Sto-Vo-Kor

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This article is about the Klingon afterlife. For the metal band see Stovokor (band).

In the fictional Star Trek universe, Sto-Vo-Kor is the state of existence that Klingons believe that honorable members of their society will go to in the afterlife. Klingons believe that they will go to be with Kahless when going to Sto-Vo-Kor. Sto-Vo-Kor would be similar to the human idea of the Viking Valhalla and is seen as the Klingon's version of heaven.

Klingons hold that an individual needs to die a glorious death (for example, in battle) in order to gain admission to Sto-Vo-Kor. If an individual does not die in battle, they can gain admission by having a great and dangerous battle fought in their name. This method was used by Worf for his deceased wife Jadzia Dax (who was caught by surprise and killed by Gul Dukat as host to a P'ah Wraith, rather than in glorious battle) by helping to destroy a vital Dominion ship yard. With so many Jem'Hadar slain in her name, Jadzia Dax would be allowed to spend the afterlife in Sto-Vo-Kor with the honored dead warriors.

Some of the earlier literature in the Star Trek universe called the Klingon afterlife the Black Fleet. It has been suggested that Klingons who die honorably earn a place in the Black Fleet, which is involved in continual battles.

The opposite of Sto-Vo-Kor is Gre'Thor, where dishonorable Klingons go when they die. It is the Klingon concept most similar to hell. Gre'Thor was introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation and may be inconsistent with Klingon beliefs in the original Star Trek series, in which a Klingon states that there is no Klingon equivalent of the Devil. However, these "inconsistancies" may be the result of sectarian or philosophical differences, much as with any other religious beliefs. The leader of Gre'Thor is Fek'lhr, who is an eight foot tall humanoid monster with huge fangs.

Although Gre'Thor has been shown in a Voyager episode, Sto-Vo-Kor itself has never been seen in any Star Trek episode.