Jaded Servants

The handmaidens of the Tower of Treasures may be mistaken for statues, until one sees them dance. Their every movement suggests an otherworldly greatness, and in their greatness, they care for nothing. They may be shattered by the Forge, or slain by Edge.

Expeditions

• Mount Penglai

Requirements

• Forge (Invokes the Wrong-Serpent)
• Edge (Invokes the Rib-Key)

Obstacle Text

Start

The location's pristine and jaded servants have gathered to stop you. They cannot be persuaded in the same way stone cannot be persuaded, but they may be broken by Edge or Forge.

Forge Invocation

• Forge 10: We call upon the Snake-Tail, who tears at the skin of the world.
  

The Jaded Servants had locked away their humanity in order to become statuesque nephrite. The Snake-Tail, who shatters doors, will be happy to shatter his way to their very core.

• Forge 5: We call upon the Snake-Tail, who has shattered a million doors.
  

The Jaded Servants are statues before they are people. They move with the grandiose rhythm of tectonic plates. The Tail had shattered things greater than tectonic plates, but not much greater.

• Forge 1: We call upon the Snake-Tail, who despises all borders.
  

[FNORD]

• Forge Success: The Shattered Servants
  

Only jewel-shards remain where the Jaded Servants once stood. We had won our way forward.

Edge Invocation

• Edge 10: Our strength is matchless.
  

The Servants are advisors, oracles and courtiers. Their kind is not meant to fight. We have slain faster, stronger opponents. These living sculptures stand no chance of stopping us.

• Edge 5: Our strength is considerable.
  

The Jaded Servants were human, once. A little of that humanity remains, hidden beneath their nephrite. We can strike at that humanity like a viper, but they may defeat us before we get the chance.

• Edge 1: Our strength may not be enough.
  

Each Servant had once been human, and each Servant had rejected their humanity for a life of brilliance. Each one could crush us in her vice grip, if she so chose. Still, we may have a chance.

• Edge Success: The Lifeless Servants
  

Their bodies may be whole, but they no longer live. Our finesse has secured us the vay forward.

Failure

• The Power of Jade
  

The Jaded Servants first negotiate, then prevaricate, then deceive, then chant mantras, then shout invocations. Their clever words have repelled us today, and their magic had brought upon an injury in our ranks besides.