It takes some asking of directions, and quite a bit of walking, but at last the five-tailed Kitsune finds, out in the countryside, the Estate of the do Varr Family – some well-to-do poodles, from the looks of it.

The guards let the fox in immediately – Apparently they must have been told to expect a five-tailed fox – and the Kitsune gets a view of manicured lawns, dotted by numerous pools, each with a different type of colorful fish swimming in its depths.

In the middle of these lawns is the manor, before which is a circle tiled drive for carriages, in the center of which is a fountain which includes a statue of a poodle garbed in a toga, bearing a cornucopia, from which springs sprays of water into the surrounding tiered pools. Very well to do.

Francisco takes his time walking up the path to the house itself, looking around the gardens. Last time he saw a place like this was a couple of decades ago in Beverly Hills.

A few more cheetahs can be seen about the estate, working as groundskeepers in various gardening and pruning roles. A man-sized eagle with a monocle perched before one eye looks about, apparently overseeing the work.

At the front door – or, that is, doors, for there are two very large ones up a short set of steps – there is a knocker on each door, fashioned so as to resemble what looks like some sort of ferocious dinosaur with the ring in its mouth. While it might seem natural for these to be made of metal, rather, they are crafted from wood, though a fairly heavy and sturdy wood, treated and enameled to protect it against the elements.

On reaching the door, the kitsune looks behind him one more time, he shakes his head slightly. He lifts one of the knockers and raps it against the door a couple of times.

Only a few seconds pass before one of the double doors opens. Behind the door is an elderly wolf butler. He has a monocle, too. Must be in style. "Good day, sir." He adjusts the eyepiece a bit, looking at the fox – and at his tails. "Ah yes. Master Eustace has been expecting you. Do come in, won't you?"

Francisco smiles up at the wolf, idly wondering what it is about the choice of eyewear around here. "Hai there. Thanks," he says, and steps inside.

Inside, the entry hall is done in white marble, the floor looking highly reflective … and slick. It isn't slick, though, just giving such an appearance.

Paintings hang on walls, suits of chitin armor stand attention at branching doorways, and a few pedestals hold urns and vases that are probably worth something to be included with such a display. In the center of the room is another pool, which, like those outside, has fish swimming around underneath its placid surface.

The butler closes the door, his nose held a couple of degrees above the horizontal, poised as if at attention.

Looking around the place in much the same way as he did outside, Francisco nods to himself. "Nice decor you have here," he says to the butler, and waits a few paces inside to be shown where to go.

The butler shows no signs of moving. After a few more seconds, some voices can be heard from one of the side passages, along with the sounds of approaching footsteps. A moment later, and a group of poodles – the same group Francisco saw in the Bazaar, perhaps, or with a few changes – can be seen approaching, chatting amongst themselves.

Francisco continues to wait where he is for the moment, perhaps moving a little closer into the hall though.

The poodle that gave Francisco the card looks up, smiling. "Oh! And here he is! Just as I told you – " Apparently some of the poodle faces ARE new in this group. " – and ready, I see. Greeves! Call the carriage, would you?" He says this last bit in a louder tone, aimed at the butler, then turns to the fox. "Oh yes, and have you had anything to eat? No sense going out on an empty stomach."

The kitsune smiles back at them. "Hai there," he says back to the poodle, "and no, not since last night, I haven't."

The poodle nods. Seeing that the butler has already left, he calls to a cheetah visible in the hall. "Ho there! Scrabble! Get a sandwich for our guest. A thick slab of roast Bromthen, with all the fixings, and something to drink. He can eat on the way… " He barks orders to some other cheetah servants, then heads out the front door to the circle drive, where a carriage, with a team of four Drokars in front of it, is waiting, and a second carriage as well. After all, a single carriage of this size wouldn't hold his entire group without plenty of elbow room, though it's sufficient if they packed it in.

Francisco follows them out and looks at the carriage, then to the poodle again. "So, where are we going?" he asks.

Eustace climbs into his carriage, which is fairly spacious, and well-cushioned inside. He gestures to a seat for the fox. "We are going to see a place that few get to see – The Wonders Below! Quite marvelous, I assure you. You may not know much about this city – and, indeed, even those who live here know little of it – but there are ancient mechanisms from centuries past that are still working away underground … and marvelous places from which you can watch them in action!"

The fox cocks his head slightly, more than a little curious. "Well, okay. It had better be worth it. I've still got a slight outstanding debt to pay clear."

The poodle chuckles. "Now, now, I assure you, this will be worth your time. Oh! I see your meal is here." He shuffles his position slightly, as a cheetah moves up to the carriage, pulling a fold-out table into place, then backs away as another servant puts a wooden plate on the table, with a steaming-hot sandwich stacked high with meat and fixings. A wooden cup fits neatly into a recessed spot in the table, no doubt to minimize the chance of spillage.

