Agbako, the 221st Known One.

Agbako is the evil spirit of misfortune. He has sixteen eyes encircling his head, legs like palm leaves, chainmail around his midriff full of vermin like snakes, and thick matted hair. With his iron helmet, bronze coat, clubs, and swords he is the great bane of hunters who venture too deep into the bush.*

Suggested by @thecreaturecodex​.

Image © @chimeride , accessed at their tumblr here

[Agbako literally means “calamity” in Yoruba, and there’s a popular Nigerian actor who’s taken it as a stage name [he mostly plays villains, but of course]. So there’s some Google camouflage. Agbako appears in The Forest of A Thousand Daemons, the first Yoruba language novel, written by D. O. Fágúnwà. The novel brings in motifs and characters from folklore, but is decidedly literary (and Yoruba sources aren’t common in English), making it a bit unclear if Agbako was an existing entity in Nigerian myth or was created for the book. Or if the idea of personifying Calamity existed, but the bizarre appearance and abilities are original to the novel. I hadn’t read Forest of A Thousand Spirits when I asked @chimeride to do the art, so when I saw a description of him with multiple clubs and swords, I assumed that meant a large number of limbs. But he wields two clubs in one hand and three swords in the other! That’s a wild special ability, and I need to give it to some monster some time.]

Agbako

CR 16 CE Aberration

This creature is vaguely humanoid but clearly not. It has two legs covered in projections like the fronds of a palm leaf, and four arms. Its head is a stubby cone, with 16 eyes at its base, arranged in a circular fashion. Its skin appears to be warty and slick, with short tendrils growing from it like thick, animate hair. It wears chainmail and a helmet, and carries a weapon in each hand.

An agbako is a being of calamity. They exist solely to make life worse for other sapient creatures, and especially delight in escalating situations. An agbako will rarely attack straight away, instead preferring to spy on a party and watch them struggle against either other creatures or the elements. Once the mortals are worn down and exhausted, the agbako strikes.

An agbako’s mere presence causes luck to disappear, and they are powerful melee combatants. Indeed, an agbako’s favorite place is in the thick of melee, surrounded so it can fight multiple enemies at once. If they want to kill a foe, they use their weapons, but if they want to drag things out rely on their natural attacks to grapple enemies. Creatures they grab are pulled close to the stinging tendrils that grow along its body—these stings contain a numbing venom. Agbakos are incredibly cocky, and might pause a single combat in order to have a drink, or even to heal an enemy in order to keep the fight going. Only if actually challenged will they rely on their breath weapon, a cone of searing hot sparks.

The anatomy and physiology of an agbako is bizarre, and perhaps closest to sea creatures such as anemones or sea cucumbers.  Although they have vital organs, these appear to migrate through the body. Their heads show radial symmetry, and their legs are more like strengthened tentacles than actual jointed appendages. They can soften or harden their skins at will, to the point where their hide can break metal weapons. And they reproduce by budding. An agbako will grow a handful of juveniles throughout its lifetime, which grow on their backs nestled in tentacles, and then abscise off and live separately following a gestation of several years.

Social media has been filled with tributes for the late veteran Nollywood actor Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, popularly known as Charles Olumo or “Agbako,” as fans and colleagues share memories of the iconic performer. On Thursday, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) announced the passing of Agbako in a statement on Instagram by its president, Bolaji Amusan,…

A veteran Nollywood actor, Charles Sanyaolu Olumo known as “Agbako”, is dead. His death was announced few minutes ago by Tampan global president Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin. Posting on his Instagram page, Mr Latin wrote, “tampanglobal announces the passing of Pa Charles Olumo Sanyaolu, goodnight father”

‘My Spirit Will Flog You If You Shed Crocodile Tears At My Funeral’ – Yoruba Actor, Agbako

Veteran Yoruba actor Abdulsalam Ishola Sanyaolu, popularly known as Charles Olumo ‘Agbako’ has stated that he would appreciate if people do not shed crocodile tears at his funeral.

The actor who was down with a strange ailment that rendered him incapacitated has now recovered and has granted an interview to make things clear.

The 94-year-old in the interview stated that he is using the interview…