This BPN is a sequel to "And On to the Next Life". Ideally it should not be played right after "And On to the Next Life"; this should be undertaken when the squad are somewhere between SCL10A and SCL9. The threat level is more than the previous BPN, although there are only three opponents. I have not included stats for these, but I have included an indication of the skills and abilities that they have during the BPN. The strength of these opponents should be tailored to the specific squad.

#1: Getting the BPN

This BPN differs from the other BPNs that the squad has undertaken in that they will not have to queue up at a BPN hall for it. Instead the BPN is given to them directly by Kyle Glew, the Department of Sanitation supervisor for the Black Styx sector. He will contact the group through the mobile number he got off them during "And On to the Next Life". If they never gave him a number / don't have a mobile, then he will track down the contact number for the squads leader and call them up, conveniently just after they have finished a BPN.

Kyle will explain that there is a problem in the sewers of the Black Styx sector and he wants the Operatives to sort it out. Unfortunately he is only allowed to issue Blue BPNs, although he should be able to get them an additional SCL increase and has also secured money from some other projects. He has 110c per Operative available, but will probably not offer it all at the start. He will suggest meeting at the corner of Tae & Narum Street, as last time, at midday the following day. He will organise the paperwork from his end and bring it with for the squad to sign. Unfortunately he doesn't have enough budget to get media coverage for the BPN, so it will be Station Analysis monitoring only. If they ask, Kyle will admit that he doesn't really know what is wrong in the sewers, only that Charon was panicking to Tarran and Derrick and they won't investigate further without protection.

The next day the squad arrives at the corner of Tae and Narum streets. It doesn't look too different than it did last time they were here, with the exception that there is not a vast amount of water everywhere. The bottom floors of the apartment blocks have been occupied again and it looks like there is even less rubbish in the area. On the walkway above a gang of kids are kicking around a ball in the rain, whilst waiting for the afternoon Circuit fights to begin. Just down from the walkway a three man Monarch team moves slowly along, checking all around as they walk. On the down ramp to the ground level is a familiar looking van with Derrick and Tarran waiting in their overalls. Following re-introductions and catching up, Kyle will phone through saying that he won't be able to make it there yet but will catch up with them later. Those with high Detect skills will make out strange noises in the background followed by the sound of someone giggling. Kyle will abruptly end the phone conversation.

Tarran will explain that him and Derrick were working about two miles away when Charon found them. Charon had been hunting for them to try and get hold of the Operatives as some of the bodies have started flowing down the river mutilated. Walking back through the sewers Charon showed them several bodies whose fingers had been cut off and who had big holes cut in to their stomachs. Each of them had the remains of the Shiver tags on them so at least the bodies were dead before being mutilated. Charon wanted them to get the Operatives immediately but Tarran and Derrick couldn't get hold of Kyle and he was the only one who could issue the BPN. Neither one knows where Charon is or if he knows what is causing the mutilations.

They suggest going into the sewers and finding Charon and then going with him to see who or what is causing the mutilations. They could do it without his help, but he does seem to know the tunnels better than they do. Tarran and Derrick will start setting up the winch, whilst the Operatives organise themselves. If they try and contact Kyle they will only get his answer service. One thing that may or may not occur to them is that they haven't actually signed for this BPN yet. Not that it will be a problem later of course...

#2: Finding the Ferryman

As they descend into the tunnels their only light sources will be what ever they are carrying. Besides the Operative's armour lights / flashlights Tarran will also carry a halogen lamp, whilst Derrick is holding a large beam-torch. The 3 metre tunnels only angle slightly so there is little trouble walking down them. Unlike last time the water is only at knee height. After about 500 metres the tunnel will open up into the old brick sewer. As with before, the water gushes along the side of the channel, before finally entering the main sewer channel. There is little evidence left of the barricades that once blocked these tunnels. If they shine the lights to the far side of the channel the Operative's will see that these are also unblocked.

The brick channel side that they are on is about 4 metres wide and covered in a slight green mould. Every now and then there is a darker patch of the mould. As they walk down the channel side, several bodies will pass them in the water. If they drag any out they will notice that the bodies have had their fingers cut off. Additionally, their stomachs have been ripped open. It looks like it was done with a large knife. Closer inspection by the medically trained will identify that the stomach wounds were to allow for the spleen to be taken out. The bodies still have the Shiver tied around the upper arms and the ankles. None of the bodies have Charon's red ribbons around their ears.

Nothing will happen to the Operatives as they head down the tunnel towards Charon's lair. As they get nearer they will see the light emitted from the torches around his home. The mould on the floor glows slightly in the torchlight. Strangely there are still darker patches of mould, especially near to the side of the sewer, against the wall. If anything there seems to be more as they get closer to Charon's lair. It is hard to see anything at the lair, the majority of the torches seem to have burnt out. As the squad gets closer they will hear a soft whimpering noise from beneath a bundle of rags in the darkest corner.

