The Kandarian Dagger (also known as The Demonic Dagger, The Champion's Bane, and The Blade of Ereshkigal) was an ancient weapon discovered by Professor Raymond Knowby during the exploration of the ruins of Castle Kandar. Since its rediscovery, it has fallen into many hands who have used it to combat the forces of evil.
The Kandarian Dagger first appeared in the 1981 film The Evil Dead, designed by special effects artist Tom Sullivan.
History[]
Origin[]
The Kandarian Dagger is an object which exists in a myriad of alternate realities, though only one has ever offered a origin for the dagger. In that timeline, it was said that the dagger was created around 3000 BC by the followers of the high priest Urigan.[1] Though it was initially called "The Blade of Ereshkigal" (named after the Sumerian Goddess of death), it eventually became known as the Kandarian Dagger, named after the ancient Mesopotamian city of Kandar in which it was created.
Castle Kandar[]
There is very little known about the dagger's whereabouts between it's creation and it's rediscovery in 1982, though at some point following the departure of Ash Williams from 1300 AD, the dagger arrived at Castle Kandar in England, where it was placed beside the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis inside one of the structure's chambers.[2]
Rediscovery[]
The Necronomicon and Kandarian Dagger, perfectly preserved in the ruins of Castle Kandar (Evil Dead II).
Both the dagger and Ex-Mortis would lay undisturbed in the castle for hundreds of years, until being recovered by Professor Raymond Knowby in the late 20th Century. Following the discovery of the book and dagger, Raymond (along with his wife Henrietta) would bring the artifacts back to their secluded cabin in the woods in the United States for further study.[3][2] Upon close examination, Raymond noted in his journal that the handle (carved from human bone) had "otherworldly" properties, and it's blade could cut the flesh of the Necronomicon's binding.[4]
A week after Knowby's disappearance (due to the accidental awakening of the Kandarian Demon), Ash Williams and his friend Scotty would find the dagger in the cabin's fruit cellar. Over the course of that first night, the Deadite Shelly would attempt to attack Scotty with the dagger, and the Deadite Linda would do likewise to Ash.[3] During Ash's second night at the cabin, Annie Knowby would use the dagger to defend herself from the Deadite Ash, though she would accidentally stab Jake in the gut while he was trying to hide from the possessed Williams. Later, Annie would be killed with the Kandarian Dagger after Ash's severed hand attacked her while reciting an incantation that would open a rift in time to banish the Kandarian Demon.[2]
Beyond The Cabin[]
As previously mentioned, the dagger exists in several alternate realities, and it is following the events at the cabin that it's history begins to differ depending on the timeline. In one reality, the dagger was found by the Dark One known as Ruby, and remained in her possession for decades until she brokered a deal with Ash Williams where it was given to him "for insurance" in exchange for the Necronomicon. This iteration of the dagger would pass between several users (including Pablo Simon Bolivar,[5] Kelly Maxwell,[6] and Brandy Barr[7]), though eventually Ash Williams would use it to slay Kandar The Destroyer in a battle for the fate of humanity.[8] In another timeline, Ash Williams journeyed to the cabin eight years after his previous visit to make sure the demonic spirits had truly been destroyed. He eventually encountered a Deadite Annie Knowby in the cabin's fruit cellar, where she proceeded to attack him with the Kandarian Dagger after removing it from her back.[9]
Another universe saw the dagger as the primary weapon of Annie Knowby, who escaped the depths of Hell itself after her death in the cabin with the aid of a simulacrum copy of Ash Williams. Knowby unleashed the spirits (both good and evil) stored within the dagger's handle, resulting in her and the cloned Williams beginning a long crusade against the Deadites which she had released upon the Earth.[10] At some point in this reality, the dagger was in the possession of time-traveling demon-fighter Kiko Nam.[11]
Powers & Abilities[]
The dagger absorbs the soul of a resident of Hell (Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead By Dawn #2)
The Kandarian Dagger is one of the most lethal weapons ever devised for combating the forces of evil, as even the most minor touch of the blade has been seen burning the skin of demons,[12][13] Deadites,[14] and even Dark Ones.[15] It is not the only ability the dagger is capable of, as several iterations found across various universes have also demonstrated otherworldly powers as well.