A couple of other poodles get in, and the carriage door is closed. It begins to roll along the drive, and away from the estate. The carriage must have some sort of shock absorbers, for the ride is fairly smooth.

Francisco bites into the sandwich, nodding. "How far is it then? And what would you want me to do anyway?"

The poodle smiles. "I was wondering when you'd ask! Well, this is the fun part. You will be partaking in a contest. The object is to make your way through what amounts to a maze, in record time. It's imperative that you do not know the layout ahead of time … and, seeing that you're an Exile, it would seem fairly likely that you do not. I am correct on this, yes?"

Putting down the sandwich slowly, Francisco looks at the poodle through narrowed eyes. "A maze? What else is there to it?"

The poodle grins. "That's just it! All the scenery. If you have a mechanical mind, it should help you, because you'll be able to figure out HOW the place works, and thus how to get to the exit faster, rather than running into dead ends."

The kitsune frowns – something about this doesn't seem right. "Figure out how it works?" he asks. "I'll have you know I'm a kitsune, not a lab-rat."

The poodle nods. "That's why YOU get PAID."

Francisco picks up his sandwich again. "How much?" he asks, before taking another bite.

The poodle hmms, looking at Francisco. "How much do you think it's worth?"

Francisco thinks for a moment.

The carriage continues rolling along the road, through the countryside, not far from the city proper.

"I'd say at least 2 gold pieces," the kitsune announces, figuring that one he can use to pay the Temple – the other, well it should last for a bit.

The poodles collectively gasp, but Eustace waves them off. "IF you can beat the record, two gold pieces. Otherwise … " He looks to the others, then back to the fox, smiling, "just one."

Francisco takes another bit of the sandwich, and smiles. "Well – what do I have to beat?"

The poodles gawk, looking askance to each other, as if none of them even know. Eustace, however, says, "One day. Thereabouts." The other poodles then nod in agreement. "You should beat it EASILY, unless you decide to take a nap along the way." This prompts giggles from the others.

"A day?" asks the fox. "How big is this maze then?"

The carriage rolls to a stop outside a stone building that looks fairly delapidated and ancient … though not ancient in STYLE, just in weathering. "We don't know," the poodle answers. "But it's pretty big. Nothing to worry about."

Francisco hrms, finishing off the sub. He thinks he will still worry about it despite their assurances.

The door to the carriage is opened, a set of wooden steps is put into place, and the poodles start filing out. "You can take that with you," Eustace says, as he begins to get up, waiting for the fox to depart first.

Eustace blinks. "Oh. I see it's gone already." He smiles. "Very well, then!"

Francisco climbs out of the carriage, and looks back to the poodle. "Yeah – next time, I'll have to ask you for some mustard, I think."

The poodle grins. "Unfortunately, next time, you'll know the route. But I'll make sure there's another sandwich waiting for you at the end, with all the mustard you please!"

Francisco says, "Uh, ok… as long as it's not that brown French kind."

The group heads toward the building, a lupine servant holding the door open. Eustace, however, branches off from the rest of the group, leading the fox with him. "You'll use this other door, here – " He gestures toward another door into the same building, which is already open. Inside can be seen a cylindrical chamber with a "pinwheel" design of sorts on the floor.

Looking in, sniffing the air slightly, Francisco asks, "Is this the beginning of it, or something?"

The poodle nods. "Just wait in here, and listen for the bell. Beyond that, there are no instructions. Just get to the finish."

The air inside smells musty, like a basement where the rain came in a few too many times, and nobody bothered to scrub the mold away, though there's no mold in sight.

Francisco uh-huhs… stepping hesitantly towards the door.

The poodle waits outside. "Remember! Two gold if you make it in record time!" He grins. "I'm counting on you!"

Francisco pauses at the door, "Uh… I think I'm getting second thoughts about this… "

The poodle frowns. "Oh, come now! Where's your sense of adventure? Of exploring the unknown? Of getting an easy two gold shekels? We're not talking chump change here… "

Francisco sighs, and with a shrug, heads through the door.

The poodle giggles, and, with a hissing noise, and a burst of fetid air, a door slams shut from the ceiling, shutting off all light. The fox is alone in the dark.

"Hey!?" the kitsune calls out, "At least leave me a torch or flashlight or something."

There's another hissing noise, and then a faint sound of a bell ringing … from somewhere below the floor. Another hiss, and the floor seems to move, ever so slowly, under the fox's feet.

Francisco huhs? At least his eyes are slowly becoming accustomed to the lower light now.

There's no place for any light to be coming from, however … except for a hole that is slowly forming in the middle of the floor. The "pinwheel" arrangement of the floor is actually something like the "iris" of a camera, multiple plates sliding upon each other, moving outward, creating an ever-widening hole.

