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")

Klingon

History

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