- Soul Absorption: In the reality in which Annie Knowby escaped Hell, she discovered that the souls of humans and demons that had been killed by the dagger were absorbed directly into the handle.[16]
- Energy Absorption: With the addition of holding souls of the dead within the handle, the version of Annie Knowby discovered the dagger could also become "supercharged" with energy upon stabbing demons, as indicated by the glowing blue eyes of the skull design on the hilt. Annie then used this energy to create the simulacrum Ash Williams to aid her in escaping.[17]
- Dark Energy Conduit: In the world in which Ash returned to the cabin several years later, the dagger was used by "Father Allard" (who was actually Evil Ash in disguise) as a dark energy conductor to open a rift in time and space.[9]
The dagger was also capable of "bleeding" from the mouth of the skull design on the hilt, as well as steam being released from the handle itself.[3] What exactly this ability indicated remains unknown.
In Other Media[]
Board Games[]
- The Kandarian Dagger (referred to as "The Champion's Bane" and "The Blade of Ereshkigal") is an item mentioned in the 2005 Army of Darkness Roleplaying Game by Eden Studios.
- The Kandarian Dagger is an item featured in the Evil Dead 2: The Board Game released in 2020. While the dagger is represented with a flat cardboard token in the base game, the expansion pack features a 3D miniature model which was originally designed for Space Goat's cancelled Evil Dead 2 board game from 2016.
Comic Books[]
- The Kandarian Dagger made its comic debut in the 2006 one-shot anthology comic Tales of Army of Darkness, where it is wielded by Ash in the "Necromomicon" short story.
- The dagger appeared in all four issues of 2008 "re-imagining" of The Evil Dead published by Dark Horse Comics, based on it's appearance in the original film.
- The Kandarian Dagger appears throughout all of Space Goat Publishing's Evil Dead 2 comics published from 2015 to 2016. In the mainline series, Annie Knowby and the simulacrum Ash Williams are the primary owners of the dagger, while the Tales of The Ex-Mortis spin-off miniseries has it in the possession of time-traveling demon-fighter Kiko Nam.
- The dagger appears throughout the Evil Dead 2 Cinestory released in 2020.
Video Games[]
- In the 2000 video game Evil Dead: Hail To The King, the Kandarian Dagger is the main weapon of the Deadite Annie Knowby boss.
- The Kandarian Dagger (referred to as "The Demonic Dagger") is an weapon which could be unlocked after completing Mission 20 in the 2016 mobile game Evil Dead: Endless Nightmare. It is the strongest weapon in the game, rated with a full five out of five damage and speed levels.
- The Demonic Dagger also appears in the two "updated" versions of Endless Nightmare: Virtual Nightmare and Extended Nightmare.
- The Kandarian Dagger appears as a collectable object in the officially licensed Evil Dead 2 content expansion of Phantom Halls, released in 2017.
- The Kandarian Dagger appears as a weapon in Evil Dead: The Game, released in 2022.
Gallery[]
The Evil Dead[]
Ash vs Evil Dead[]
Video Games[]
Evil Dead: Hail To The King[]
Evil Dead: The Game (2022)[]
Other[]
Comic Books[]
Trivia[]
- The Kandarian Dagger was never identified by name in any of the Evil Dead films, but was first identified as such in the first draft script of Evil Dead II.
- The dagger is not featured in Army of Darkness, Evil Dead (2013), or Evil Dead Rise, though it has appeared in an Army of Darkness comic book, the Army of Darkness Roleplaying Game, as well as Evil Dead: Endless Nightmare video game (which is based on the 2013 film).
- As the result of production on The Evil Dead going longer than expected and the film's budget running out, special effects artist Tom Sullivan negotiated a deal with Sam Raimi to continue to work on the film if he could retain the copyright to any props and artwork he created for the film. Raimi agreed, and Sullivan retained ownership of the designs of the Kandarian Dagger seen in the first and second films. Sullivan eventually lost ownership of the copyright in the mid-2010s, which has since allowed various sub-licensors to use his dagger design in officially licensed merchandise without crediting him.
References[]
- ↑ Army of Darkness Roleplaying Game (2005)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Evil Dead II (1987)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Evil Dead (1981)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: Ashes To Ashes (Season 1, Episode 8) (2015)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: Rifting Apart (Season 3, Episode 8) (2018)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: Tales From The Rift (Season 3, Episode 6) (2018)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: Judgement Day (Season 3, Episode 9) (2018)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: The Mettle of Man (Season 3, Episode 10) (2018)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Evil Dead: Hail To The King (2000)
- ↑ Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead By Dawn #3 (November, 2015)
- ↑ Evil Dead 2: Tales of The Ex-Mortis #3 (February, 2016)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: Home (Season 2, Episode 1) (2016)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: DUI (Season 2, Episode 4) (2016)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: Books From Beyond (Season 1, Episode 3) (2015)
- ↑ Ash vs Evil Dead: The Dark One (Season 1, Episode 10) (2016)
- ↑ Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead By Dawn #2 (September, 2015)
- ↑ Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead By Dawn #1 (June, 2015)