penance
Boss Fight: The Iron Saint
Sister Vex, The Hollow Penitent
Version: 1.0 Last Updated: October 14, 2025
Overview
The Iron Saint is a playable boss encounter designed for 2-4 players. This fight uses an HP deck system where the boss’s behavior deck IS her health pool - as she takes damage and her deck shrinks, she becomes more dangerous by adding powerful new ability cards at specific thresholds.
Recommended Player Level: Pilots with 3+ missions completed Estimated Duration: 60-90 minutes Difficulty: BRUTAL
Lore
Sister Vex was once a devout believer. Now she is the Church’s most terrifying instrument. Taint Level 7. Pilots “The Confessional” - a 1,600lb heavy Casket dripping with scripture and scars. She believes suffering purifies. Every wound brings salvation closer. She will show you the path to redemption. You will beg for damnation instead.
Boss Stats
Base Statistics
- Weight Class: Super-Heavy (2,000 lbs)
- Movement: 3 hexes
- Armor: 4
- Taint Resistance: Immune (already fully corrupted)
- Morale: Unbreakable (never flees)
HP Deck System
Sister Vex uses a 40-card HP deck instead of a traditional health pool.
Starting Deck: 40 AI Behavior cards
- 10x Basic Attacks
- 10x Movement/Positioning
- 10x Defensive Reactions
- 5x Special Abilities
- 5x Taint Aura cards
As players damage the boss, they remove cards from this deck. When the boss reshuffles, new cards are added based on damage thresholds.
Setup
Boss Starting Position
Place Sister Vex in the center of the battlefield.
Boss Deck Construction
Shuffle the following 40 cards:
Phase 1 Cards (40 total):
- 10x “Zealous Strike” (Basic Attack)
- 6x “Advance and Condemn” (Move + Attack)
- 4x “Defensive Scripture” (Defense)
- 5x “Martyrdom Protocol” (Regeneration)
- 5x “Taint Pulse” (AOE Corruption)
- 5x “Righteous Advance” (Move toward nearest enemy)
- 5x “Shield of Faith” (Block + Counter)
Player Setup
- 2-4 Casket pilots
- Standard 30-card decks
- Place players 6-8 hexes from boss
Boss Activation
Turn Structure
Sister Vex activates after ALL players have taken their turns.
Boss Turn:
- Draw 3 cards from HP deck
- Play all 3 cards in order drawn
- Resolve effects
- Discard cards
If the boss deck is empty, she reshuffles immediately and adds Phase cards based on current damage level.
Boss AI Cards
Phase 1: The Penitent (40-25 cards remaining)
ZEALOUS STRIKE
- Type: Attack
- Target: Nearest enemy
- Effect: Move up to 2 hexes toward target, then attack for 3d6 damage
- Quote: “Your sins are many. Let me count them in broken bones.”
ADVANCE AND CONDEMN
- Type: Movement + Attack
- Effect: Move 3 hexes toward nearest enemy. If adjacent after move, attack for 2d6 damage
- Quote: “Run, if you can. Redemption is patient.”
DEFENSIVE SCRIPTURE
- Type: Defense
- Trigger: When attacked
- Effect: +3 Armor this round. Attacker gains 1 Taint token
- Quote: “Each strike against me writes your name in the Book of Suffering.”
MARTYRDOM PROTOCOL
- Type: Regeneration
- Effect: Remove 3 cards from discard pile, shuffle them back into deck. Gain 1 Taint Aura token
- Quote: “Pain is prayer. I am blessed beyond measure.”
TAINT PULSE
- Type: AOE Corruption
- Effect: All enemies within 3 hexes make Taint save (DC 6) or gain 2 Taint tokens
- Quote: “Feel the Engine’s song. Let it remake you.”
RIGHTEOUS ADVANCE
- Type: Movement
- Effect: Move up to 4 hexes toward nearest enemy
- Quote: “There is no escape from salvation.”
SHIELD OF FAITH
- Type: Defense + Counter
- Trigger: When attacked
- Effect: Block 4 damage. If attack blocked completely, counter-attack for 2d6
- Quote: “Your blade is weak. Your faith, weaker still.”
Phase 2: The Flagellant (24-15 cards remaining)
When Sister Vex reshuffles with 24 or fewer cards remaining, add these 5 cards to her deck:
BLOOD FOR ABSOLUTION
- Type: Attack + Self-Harm
- Target: Nearest enemy
- Effect: Sister Vex mills 2 cards from her deck (self-damage). Attack target for 5d6 damage, ignoring 2 armor
- Quote: “Only through shared suffering can we ascend.”
