The numbers 56 and 11 [J1 Spoilers]

[Michael Kortes]

Tracking the Numbers

[Insert standard spoiler warning here]

OK! Sometime back I had the pleasure of being involved in a module called “Entombed with the Pharaohs”. In the module there is a numerology shtick in which the numbers 11 and 56 appear an inordinate number of times, too many times to be a coincidence. Hopefully the ever present numbers contribute to the suspense aspect of the game’s atmosphere. It was brought to my attention that I promised to post my list of all the known spots where the numbers occur but I never actually did.

This is to finally take care of that. Also, it may shed a bit of light on which occurrences are by design and which are just coincidences. Every time somebody shows me one I have missed I get the willies. If anyone knows of any more, please let me know.

The Number 11

Spoiler:

• There are 11 layers of linen used to cover the skin of the dead in the rites of Osiriani mummification.

• There are 11 scorpion tail traps in the Black Reliquary. (This was actually accidental but noticed early on and left in.)

• There are 11 sarcophagi in the Exhibitory (Also accidental but not noticed until much later.)

• Part 3 “Into the Tomb”, in which the pyramid is introduced, begins on p.11 of the module (fluke).

• There are 11 encircled runes in total to be found in the dungeon (not counting the two destroyed ruins) (fluke – freaks me out.)

• There are 11 sculpted stones and 11 star charts sold at the auction – deliberate.

• The unnamed party of Raegos, Imivus and Seraton was composed of eleven members (10 died, Raegos lived – or as Raegos describes it in the adventure, Imivus brought 10 men with him) - deliberate

• Area 2 - the arch has 11 symbols (1 large one with 5 smaller ones on each side) - deliberate

• Area 3 – there are 11 pillars - deliberate

• Area 4b - The Pharaoh of Numbers’ equations are based off of 11. (Paizo editors added this in development –very cool.)

• Area 8 – there are 11 dragon scale puzzle pieces – deliberate.

• Area 8 - there are 11 torch staves on the island - deliberate.

• Area 9 - has 11 windows - deliberate.

• Area 11 – the 11th rung from the top has an encircled rune - deliberate

• Area 13 – The planet Aucturn has 11 rings – deliberate.

• There are 11 letters in the word “GameMastery” which appears on the adventure’s cover. : )

• Chelish legionnaires have 11 hit points which is their sole statistic to appear in their statblock on p. 11 of the module.

• Aucturn, according to hard cover, is the furthest of eleven planets in Golarion’s solar system. I don’t think this was me. Could have been and I don’t recall, but I think it was someone at Paizo – hope it wasn’t a coincidence. That would really disturb me.

The Number 56

Spoiler:

• The elemental excitation caused by the planet Aucturn is every 56 years (area 4b & Aucturn Sidebar)

• This caused the window for Raegos, Imivus and Seraton’s doomed expedition 56 years ago. It also enables the PCs expedition to take place now, one cycle of 56 years later.

• There are 56 feathers on the golden funeral mask of the Four Pharaohs of Ascension.

• The slope of each pyramid walls is 56 degrees [Area 1] and the pyramid is 556 feet high.

• Area 5 – there are 56 canopic jars.

• Area 8 – has 56 puzzle pieces in total (11 + 45).

• Area 11 – there are 56 rungs in the ladder.

• On p.14 where the numerology sidebar appears there are exactly 56 lines from top to bottom (on the centre column). The one in which the word “egg” for Easter egg appears. This is of course just another coincidence as I believe exactly 56 lines appear in a GameMastery (now Pathfinder module) column every time a column runs from top to bottom without headings or stat blocks.

• In Pathfinder #1, Eric Mona writes an article entitled “Pathfinder’s Journal”, the one that kicks it all off. He throws in an Easter egg on p.85 by referencing the NPC Sceptre and Osirion in the course of recounting various Pathfinder journal entries. The volume of the fictional journal? 56. This article was written before the numerology angle was even thought of but I had no way of knowing about it until it hit print.

[Spinotron]

Did you notice that the number 56 becomes 11 if you some up the two single digits? (5+6=11)

maybe it means nothing... maybe

[Michael Kortes]

Spinotron wrote:

Did you notice that the number 56 becomes 11 if you some up the two single digits? (5+6=11)

maybe it means nothing... maybe

Good eye!

Spoiler:

56 was originally picked to be a 'sacred number' at random, but I confess that 11 was woven into the module because of that very feature, as well as a couple other properties it shares with 56, if I recall correctly.