The History of The Klingon Honor Guard

The 'avwI' batlh -- The Honor Guard -- has a long and glorious history. As the Emperor is the heart of the Empire, and the Defense Forces are the weapons in the Empire's hands, so the 'avwI' batlh is its honor.

The story of the Honor Guard begins many generations ago, before the beginning of the Empire. In that time, the tyrant Molor ruled over Qo'noS and oppressed the Klingon people. There was great sorrow and despair. Warriors in the service of Molor knew nothing of honor. They pillaged the land and murdered thousands.

Not all warriors of that time were aligned with the tyrant. Those who held honor to be more important than power and personal gain fought Molor's forces. Many songs are sung of those grand and glorious battles. These brave warriors defended those unable to defend themselves, both against the tyrant's armies and the bands of raiders that roamed the land. The greatest and most successful of these heroes were a small band known as the ghop qul, the Hand of Flame.

The leaders of the ghop qul were O'gat, Kollus, and To'Kar. All were masters of the combat arts and warriors of unblemished honor. Each had, over time, created his own unique and powerful style of fighting. These different styles had complementary strengths, and through the years of Molor's rule, the three warriors defended countless innocents. Their crusade was so effective that they gained the attention of Molor himself, who placed a great price on their heads.

The three were soon betrayed. Molor learned the location of their secret retreat, and he sent fifty of his strongest warriors against them. When O'gat, Kollus, and To'Kar saw the tyrant's band of killers massed against them, they did not shrink from the fight. The three strode out to meet the challenge Molor had set against them, and the battle was begun.

The sounds of steel meeting steel and the joyous cries of warriors reached past the nearby hills into a small village. All that day and into the night, the clamor continued, upsetting the villager's normal routine. Finally, near dawn, the shouts faded into a profound silence. The villagers gathered together and crossed the hills on foot to pay homage to the fallen warriors.

When they reached the battlefield, they found only three survivors -- O'gat, Kollus, and To'Kar. Though gravely wounded, the ghop qul had won the day.

A wise young warrior named Kahless was, at that time, traveling through the same province, and he heard tales of the great battle. Kahless, too, was an enemy of Molor. He had been journeying for months, making impassioned speeches in many villages, rallying the people against the tyrant, and gathering a small army. Kahless walked halfway across the province to meet the ghop qul warriors.

Over cups of bloodwine, Kahless told the master warriors of his plans to bring down the tyrant Molor. He shared his wisdom with them, and they were moved by his words. Seeing the honor in his heart, the fire in his blood, and the truth in his teachings, the three pledged their loyalty to Kahless and his cause. O'gat, Kollus, and To'Kar announced that they would travel with the young warrior, defend him against the forces of Molor, and help spread his words of liberation.

Kahless refused their offer, saying to them, "Qo'noS roghvaH toy'. jIH SuvwI' chaH ghojmoH tlha'. tonSaw'raj ghojmoH. Molor mangghom' tay' DIQaw'!" ("There is a greater service you can do for the people of Qo'noS. Train warriors to follow me. Share your fighting arts, and together we will destroy Molor's armies!")

The three found this a wise course, and so they went their separate ways. Each gathered to him a few warriors of great promise and established a training camp. There, the masters taught their own fighting styles, their ideas, and the philosophies of Kahless. In time, word of these camps spread, and warriors came from all over Qo'noS to learn from these master warriors.

When Kahless returned, O'gat, Kollus, and To'Kar had their students ready for him. This army of fighters was shaped by his teachings and honed by the warriors of the ghop qul. He found them satisfactory. Donning his armor, Kahless rode out against Molor's rule. The three rode beside him, and behind them rode a thousand warriors. Wherever they encountered Molor's forces, they destroyed the despoilers. As word spread of their campaign, hope returned to the people of Qo'noS.

Eventually, the warriors of Kahless met Molor's army in one glorious, final battle. It was a struggle worthy of many songs, and we still sing of those days. When it was done and the tyrant's power broken, Kahless stood and looked out over the lifeless bodies of the warriors. Suddenly, he split the morning with a howl. "A warning to the dead that Klingon warriors are about to arrive," he said, and rode off to face Molor.

So it was that Kahless the Unforgettable gathered his army of honorable, highly trained warriors, defeated the armies of Molor, bested the tyrant himself in personal combat, and forged the Empire.

When Kahless returned from slaying Molor -- the first bat'leth still bloody in his hands -- O'gat, Kollus, and To'Kar knelt before him. "We are your servants," the three said as one. "What do you ask of us, great one?"