- Difficulty Spike: Boss hurts herself to hit harder. Players must now race the self-destruct.
CHAINS OF PENANCE
- Type: Control
- Target: Enemy with highest Taint
- Effect: Target cannot move next turn. Take 3d6 damage at start of their next turn unless they discard 3 cards
- Quote: “Your corruption binds you. Struggle, and tighten the noose.”
- Difficulty Spike: Punishes Tainted players, forces hand discards.
SCRIPTURE STORM
- Type: AOE Attack
- Effect: All enemies take 2d6 damage. Sister Vex gains Shield of Faith until end of round
- Quote: “Let the holy words scour you clean.”
- Difficulty Spike: Multi-target + defense buff.
DIVINE WRATH
- Type: Damage Burst
- Trigger: When Sister Vex takes 5+ damage in one hit
- Effect: Immediately attack the source for 4d6 damage. This does not cost an action
- Quote: “Strike me down? I rise. Every. Time.”
- Difficulty Spike: Counterattacks punish big hits. Players must spread damage.
INVOKE THE ENGINE
- Type: Summon
- Effect: Summon 1 “Corrupted Penitent” minion (see Minion stats below). Minion activates immediately after Sister Vex
- Quote: “The faithful answer my call, even in death.”
- Difficulty Spike: Now fighting multiple enemies.
Phase 3: The Martyr (14-8 cards remaining)
When Sister Vex reshuffles with 14 or fewer cards remaining, add these 5 cards:
FINAL SACRAMENT
- Type: Execute
- Target: Enemy with 10 or fewer cards in deck
- Effect: Target must discard 5 cards immediately or take 6d6 damage
- Quote: “Your end is a blessing. Accept it.”
- Difficulty Spike: Punishes low-health players. Forces tough choices.
TAINT NOVA
- Type: AOE Corruption Burst
- Effect: All enemies gain 3 Taint tokens. Sister Vex heals (shuffle 5 cards from discard back into deck)
- Quote: “Breathe deep. The corruption is mercy.”
- Difficulty Spike: Mass corruption + healing. Players risk becoming Tainted themselves.
UNYIELDING FAITH
- Type: Defensive Stance
- Effect: Sister Vex cannot be moved or knocked down. Reduce all damage by 3 this round. Lasts 1 full round
- Quote: “I am the mountain. You are the wind.”
- Difficulty Spike: Damage reduction makes her nearly invincible for a turn.
MARTYRDOM ASCENSION
- Type: Buff + Self-Harm
- Effect: Mill 3 cards from deck. All Sister Vex attacks deal +2 damage for rest of battle. Stacks
- Quote: “Each wound is a step toward godhood.”
- Difficulty Spike: Permanent damage buff. Boss accelerates her own death but becomes lethal.
JUDGEMENT
- Type: Mass Attack
- Target: All enemies
- Effect: All enemies take 3d6 damage. Enemies with 3+ Taint tokens take an additional 2d6
- Quote: “The guilty are revealed. Sentence: annihilation.”
- Difficulty Spike: Massive AOE that punishes Tainted players harder.
Phase 4: The Hollow (7-0 cards remaining)
When Sister Vex reshuffles with 7 or fewer cards remaining, add these 3 cards:
THE FINAL CONFESSION
- Type: Ultimate Attack
- Target: All enemies within 5 hexes
- Effect: All targets take 5d6 damage. Sister Vex mills 5 cards from deck
- Quote: “I confess: I am damnation incarnate.”
- Difficulty Spike: Desperation move. Massive AOE but accelerates her defeat.
VOID EMBRACE
- Type: Taint Overload
- Effect: All enemies gain 5 Taint tokens. Enemies at 10+ Taint immediately become Corrupted (controlled by boss for 1 turn)
- Quote: “The Engine whispers. You will answer.”
- Difficulty Spike: Mind control mechanic. Players must manage Taint or lose control.
ABSOLUTION DENIED
- Type: Resurrection
- Trigger: When Sister Vex would be defeated
- Effect: Once per battle, shuffle all cards from discard pile back into deck. Sister Vex returns with 15 cards. All Phase 4 cards remain in deck
- Quote: “Death is not my end. It is yours.”
- Difficulty Spike: False defeat. Fight continues but boss is weaker. Players must finish her quickly.
