Expert: Tiffani - 7/20/2010

Question
As often as I try to catch all the re-runs, I keep missing the episode that explains who created Dawn and what the reasons are for her existence. What is the whole deal with Dawn??

Answer
Dawn is The Key. She was originally living energy. The monks who were protecting The Key made her into human form and sent her to Buffy in the form of a sister to protect.

According to Buffy Wiki:

"In 2000, Czech monks of the Order of Dagon continued to protect The Key, as they had done since the 12th century. The Key was a concentration of living energy that could be used to shatter the veil separating all dimensions. If used, The Key would cause dimensions to flood one into the other, merging until the energy of the Key was spent, thus sealing the dimensional tearing. The monks wanted to put this dangerous power to good use; however, they were attacked by Glorificus, a hellish goddess bent on returning to her home dimension regardless of the cost. In an act of desperation, the three surviving monks used powerful magics, as well as a portion of the Slayer's own essence to forge The Key into human form as a fourteen-year-old girl, then sending her to Buffy as a sister for protection. The monks also altered reality, as well as the memories of the Slayer, her family and friends, to make the now-human Key fit into the world."