The Wise Man

The Wise Man
Alias	"Spinach-chin" (by Ash Williams)
Gender	Male
Species	Human
Status	Alive (during the events of Army of Darkness)
First Appearance	Army of Darkness
Portrayed By	Ian Abercrombie

The Wise Man was an advisor to Lord Arthur, the ruler of Castle Kandar in the early 14th Century. Beyond his role as an advisor, The Wise Man seemed to have some knowledge of the dark magic of the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, as he was familiar with several passages and prophecies held within the book's blood-inked pages. It was this arcane knowledge which led him to identify the time-lost Ash Williams as "The Promised One" immediately upon seeing him.

The Wise Man's first (and only) appearance was in the 1993 film Army of Darkness. He was portrayed by Ian Abercrombie.

Biography

"The Age of Darkness" (1300 AD)

It was during the rule of Lord Arthur that the terrors of the Deadites had been unleashed upon the lands surrounding Castle Kandar and the neighboring territories. The Wise Man, a scholar of sorcery and the supernatural, recognized this event as one of the prophecies foretold within the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, and that soon a "Promised One" would fall from the heavens and save their people from this evil.

Following a battle between the armies of Lord Arthur and Henry The Red (which ultimately saw Duke Henry himself being captured), Arthur and his men came across a stranger whilst on the long trek back to Castle Kandar with their prisoners. Though The Wise Man correctly surmised that this stranger was indeed "The Promised One" foretold in the Book of The Dead, Arthur (as well as his soldiers and subjects) believed him to be one of Henry The Red's vassals, and was taken prisoner alongside Duke Henry.

Upon returning the Castle Kandar, the stranger was to be sentenced to torture and death inside of "The Pit", an underground cavern beneath the castle's courtyard which held two captured Deadites. Realizing "The Promised One" needed help in his battle against the undead which dwelled below, The Wise Man threw the stranger the crimson sword-like weapon recovered from his place of capture in the valley. With this blade, the stranger defeated Deadite and escaped back to the surface of the castle's courtyard, where he confronted a bewildered Arthur and released Henry The Red and his troops.

With the castle's occupants now believing the stranger (now identifying himself as Ash Williams) was indeed "The Promised One", The Wise Man informed him that the only way for Williams to return to his proper time was to recover the Necronomicon from a cursed cemetery nestled within a forest. Before departing to quest for the book, Ash was told by The Wise Man that he must recite the words "Clatoo, Verata, Nicto" before removing the Ex-Mortis from it's cradle, though Williams grew irritated after being asked to repeat them multiple times.

Several hours later, Williams would return from the forest with the Necronomicon, immediately handing the book over to The Wise Man and demanding he be sent back to the future. It was then that The Wise Man realized Ash had misspoke the incantation while at the graveyard, and an army of the dead had been awakened. Angered and disheartened that The Promised One was going to flee and leave the castle's occupants to die by the hands of the Deadites, Arthur told The Wise Man that they would fulfill their end of the deal and send Ash back home. However, Ash's attitude changed following Sheila's abduction by a winged Deadite, and the news from a rider that the army of darkness would not approach for another two days. Williams agreed to stay to face the consequences of his actions, and help Arthur's people battle the undead. During this two day preparation, Ash utilized a chemistry book found in the trunk of his car, and taught The Wise Man to create gunpowder.

Though The Wise Man was not seen during the battle of Castle Kandar, he was later found brewing a potion for Ash using instructions found within the Necronomicon which would allow him to return to his proper time sometime following the defeat of the Deadite legion.

What happened to The Wise Man following these events remains unknown.

Gallery

The Wise Man informs Arthur he believes the stranger to be "The Promised One".

The Wise Man watches as Arthur does not believe the stranger to be "The Promised One".

The Wise Man examines the stranger's blade.

The Wise Man watches as the stranger struggles to fight the horrors of The Pit, and brings him his weapon.

The Wise Man informs Ash that he can be sent back to his proper time using the Necronomicon.

"If the Necronomicon fell into the hands of the Deadites, all mankind will be consumed by this evil."

The Wise Man rides with Ash and Lord Arthur to the edge of The Dark Forest.

The Wise Man points to the head of the trail leading into the forest.

The Wise Man tells Ash he must recite an incantation before removing the Ex-Mortis.

The Wise Man approaches Ash upon his return from the graveyard.

The Wise Man holds the Necronomicon.

The Wise Man stands beside Arthur as a rider informs them of the coming Deadite army.

The Wise Man, Arthur, and "Goldtooth" look up at Ash, who has decided to stay and fight the evil creatures coming for the book.

Ash teaches The Wise Man how to make gunpowder.

Ash moves the bag of gunpowder in The Wise Man's hand away from the candle's flame.

Following the defeat of the Deadite legion, The Wise Man presents Ash with a potion that will send him back to his proper time.

Trivia

• While The Wise Man's name is never spoken in the Army of Darkness film itself, the 1991 shooting script identifies him with the name "Wiseman John".
• An early iteration of The Wise Man appeared in Evil Dead II in the form of "The Priest" character, who proclaims "Slay the beast! Tis a Deadite!" upon seeing Ash fall from the sky at the film's climax.