The Legacy of Kahless
The stories of Kahless are the
stories of the Klingon people. Passed down from generation to
generation. These stories remind the Klingon people about who they are
and where they come from. Klingons study these stories for all of
their lives; many find new truths in them every time. Many of these
stories are held within the sacred texts, a few exclusively.
Nevertheless, they remain an integral part of Klingon lore.
The following stories are
portions and excerpts of song and lore surrounding the life of
Kahless:
- Long ago, a storm was heading for
the city of Quin'lat. Everyone took protection within the walls
except one man who remained outside. Kahless went to him and asked
what he was doing. "I am not afraid," the man said. "I will not hide
my face behind stone and mortar. I will stand before the wind and
make it respect me." Kahless honored his choice and went back inside.
The next day, the storm came, and the man was killed, as the wind
does not respect a fool. (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
- ...Kahless was determined to
teach his brother a lesson for having told a lie, but Morath refused
to fight his brother, and instead ran away. Kahless pursued him
across valleys and over mountains, all the way to the edge of the
sea. And there on the shore, they fought for twelve days and twelve
nights because Morath had broken his word and brought shame and
dishonor to his family. (TNG: "New Ground", "Firstborn")
- ...Kahless held his father's
lifeless body in his arms. He could not believe what his brother had
done. Then his brother threw their father's sword into the sea,
saying that if he could not possess it, neither would Kahless. That
was the last time the brothers would speak. (TNG: "Birthright, Part
II")
- Kahless looked into the ocean and
wept, for the sword was all he had left of his father and the sea
filled with his tears and flooded beyond the shore. The people begged
Kahless to stop his weeping, and he did and walked into the water to
find the lost sword. He searched and searched the murky ocean bottom,
holding his breath for three days and three nights when he would
eventually find his father's sword. (TNG: "Birthright, Part II")
- Kahless later invented the forms
of what would become the Mok'bara when he went to the
Underworld in search of his father. Kahless showed him the forms, and
his father was able to remember his body and return to the world of
the living. (TNG: "Birthright, Part II")
- Kahless single-handedly fought
off an entire army at Three Turn Bridge. (DS9: "Let He Who Is Without
Sin...")
- ...The tyrant Molor was so strong
that no one could stand against him. Kahless would rather die than
live under Molor's tyranny... (TNG: "Firstborn")
- Kahless went into the mountains,
all the way to the Kri'stak Volcano. He cut off a lock of his hair
and thrust it into the river of molten rock, which poured from the
summit. The hair began to burn, but then he plunged it into the lake
of Lusor and twisted it into a sword.
...And the blood was ankle deep. And
the River Skral ran crimson red. On the day above all days. When
Kahless slew evil Molor dead... And after he used it to kill the
tyrant Molor he gave it a name: bat'leth, "the sword of honor".
(TNG: "Rightful Heir"; DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
The story of the sword is known only
by the High Clerics, because it was never written down in the sacred
texts. This was so that if Kahless was ever to return, they could be
sure it was him. (TNG: "Rightful Heir") When the Shroud of the Sword
of Kahless was discovered, it was determined that the Sword of Kahless
dated back at least 1,400 years. (DS9: "The Sword of Kahless")
- With the Sword, Kahless slew
Molor, conquered the Fek'Ihri and forged the first Empire. Kahless
would also use the Sword to skin the serpent of Xol, to harvest his
father's field, and to carve a statue for his beloved Lukara. (DS9:
"The Sword of Kahless")
Molor's defeat is celebrated yearly
with the observance of the Kot'baval Festival. (TNG:
"Firstborn")
- A thousand years ago, at the dawn
of the Empire, five hundred warriors stormed the Great Hall at
Qam-Chee. The city garrison fled before them. Only the Emperor
Kahless, and the Lady Lukara stood their ground. It was here that
they began the greatest romance in Klingon history. (DS9: "Looking
for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places")
- Kahless and Lukara were nearly
killed moments after they were married, by Molor's troops. (DS9: "You
Are Cordially Invited...
The wielding of Ma'Staka's at
the conclusion of a Klingon wedding is a continued tradition in
Klingon culture.
- Kahless was condemned to die by
the tyrant Molor, who was angered that Kahless had incited the people
against him. The night before his execution, Kahless asked that he be
allowed to go out into the night and say farewell to the moon and the
stars, for he knew that in the Netherworld, he would not see them
again. Kahless gave his word that he would come back, and Molor let
him go. Kahless had given his word and Molor understood what that
meant. The next day at dawn, Kahless returned and was put to death.
(TNG: "Birthright, Part II")
- This story is contradicted
by "The Promise", indicating the degree of disparity that potentially
exists in each of these stories told.
"The Story of the Promise":
- When Kahless united the people
and gave them the laws of honor, he saw that his work was done. So
one night he gathered his belongings and went to the edge of the city
to say good-bye. The people wept, they did not want him to go. And
Kahless said, "You are Klingons. You need no one but yourselves. I
will go now, to Sto-Vo-Kor. But I promise one day I will return."
Then Kahless pointed to a star in the sky and said, "Look for me
there, on that point of light." (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
The story of "The Promise" indicated
that Kahless was to reappear in the lava caves on the planet of
Boreth. The Followers of Kahless, or "Guardians", wait there for his
return. To Klingons, there is no more sacred place. For over 1,500
years, Klingons have come to Boreth to ask questions. According to the
Clerics, the only way a Klingon warrior can find the answers they seek
is to: "Open your heart to Kahless, ask him your questions, let him
speak to you with your mind unclouded by doubt or hesitation. Only
then can you find what you are looking for." (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
Artifacts
- Emperor's Crown
- Grail of Kahless
- Knife of Kirom
- Shroud of the Sword
- Sword of Kahless
Quotations
- "Destroying an Empire to win a
war is no victory. And ending a battle to save an Empire is no
defeat." - Kahless
- "Great men do not seek power,
they have power thrust upon them." - Kahless
- "A leader is judged not by the
length of his reign but by the decisions he makes." - Kahless
- "There is no victory without
combat." - Kahless
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