Kahless, his wounds still fresh upon him, said, "Rise my friends. The warriors of Qo'noS need never bow again. Through your actions and those of these others like you, a new era has dawned on us. Out of the ashes of the old, a new Empire will be born." At this, he shouted to the assembled warriors, "Let none among you bend knee in submission. Rather, stand with me in allegiance, ready to defend Qo'noS against any who would enslave us!"

Looking into their leader's scarred face, the three in turn drew their daqtagh knives -- symbol of their honor and strength as warriors. Kneeling briefly, each placed his daqtagh at the feet of Kahless, gleaming points facing outward, forming a trefoil. Rising in unison, the warriors brought their right arms smartly across their chests, fists striking armor to come to rest over hearts. Locking eyes once more with their leader, each spoke in turn, "My life for you, my lord."

There was a heartbeat's pause as Kahless looked into the eyes of his warriors, then he slowly drew his own daqtagh, used it's blade to draw a circle joining the three knives in the dirt, then placed it in the center of the bladed triangle. He rose and returned their salute, "and mine for yours."

So it was that the three warriors pledged their lives to Kahless, and he to them. From that day forward, they and those they trained would stand beside Kahless eternally, until his path led him, finally, to Sto'Vo'Kor, beyond the stars.

Kahless decreed that each of the ghop qul masters should return to his training camp and establish on that site a formal school for the training of new warriors. These are the Dun vajpu' DuSaQmey -- Schools of the Great Warriors -- and they still exist today. Each chooses the most promising young Klingons at the Age of Ascension and educates them in the philosophy of Kahless and one of the three masters' elite arts of battle.

Those warriors who excel in these schools are permitted to advance to high rank. Every year, the masters of each school choose the most honorable and dedicated students from the highest ranks. These few select, master warriors, have the honor to apply for membership in the 'avwI' batlh -- the Honor Guard.

Warriors from all over the Empire apply for admittance to the Dun vajpu' DuSaQmey. The best of the best from those schools are nominated to serve in the 'avwI' batlh. Those elite few endure a rigorous course of tournaments, philosophic debates, and physical challenges to test their worthiness for the opportunity to join the Klingon Honor Guard. For warriors to pass these tests, they must be possessed of unequaled fighting prowess, stamina, and honor.

The Klingon way of life favors the strong and decisive. The weak and foolish have no place in the halls of power, and advancement in rank is often achieved at a high cost. Those in power have normally gained their positions the honorable way -- by challenging and defeating their superior in personal combat. However, some houses have achieved power through guile and assassination, which are highly dishonorable. Knowing that some might seek to become Emperor in this way, Kahless formed his loyal warriors into a group of personal guards he called his Honor Guard. After his death, the Honor Guard continued to serve whoever ruled the Empire, providing protection for the Chancellor and, in time, all members of the High Council who accepted their service.

During Gowron's reign as Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, he accepted only the finest, proven warriors as his guards. Foremost among Gowron's Honor Guard detachment was Korek, who was also the High Master of the DuSaQ To'Qar -- the school of To'Kar. Korek oversaw every action of Gowron's guards, and was the Chancellor's confidant in all matters of personal security.

This information has been taken directly from the instruction booklet of Klingon Honor Guard, a PC game developed and owned by Microprose. No copyright infringement is intended.

Now, with the reign of Martok as Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, a new group of warriors steps up into the light of glory and greatness to serve the Klingon Empire, coming to be known as The Klingon Honor Guard.

Pok of the House of Torghn is our leader and Martok's closest confidant. If any danger looms over the Empire, Pok is among the very first to know, and we, The Klingon Honor Guard are the first to the front lines to take care of that danger.

In the world of SIMing, The Klingon Honor Guard was originally formed on January 1, 1998 as an offshoot of another Klingon-oriented SIMing group on AOL. With the introduction of yet another Klingon-oriented AOL SIMing group in the same year, the Klingon Honor Guard merged in March of 1998 to become the Imperial Klingon Armada (IKA).

Two years after the merge, Pok decided a fresh start was needed to revitalize the Klingon SIMing world on AOL, and so he directed that the Klingon Honor Guard be reborn, on April 9, 2000, taking the best of his warriors with him back to where it all began a little more than two years before. This is where we are today.

While we do not necessarily parallel the exact ideas of The Klingon Honor Guard as described in the Star Trek books, etc., we do operate on the principles of glory for the whole group, not the individual. Our mission as members of The Klingon Honor Guard is to bring the best of Klingon SIMing to the group and AOL.

Several of the members have taken it upon themselves to learn the culture and language of the Klingon people as it is written in the books by Dr. Marc Okrand and other leading authorities on Klingon society and language. These members take the extra time to teach the other members of the Klingon Honor Guard about the Klingon people and their language and culture, thereby enhancing the experience of being a member of The Klingon Honor Guard.