Corrupted Penitent Minion
When “Invoke the Engine” is played, summon this minion:
Stats:
- HP: 10 cards (small deck)
- Movement: 4
- Armor: 1
- Attacks: 2d6 melee
Deck:
- 6x “Shambling Advance” (Move toward nearest enemy)
- 4x “Corrupted Strike” (Attack for 2d6, gain 1 Taint on hit)
AI: Draw 1 card per turn, play immediately.
Death: When defeated, all players within 2 hexes gain 1 Taint token (death explosion).
Victory Conditions
Players Win
Sister Vex is defeated when her deck AND hand are empty, and she cannot reshuffle.
Players Lose
- All players are defeated
- Any player reaches 10+ Taint and becomes Corrupted (fails save)
- Players retreat
Difficulty Modifiers
Easy Mode (First-Time Players)
- Start Sister Vex with 30 cards instead of 40
- Remove Phase 4 cards
- Minions have 6 HP instead of 10
Hard Mode (Experienced Players)
- Start Sister Vex with 50 cards
- Add +1 card to each Phase expansion
- Sister Vex draws 4 cards per turn instead of 3
- Minions have 15 HP
Nightmare Mode (Veterans)
- Start Sister Vex with 60 cards
- Phase 2 triggers at 40 cards, Phase 3 at 25, Phase 4 at 12
- Sister Vex draws 5 cards per turn
- All damage from Sister Vex ignores 1 armor
- Corrupted Penitents have 20 HP and attack twice per turn
Rewards
Upon Defeating Sister Vex
Guaranteed Loot:
- 1x “The Confessional’s Scripture” (Rare Relic)
- Effect: Once per mission, when you would take lethal damage, survive at 1 card remaining. Gain 3 Taint
- 500 Credits
- 2d6 Scrap
Roll on Legendary Loot Table (1d20):
- 1-5: “Martyr’s Burden” (Heavy Armor) - +2 Armor, but take +1 damage from all sources
- 6-10: “Faithkeeper’s Edge” (Sword) - 3d6 damage, gain 1 Taint per hit
- 11-15: “Chains of Absolution” (Relic) - Target enemy cannot move for 1 turn (once per mission)
- 16-19: “Tainted Soulstone” (Consumable x3) - Remove all Taint, but take 3d6 damage
- 20: “Sister Vex’s Casket Fragment” (Unique Relic) - Start each mission with “Shield of Faith” card in hand
Campaign Unlock:
- Sister Vex can now be recruited as an NPC ally (but costs 200 Credits per mission and has 50% chance to betray you if you act “unholy”)
Design Notes (For Game Master)
Why This Works
- HP Deck = Dynamic Fight: Boss doesn’t just lose health, she changes strategy
- Phase Escalation: Each phase adds difficulty cards, increasing pressure
- Risk/Reward: Players must balance speed (kill before Phase 4) vs safety (avoid Taint)
- False Defeat: “Absolution Denied” creates dramatic final stand moment
- Minion Summons: Forces target prioritization decisions
- Corruption Mechanic: Taint creates long-term consequences and dramatic tension
Playtesting Notes
- First playtest: Adjust card counts based on player damage output
- If fight ends before Phase 3: Add +5 cards to starting deck
- If fight drags past 90 minutes: Reduce starting deck by 5 cards
- Taint accumulation should threaten 1-2 players by Phase 3, not all of them
- Minions should be dangerous but not overwhelming - max 2 on field at once
Variant: The Twins (4-6 Players)
For larger groups, fight both Sister Vex AND Bonelord Karath simultaneously.
- Each boss has 30-card deck
- They share a turn (both activate after all players)
- When one dies, the other gains +2 to all damage
- New Phase 4 card for survivor: “Avenge the Fallen” - Attack all enemies for 6d6
Quick Reference Card
SISTER VEX - THE IRON SAINT
| Phase | Cards Remaining | New Cards Added |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40-25 | Base deck only |
| 2 | 24-15 | +5 difficulty cards |
| 3 | 14-8 | +5 difficulty cards |
| 4 | 7-0 | +3 ultimate cards |
Boss Turn: Draw 3, Play All, Discard Win Condition: Boss deck + hand empty Taint Threshold: 10+ = Corruption (player loss)
Printable Card List
See [APPENDIX: Boss Cards] for printable card templates.
Each card should include:
- Card name
- Type (Attack/Defense/Movement/Special)
- Effect text
- Flavor quote
- Phase indicator (I, II, III, IV)
Printing Recommendations:
- Standard poker card size (63mm x 88mm)
- Cardstock 300gsm
- Sleeve with opaque backs to prevent deck reading
- Different colored borders for each Phase
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