- Legend has it that the Klingon Empire was founded by Kahless (qeyllS) the Unforgettable approximately 1,500 years ago, when he killed the tyrant Molor (molor) with batlh'etlh (the Sword of Honour), the original betleH, forged by dipping a lock of his hair into a volcano. Kahless fought his brother Morath (moraH) for twelve days and nights because Morath had lied and brought dishonour to their House. Before Kahless died, he pointed to a distant star and promised he would one day return there.
Kahless the Unforgettable
batlh'etlh
- Klingons once worshipped a number of gods, but that worship ceased about the time of the occupation of Qo'noS by the Hurq, 1000 years ago. The Hurq are believed to have stolen the batlh'etlh. Klingons claim to have killed their gods at this time "because they were more trouble than they were worth". Whether they ceased worshiping (figuratively killed) the gods in retaliation for the Hurq invasion or whether the invasion was seen as punishment for so doing is not known. The Fek'lhr (veqlargh), the closest thing Klingons have to a devil appears to be the one Klingon god to survive this purge. He is attended by "evil spirits" called Jat'linn (jat'lyn) who torment the dishonoured dead.
One of the old Klingon Gods
The Fek'lhr
 
Two examples of Jat'linn
- After death, Klingons who have died with their honour intact are believed to go to Sto-Vo-Kor (Sto'vo'qor), the afterlife, where they join the Black Fleet (yo'qIj) at QI'tu and continue to amass glory and honour in endless battle against worthy foes who have also crossed over into death. The dishonoured dead are taken on the Barge of the Dead to Gre'thor (ghre 'vor), the Underworld, which is guarded by the Fek'lhr. The Barge of the Dead is helmed by Kortar (qor'tar), the Klingon who killed the gods and as punishment was doomed to forever pilot the Barge.
 
The Barge of the Dead
 
Debarking from the Barge of the Dead into Gre'thor
Kortar, helmsman of the Barge
The Barge of the Dead
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