"Leave... leave me alone. I can't do it anymore", wheezes a panicky Charon from under the bundle of rags. Naked under the rags, Charon has a large chest wound, which is damp with fresh blood. Visible through the wound are the jagged edges of Charon's fractured ribs. One of his arms is also broken and lies swollen at right angles to the rest of the arm. Charon will try to bury himself further into the rags when disturbed. As he is burying himself those with reasonable Detect skills will notice that he has a bar-code tattoo on the base of his neck. This is similar to those that prisoners get on labour worlds like Furnace. Charon will not be responsive to any actions that the Operatives do unless they inject him with a painkiller/ KickStart, or use Ebb-Healing on him. His arm needs resetting and his chest needs bandaging, unless the Ebb-User has Healing Rank 13.

When Charon is a bit more lucid his first action will not be to thank the operatives, but instead to re-light the torches around his home. Only then will he kneel down at the feet of those who have saved them and repeat the same words he uses to bless those he 'rescues' from the sewer. After this Charon will explain to the group what has happened.

A week ago he found a body that had been mutilated floating down the river. He thought that it was just a one off incident, but instead several other bodies, all of which were mutilated, came in the following days. Determined to find out what had caused these mutilations, Charon travelled up the sewer, rescuing other bodies along the way. He found Tarran and Derrick in the nearby sewers and told them that something was going on.

Then two days ago whilst blessing one of the rescued bodies he was attacked by a creature that had been hiding in the shadows. It came at him with glowing eyes asking what he was doing. Without waiting for a reply it started clawing at him, ripping apart his stomach and breaking his arm. Only by falling into the sewer did Charon manage to escape, floating along supported by a dead body. Eventually managing to get back to the channel side, Charon managed to force himself to walk back to his home, using the sewer wall as support. For the last two days he has been neglecting his duties, as the pain in his chest has been too much for him to cope with. He will then ask the squad to go up the sewer and discover what is going on. He would go with them but he has too many bodies to send on their way, especially after his time off.

#3: Paddling up the Styx

Charon takes one of the torches out of its holder and starts walking slowly down the sewer in the opposite direction than the Operatives came from. He will soon disappear around a bend, his torch weakly showing light as he continues with his job. The Squad are free to travel back the way they came, using some of the torches around Charon's home as required. Just before they leave both Tarran and Derrick will check their CAF pistols. If asked they will both state that it is just in case.

As the squad moves up the tunnel, they will see little in the way of life. Occasionally a rat will scamper past, or the water surface will slightly ripple but that is all. It is about the time that they get back to the original tunnel that Kyle will call them on his mobile. He has sorted out all of the paper work but is having problems with justifying the money to be spent. If they can bring back some physical evidence of whatever is going on, he should be able to push through the payment.

Whilst they're talking to Kyle those with good Detect skills will make out some movement from behind them. It seems to be quite some way away and only shows up because of the slight luminescence of the mould on the walkway. Ideally one of them should sneak into the tunnel mouth, whilst the rest continue on their way. If they start heading back the way they came the figure will easily escape. Surprisingly enough, the figure is Charon. He's still a little unnerved after his attack and although he wants to help the Operatives he doesn't have the courage too. He's also not completely convinced that they will get past the creature.

About one hundred metres upstream of the tunnel entrance their torchlight will reveal a mural on the wall of the tunnel. It seems to be quite old, and a lot of the paint has been worn away. However, if they stand back they will still be able to work out the original picture. It is of a chainmail glove holding a jewel encrusted goblet. The goblet looks like it is holding red wine, some of which has spilled out on to the glove. The observant will notice that the goblet has the words '..cred Order o. ..e Kni...' on the base of it. The remainder of the phrase is hidden from view. The really observant will notice that the gloved hand only has three fingers. Not knowing what the mural represents or means the group should continue on their way. Tarran and Derrick will not remember seeing it before. Charon will also shrug his shoulders when he sees it.

As they round the next bend in the sewer, they will detect a bright light about 500 metres away. As it starts to move towards them a voice shouts out, 'SLA Industries. Remain where you are and identify yourself." Moving as if in power armour (slow but with powerful strides), the light is too bright to work out who or what it is. As it gets within the circle of light that the Operatives are in, its main light is switched off to reveal two glowing eyes. It's then that Charon lets out a torturous scream and starts running down the sewer.

Covered in rotting skin and standing over 2 metres high is a Manchine, wearing the remains of a Shiver uniform. Its left arm ends in a five-bladed talon and its right arm ends in a large Mutilator Glove. It is wearing Body Blocker armour over its torso, with a dual spotlight on the left shoulder. The nametag on the Shiver says Fred Meath, although the first name and the last letter have been half scratched away. Recognising Charon it will try to pursue him, pushing aside anything in its way.

