A Question of Honor

[K'Gor]

I have a question about my RPG character. I want him to have a reason for not making human freinds on his ship, a Federation vessel. My question is this: If he did something to let down a human freind at Starfleet Academy, would other Klingons consider it a breach of honor, or not? He told a freind he would lie, and help him stay out of prison, but in the end chose law over his freind.

[qoSagh]

This is an interesting question. I would of course like to simply answer with the reply that a promise made to a hman is not a promise at all, because they are of a lesser race than Klignons. That is of course a murky position at best, since it is rare that one can find an entire race devoid of honor. The next issue is that of lying. Simply put Klingons do not lie. A Klingons word is his honor, regardless of who that word is given to. I can not see where a Klingon would ever promise to commit purgery in the first place.

Having gone back on that promise is an interesting concept. If one lies about lying, what is the truth at all? I would think that an Klingon that hears the story would know that this character isnot to be trusted. First because he does not hold the truth in high esteem, second becaue he goes back on promises, third because (and I am guessing on this one) he is probably a little self rightous about claiming to have done the right thing afterall.

This is the sort of quandry that I can see Worf getting himself into, and we all know how those turn out.

[K'Gor]

qoSagh, Thank you. It seems I must adjust the story then. Can you or anyone provide suggestions as to how I can amend this tale to still put K'gor in a posistion to have let down his human freind, but be true to his Klingon sensibilities?

[Brian_Starr]

The answer seems obvious.  Create a situation where the Human would lie to protect his friend, and he expects the Klingon to do what a Human would do.  But instead, the Klingon does not lie, but follows his own cultural bias to tell the truth.  It wouldn't even have to be a big lie.  Perhaps the Human asked the Klingon to cover for him the next day after a big night out.  Suppose he asked him to lie for him.  Instead, the Klingon learns that the Human was irresponsible, or involved with slightly illegal activity.  The Klingon turns him in, doing the Honorable thing.  While most humans might have gone along with the deception, the Klingon could not.  Nobody likes a tattle tale.  Sometimes, you can do the right thing and be wrong, while doing the wrong thing is right.

Suppose Worf had been aboard the Enterprise when Kirk stole it from spacedock?  As a Starfleet Officer, it is his duty to recover the ship from the renagade Officers.  He would certinaly be in the right, by the rules, but then he would be wrong according to Human standards.  Look for cultural differances between Human and Klingon society.

[Klythe]

*points to jaroD and Duras*  Didn't they lie to cover up thier dishonor?   Didn't the Council lie when confronted with Worf's evidence?  Didn't Kurn lie to everyone about his identity?  Didn't Worf lie about the children from the Romulan camp.   Didn't Alexander come back from the future full of lies to try to manipulate himself to change his mind under false pretenses?  Kahless the Unforgettable lied to create the ruses he was reportedly  famous for.  

    I could probably come up with a dozen more lies if I tried, but this game bores me.  Not even Gowron is not above lying if it suits his purposes.  Clearly merely telling the truth in all occasions does not always satisfy honor.