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"Have you heard of the great barbarian elder Kanai? Silly me, of course you have, he was your people's best hope for the future; and the final one, as it turns out."

Kanai was the chief elder of Sescheron at the time of the city's fall.

Biography[]

"It is strange they have placed Kanai's corpse on the Immortal Throne, as he died before he could be crowned king."

- Abd al-Hazir(src)

Kanai was a member of a group of guardians whose history stretched back to the Dark Exile. The Horadrim had entrusted an artifact of great power to the Barbarians, and they kept it safe. Kanai was one such guardian, and would be the last to bear the artifact. He called it his "greatest treasure."[1]

Kanai at some point claimed the axe of the demon L'Anzuul, which was buried with him.[2]

Kanai

Kanai's body

Kanai was much loved by his people. Prior to his death, he was considered to sit upon the Immortal Throne, an honor that had only ever been bestowed upon two others, including Bul-Kathos himself. However, this did not come to pass, for in the Siege of Sescheron, Kanai led his people in the defense of the city against Baal and his army in a maneuver that turned out to be suicidal; the city was lost, and Kanai with it.[3] Despite Kanai's death, his spirit remained in the mortal realm due to the destruction of Mount Arreat and the Worldstone. He was thus doomed to stand eternal vigil over his home and greatest treasure and awaited powerful and honorable individual to whom he might pass on his task. Such an individual came in the form of the Nephalem.[1]

Upon death, even though he was not crowned king yet, Kanai was placed upon the Immortal Throne. Abd al-Hazir, if taken to this location, will remark how unusual that is.

In-game[]

"The spectral form of Chief Elder Kanai rises from his seat and beckons you to follow him as he opens up a mysterious portal. For the month of March, those who pay their respects to Elder Chief Kanai will find they can tag along with him on one more adventure."
KingKanai Portrait

Unused character portrait of King Kanai

Kanai's spirit is seen in the Elder Sanctum in Diablo III, as players seek out Kanai's Cube. His body, almost intact, can be found sitting on the Immortal Throne, and Kanai's Scorn, the signature weapon of the Chief Elder, can be found nearby in a Mysterious Chest during March of each year.

There is a special event surrounding Kanai in March of each year.[4] When approached in March (and March only), he will awaken, leave his body, and open the portal to Kanai's Stomping Grounds, fighting hordes of Infernal Bovines alongside the Nephalem during the Udder Cowlamity event.

In combat, he uses a special stomp attack that creates a lava pool similar to that of Hellfire Ring. Once the battle is over, he will depart and enter his body again.

Development[]

Kanais-ghost

Ghost of King Kanai and the transmog set it was based on

Kanai's effects were designed by Neal Wojahn. He designed him as "an orange ghost that was like an embodiment of Barbarian fury." His appearance mirrors that of the Barbarian character of Kevin Griffith, as a form of tribute to his memory.[5]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 2015-07-28, PATCH 2.3.0 PREVIEW: KANAI'S CUBE. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-08-02
  2. Diablo III, Kanai's Scorn
  3. 2015-07-21, PATCH 2.3.0 PREVIEW: RUINS OF SESCHERON. Blizzard Entertainment, Accessed on 2015-07-25
  4. 2015-09-01, REDDIT Q&A ROUNDUP. Blizzpro, accessed on 2015-09-03
  5. 2015-07-28, Patch 2.3.0 Preview: Kanai's Cube. YouTube, accessed on 2015-09-01
Act I
Adenah the Curio Vendor
Alaric
Arghus the Collector
Beleaguered Farmer
Brother Malachi the Healer
Bron the Barkeep
Captain Rumford
Caravan Leader
Crazed Hermit
Deckard Cain
Eran
Ghost of the Cow King
Karyna
Kyr the Weaponsmith
Lady Dunhyld
Leah
Lloigor the Crazed
Mayor Holus
Mira Eamon
Nek the Brawler
Queen Asylla
Radek the Fence
Rodger the Alchemist
Sasha
Tashun the Miner
The Ferryman
Tyrael
Vendel the Armorsmith
Verrall
Virgil
Wandering Tinker
Warriv
Willa Rathe
Wounded Man
Act II
Adria
Aleran
Asheara
Brother Ghaine the Healer
Caliem
Captain Davyd
Captain Ravan
Caravan Leader
Damius
Hakan II
Iron Wolf Jarulf
Javad the Merchant
Jeran
Kadin
Kala
Kohin
Larra
Leah
Lieutenant Vachem
Lugo the Miner
Mehtan the Necromancer
Nek the Brawler
Netharaz
Rasheed
Sadeir the Innkeeper
Silmak the Fence
Squirt the Peddler
Thadar
Tilnan the Collector
Tyrael
Zaven the Alchemist
Zoltun Kulle
Act III
Adria
Andreus the Healer
Beryn
Botulph the Miner
Captain Haile
Drian
Former Mayor Holus
Garell the Quartermaster
Halmin the Alchemist
Ironsmith Maldonado
Leah
Lieutenant Clyfton
Lieutenant Lavail
Lieutenant Merityn
Litton the Fence
Markus
Marta
Messenger Martyns
Nek the Brawler
Nikola
Private Mattius
Sergeant Burroughs
Sergeant Dalen
Sergeant Pale
Tyrael
Vidar the Collector
Act IV
Andreus the Healer
Auriel
Botulph the Miner
Captain Haile
Damotrius
Garell the Quartermaster
Itherael
Litton the Fence
Nek the Brawler
Nikola
Tyrael
Act V
Brother Anselm
Brother Francis
Brycen
Captain Vonn
Clara
Derric
Diadra the Scholar
Emily
Elayne
Enkasi
General Torion
Guardian
Halbu
Halissa
Imperius
Isendra
Ivy
Jamella
Kyla
Lady Serena
Lorath Nahr
Lord Harold Snowe
Master Crusader
Master Necromancer Ordan
Mehtan the Necromancer
Nek the Brawler
Oswyn
Patriarch Anisim
Powell the Miner
Sergeant Samuels
Sophia
Tyrael
Zayl (Humbart Wessel)
Adventure Mode
Abd al-Hazir
Dane Bright
Djank Mi'em the PTR Vendor (PTR only)
Daivin the Adventurer
High Cleric
Kadala
King Kanai
Lorath Nahr
Orek
Quentin Sharpe
Skular
The Crazed Man
Tyrael
Urshi
Artisans
Covetous Shen
Haedrig Eamon
Myriam Jahzia
Zoltun Kulle (Kanai's Cube)
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