2165, but was treated and reverted to HemQuch majority by end of 23rd century (ENT Novel: Live by the Code; TOS Novel: Forged in Fire)
• Lifespan: over 150 years (DS9: "Blood Oath")
• Homeworld: Qo'noS
• Low tolerance for cold (DS9: "Change of Heart"; VOY: "Displaced")
• Biological notes
  • Magenta blood (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; DIS)
  • Multiply redundant biological systems (TNG: "Ethics")
    • Two livers, three lungs, eight-chambered heart, redundant neural functions (TNG: "Ethics")
  • No tear ducts (VAN Novel: Reap the Whirlwind; TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
    • Still capable of producing something akin to tears (TNG: "Birthright, Part II"; DS9: "Sons of Mogh")
    • Eye lubrication possibly relies on something akin to the Harderian gland given that evolutionary ancestor of Klingons seems reptilian, although this is also not unheard of in mammals (e.g., elephants)
  • Keen sense of smell as compared to Humans (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
  • Children mature quickly (cf. Alexander)
  • Klingon androgens very biochemically similar to Human androgens, though much more potent (TNG Novel: Resistance)
    • Unclear what "more potent" means in this context
    • Reference mistakenly describes androgen as though it is a specific hormone
• Technological notes
  • Most Klingon designers tend to work from established, proven designs and expand or improve rather than produce entirely new fundamental foundations (VAN Novel: Summon the Thunder)
    • Part of reasoning for basic Klingon ship design being essentially unchanged from 23rd to 24th century
• Cultural notes
  • Klingon calendar
  • Klingon faith
  • Klingon language
  • Klingon food
  • Originally generally caste-based (ENT: "Judgment")
    • c.2100, domination of warrior caste of government, society led to general dissolution of the caste system (ENT: "Judgment")
      • Focus on warrior precepts permeated general society, leading to warrior lifestyle seen as ultimate goal
      • In core territories, other castes largely viewed in terms of ability to contribute to military goals
      • Outside core territories, caste system held less strength previously, little changed (KE Novel: A Burning House)
  • Amongst warriors, comfort seen as weakness (TNG: "Unification"; SCE Short Story: "Breakdowns")
  • Striking with the backhand rather than a direct blow considered a great insult (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
  • Games
    • Klin zha (Novel: Articles of the Federation)
      • Chess the closest analogue (Novel: Articles of the Federation)
      • Rarely presented, or even mentioned, to non-Klingons (Novel: Articles of the Federation)
  • Sayings
    • "A Bynar never stands alone" (SCE Short Story: "Enigma Ship")
  • Rituals
    • Ak'voh (TOS Novel: Forged in Fire; DS9: "The Ship"; TNG Novel: Immortal Coil)
      • Death ritual in which companions of a deceased warrior stand vigil to fend off scavengers until the spirit can reach Sto'vo'kor (TOS Novel: Forged in Fire; DS9: "The Ship"; TNG Novel: Immortal Coil)
      • Traditionally, a funerary dirge is sung by the participating warriors to aid the passage to Sto'vo'kor (TOS Novel: Forged in Fire)
    • vIt 'Iw tay (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
      • For those whose biological origins are in doubt, six different warriors will use their personal d'k tahgs to prove they are truly Klingon (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
      • Created by High Council following start of deep-cover infiltration by Imperial Intelligence (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
      • Commonly applied during Dominion War as a defense against Founder infiltration, though no Founders were uncovered (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
    • web'ghIm (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
      • Punishment for a member of ones House who has committed a great dishonor (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
  • Combat traditions
    • Concepts
      • batyay'a (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
        • Grants a conqueror exclusive dominion over those who they conquered (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
    • Martial arts
      • Mok'bara (Various)
        • Per legends, dates back to the days of Kahless (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: The Edge of the Sword)
        • To become mok'bara instructor (ghojmoHwI') requires test of patience and restraint (TNG Comic: "Perchance to Dream")
          • Instructor candidate faces instructor, keeping still and waiting for the proper time to strike (TNG Comic: "Perchance to Dream")
          • First to ground loses (TNG Comic: "Perchance to Dream")
          • Usually ends in single strike, but waiting beforehand can take hours if not days (TNG Comic: "Perchance to Dream")
    • Weapons
      • Bat'leth (Various)
        • Curved, two-pointed, pointed blade
        • First bat'leth said to have been crafted by Kahless himself (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
          • Unlikely, but still implies forging of the first bat'leth dates back to c.9th century
      • d'k tahg (Various)
        • One-handed weapon with retractable blade covered by folding hand guards
      • mek'leth (Various)
        • Two-pronged, one-handed combat blade
        • Predates the bat'leth; existed prior to c.9th century (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
      • mevak (TOS Novel: The Captain's Oath; DS9: "Sons of Mogh")
        • Traditional means of ending the life of another honorably (DS9: "Sons of Mogh")
        • Tip of blade divided in two
          • One extinguishes the physical life, the other frees the soul to Sto-vo-kor (Designer notes)
      • qutluch (TOS Novel: The Captain's Oath; TNG: "Sins of the Father")
        • Traditionally a weapon of assassination (TNG: "Sins of the Father")
      • tajtik (The Klingon Art of War; TOS Novel: The Captain's Oath)

History

• 2016: First contact with Vulcans, leading to decades of war (ENT Novel: A Choice of Futures; DIS: "The Vulcan Hello"; TNG: "First Contact")
• April 2151: First contact with Humans; Broken Bow, Earth incident (ENT: "Broken Bow")
• November 2154: Qu'vat virus leads to creation of QuchHa' minority class in contrast to HemQuch majority (ENT: "Affliction")
• Early 2290s: Cure discovered for Qu'vat virus; QuchHa' cease to exist. Their former existence is largely denied or kept quiet with outsiders from this point forward. (TOS Novel: Forged in Fire; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")