Three of Seven is here to educate us on what the Kot'baval Festival means to our Klingon friends.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Earlier in the year, we celebrated the Klingon Day of Honour; you can go back and read about this and other parts of Klingon beliefs here. Much like other aspects of Klingon beliefs, Kahless plays a central role in the festival of Kot’baval.

THE FESTIVAL

"Molor" fights a challenger.
Alexander accepts the call to battle.The festival of Kot’baval is a yearly Klingon celebration in which they recall the fall of the tyrant Molor at the hands of Kahless. Kot’baval is celebrated throughout the empire, the festival always has a reenactment of the battle between Molor and Kahless. Around the empire, they share in traditional Klingon foods and exchanging stories. In 2370, the Enterprise-D was nearby the Klingon outpost on Maranga IV, where Worf took his son Alexander to experience the vibrant culture and history of the Klingons.

During the festival, there were mock battles between Molor and Klingon challengers who would dare to face against him. These battles were staged to demonstrate Molor's power as a tyrant. When a challenger went down, they would sing a phrase in Klingon, asking if anyone else has the courage to take on Molor. On Maranga IV, Worf took the challenge from the fallen actor and fell himself in the act, giving out the same call. Alexander then took the Bat’leth, resulting in a battle in which the actor was forced to the ground. After a few battles, Kahless appears to complete the scene and defeat Molor.


MOLOR AND KAHLESS

In Klingon history, Molor was a tyrant who ruled over Qo’noS. As with the battle reenactments during the festival, history says that Molor could be defeated by no man due to his strength. He is reported to have sent a large number of troops to the city of Qam-Chee, where the city's garrison retreated, leaving just Kahless and Lady Lukara to make a stand at the Great Hall. Ultimately they were victorious, creating one of the greatest romance stories in Klingon culture and forming the tradition to the Klingon wedding ceremony.

After defending the city, Kahless and Molor fought at the River Skral, where Molor was defeated thanks to Kahless' use of his Bat'leth, the Sword of Kahless. The river is part of a traditional Klingon drinking song, which contains the line “...and the River Skral ran crimson red”, a reference to Kahless’ victory. After the battle, Kahless founded the Klingon Empire. Molor appears in Star Trek Online during the mission the Gates of Gre'thor, where he intends to rejoin the land of the living.

WRITTEN BY THREE OF SEVEN
EDITED BY FLICKY

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