#chuspiki

 Ah, numerology, one of the many forms of divination that exists in many cultures across the world. As the name suggests, it uses the supposed significance of certain numbers and mathematical principles to try and make observations about mystical significance and even the past, present, and future.

Now, we’ve covered numerology before on the blog when we talked about the numerology feats and spells from Occult Mysteries, but now we’re looking at an archetype geared towards the concept, albeit, more along the lines of using numerology as flavor rather than actually playing with prime numbers and digital roots in the middle of combat (though there is some of that too). Regardless of what you think of real numerology, the idea of incorporating into the magic of a fantasy setting is fun.

Associated with the Oracular Council of Po Li in the Golarion setting, divine numerologists are a group of oracles that have trained their abilities through the filter of numerological interpretation, giving them a surprising, if not complete, understanding of the underpinnings of the universe even through the noise of chaos.

While they are not necessarily stronger than other oracles, the wisdom they possess stems from long-standing tradition, and even has a bit of hybridization with the themes of arcane casting, what with the constant search for knowledge about the truth of the universe.

 Naturally, this archetype replaces some of the spells that these oracles gain from their mystery, namely giving them a variety of divination spells, including those that grant foresight, as well as viewing things remote viewing, and extraordinary magical senses. It also grants access to a numerological spell that boasts versatility in evocation.

They also gain a handful of new revelations they can take, including one that allows them to calculate the mystic numbers to bolster the success of their next action.

Another allows them to bless the variables of fate to guarantee an average result in any number of areas, from their resistance to success to even the harm that their foes experience. The most powerful of them can improve this power to achieve the maximum potential.

At the zenith of their power, these mystics achieve the full mastery of their own fate, ceasing to age, and helping guarantee success against foes.

This is a fun little archetype if you want some fun ways to give buffs to your rolls, and guarantee average (and later maximum) damage rolls from your spells. The divination spells granted are a nice plus as well. However, I will say that numerological evocation is… well, in retrospect, the only good thing about it is the potential of different damage types. Otherwise, it’s just not a viable spell at low levels, and is poorly worded, with terrible damage output. Giving it a higher spell DC by making it a higher level spell for these oracles makes it somewhat better, but it’s generally rarely worth it to cast, and is the least useful of the Path of Numbers spells. Beyond that drawback, this can be a fun and useful archetype for someone looking for lots of successful rolls and good information-gathering and buffing divination utility.

 There’s a lot of stigma surrounding divination techniques in the real world due to them being co-opted by new-age types, but these traditions have a lot of history and reverence, so do some research and try to roleplay your character less like a suburban mom and more like a mystic steeped in the arts.

  The Sky Citadel of Illakash is famed for it’s many sylph and strix seers and mages, while chuspiki familiars dance on the air. Deep in its heart is a wing dedicated to the significance of numbers, where wizards rub elbows with oracles seeking to understand the powers they have been granted.

 Deep underground, the munavri have long dwelled, developing their mental powers, forgetful of the time when they were once human. However, a young lady named Niy has awakened to a new power, a vision of the equations of the universe. In the code she saw the future, and that a great disaster will come to her people if they do not leave for the barely-remembered surface.