The Manchine is actually still loyal to SLA Industries and is running a standard Shiver programme at the moment (or has the brain of a Shiver inside, depending on your WoP). If they realise this and can use it to their advantage they can talk their way out of the fight. Otherwise, the only way to distract it is to become more of a threat to it than Charon is. The Manchine will have high strength and high dexterity. It is also very proficient in its two main weapons. It should be at least as powerful as the toughest squad member in armour, so that only by team work will the squad be able to stop it. Just before it is defeated, or if one of its limbs is destroyed, the Manchine will be fighting towards the edge of the sewer. As the blow is hit, the Manchine loses its balance and falls into the sewer channel. It sinks without trace. It is then that another body floats by on its back with cut marks over its stomach. It looks like it wasn't the Manchine that was doing the mutilations after all.

#4: Holly and IV

After Charon has fished the body out of the sewer (the current just seems to drag the body to the side of the sewer) and blessed it, the squad will continue on its way. Just up ahead there is a raised bridge that crosses the sewer channel. It is made of brick and arches slightly across the 20 metre span. There are no handrails or anything else to hold on to. It is supported mid-span by a brick pillar, which is angled to allow the flow to easily pass on either side. The whole structure looks old and unsafe. Whether they cross the sewer or not is irrelevant, unless they split up and start shouting to each other across the sewer.

Further up the sewer (and two or more bodies later) they will see the next bridge across the channel. It has a couple of lanterns on either side lighting up the majority of the bridge. If they have not been too noisy, there will be two figures on the bridge with their backs to them. If they have been noisy (shouting back and forth across the sewer channel) then they are about to walk into an ambush.

The two figures on the bridge are quite different to each other. One stands close to one side of the bridge covered in a large coat or robe. It seems to be large and muscular and is looking down over the edge of the bridge. The one hand rests on a rifle, like a walking stick. Although it is hard to see, the figure looks like it might be female, even though it is over 6 foot high and almost as wide. The other figure is the complete opposite. Never seeming to stop moving, he keeps bouncing around like a monkey on speed. He is small and wiry looking and keeps clambering down a net that is hanging over the side of the bridge. He looks like he's holding a knife in one hand and keeps carrying things up from the other side of the bridge and putting them in one of two large bell jars. After a few minutes of non-stop excited chattering from the little guy (and a few quiet words from the big girl) a body starts to float down the sewer channel sans fingers and spleen.

If they are going to be ambushed, then everything will be the same but without the two people there. As the Operatives go on to the bridge to look at the bell jars, the two characters will threaten them. Otherwise, as soon as it sinks in to Charon what they are doing, he will scream at the top of is voice and charge at them for 'desecrating the chosen ones'. The short wiry bloke (IV as in ivy) will charge back at Charon with the rusty, almost ineffective knife. He will dart back and forth growling, cursing, spitting and yelping as he keeps out of Charon's reach whilst trying to attack him. Holly will use the 12mm hunting rifle (single shot, 12 rounds, all HP) as covering fire whilst she tries to grab IV (by the scruff of his neck), grab the two bell jars and disappear back up the sewers. Only if the squad is completely inept will she actually manage it.

If it looks like either is going to get hurt or does actually get hurt, then they will surrender. The only possible exception to this is if IV is shot and killed, which will make Holly go berserk and start using her (very high) rifle skill properly. Once everyone has calmed down, Holly will actually be quite approachable while IV will try and restrain himself from moving too much. Close up he only looks to be about 14, whereas Holly is in her late teens. It may come as a surprise to the Operatives to find out they are actually brother and sister. They are working as Props for a man who offered them 2 UNIs for every finger they could get and 10 UNIs for every spleen they could get. Not wanting to actually hurt anyone, they thought they would just take them from the dead bodies instead. They need the money to pay for the medication that IV is meant to be on. Apparently it curbs his excessive hyper-activity.

Holly doesn't really know much about who hired them, it was actually IV who got the job. All he can remember is that the guy had a medallion with a chainmail fist on it. If asked where they were meant to take the body parts IV will look confused. He can't actually remember, but he does remember the medallion swinging back and forth in front of his eyes.

Now if the Operatives are nice, they'll pay Holly and IV for the body parts, give them to Charon to bless (he'll put little ribbons around them before chucking them in the river) and hope that they can persuade Kyle to give them the money for the BPN. After all they did stop a Manchine. If they're not nice then a tidal wave of effluent will sweep them down the sewer depositing them in Cannibal Sector One by the foot of Salvation Tower or in Lost Town.