The stench is unmistakeable. Somewhere down below … is sewage!

What the? Francisco wonders to himself, and edges back to the wall to get as far from the hole as possible.

Through the widening hole, Francisco can see by ever-so-faint ambient light from below that below the floor of this chamber is a funnel that gives way to some sort of shaft that goes down, then curves to one side and out of sight. The floor is receding further into the wall. It would seem it's not about to stop and leave the fox any sort of ledge.

Francisco backs to the wall as close as he can – unfortunately, having five rather large tails don't help this much.

*SHOONK* The floor is gone. The walls are smooth. The way is down.

Quickly, Francisco attempts on his way down to hold his nose… the smell is horrible.

The stench only gets worse. Down and about slides the fox … until he's nearly horizontal, coasting on momentum … and then … He's in open air, flying … for just a moment. There is dim light here, enough to see that he's in mid-air, in chamber easily the size of a covered football stadium … Giant gears and paddlewheels can be seen in motion … and below, where the fox's trajectory is taking him … is a vast lake of … EWWWWWWW!

Pipes and dangling cables traverse the room, like branches of trees and vines draped across them.

Francisco only has a moment, but closes his eyes and keeps his mouth shut before he lands in the mess. ( I would not have agreed if I knew this was coming, ) is his last thought before he splats down.

A spray of foulness explodes into the air. The fox plunges down for several feet, but buoys back up to the surface – to air. Not fresh air, by any means, though…

The kitsune takes a breath and nearly chokes on it. Trying to clear the muck from his eyes, he looks around for an easy way out.

Other "tributaries" can be seen, waterfalls of filth cascading down into this chamber. By the movement, though, it's evident that this is not just some repository. The water – if it can be called that – is moving. The fox is going along with the flow.

In the direction the flow is going, there is more light. The chamber widens out, into an area that is lit by evidently artificial means. There must be electricity here after all!

"Great," he mutters to himself. "Their 'maze' is the city sewer system."

Shouts and cheers can be heard. Far above, in the lit area, can be seen a number of railed balconies. From there, a great number of people – poodles, almost without exception – can be seen, watching. Some are chanting, "Go, go, go!" Others are shouting, "Fox paddle!" Some are just laughing their heads off.

Francisco rolls his eyes and groans – feeling like a complete dupe right now.

An undercurrent tugs the fox down … and under … but before he can even really react, he's expelled upward again … not in the chamber, but in a tunnel of some sort, through which this stuff is flowing at a rapid pace!

Francisco has a thought, and not a very good one at that, as he remembers this city island floats in the air somehow.

Through the tunnel goes the fox! Back and forth, and side to side. If only it weren't for the threat of peril to his life, the hideous stench, and the foul contents of the water, this would be QUITE the water slide attraction!

Francisco somehow doesn't take much comfort at that thought.

Light returns … and it looks like there's another opening ahead! In a moment, the fox is about to become airborne again…

However … there's some sort of obstruction ahead. Not enough to block the way entirely, but it's jammed in place. It looks like a section of wooden flooring … a few planks of wood that have been broken free, but which have jammed themselves crosswise in the tunnel. Hopefully there are no nails facing this way…

With his realization fresh in his mind, Francisco tries to direct himself in the flow to be in a position to grab the wood.

The fox's claws prove to be useful to grab hold of the wood … but his weight is sufficient to knock it from its place. The fox and a large section of wooden planks tumble through the air, toward yet another chamber full of filth.

Trying to think quickly now, Francisco tries to use the piece of wood as a kind of oar, trying to get over to the sides of the cavern.

*SPLOOT* The planks hit the filth, sending a spray out in all directions … but they hold together, for the most part … forming a raft under the fox. A few pieces on the edge break free, and one of them serves nicely for an oar. The raft drifts along. Ahead can be heard the sounds of machinery. Above can be heard hoots and hollers. "You're almost to the FINISH!" Ahead, the finish would seem to be … between some very nasty looking giant threshing arms. Another piece of broken wood which somehow landed far ahead bobs and floats forward … and is shredded to bits as it reaches the threshers.

Francisco eeks audibly and uses the oar frantically to slow his approach to the machineary.

The flow moves inexorably on. Going directly against the flow seems to only delay the inevitable. However, there can be seen ledges along the edges of the room, some near "water" level, and some high above, but with ladders that descend down into the muck.

Spying these, the kitsune does his best to steer the small craft towards them.

The fox gets closer to the sides … but unfortunately his makeshift paddle breaks. He's left with only his hands to propel himself. Currently, he's still aimed for the machinery – not directly for the threshers just YET, but alongside a massive wheel that rolls slowly.

Francisco continues to use his paws, deciding that the wheel is the lesser of two evils. If he could get near it…

The raft is just about to bump against the wheel. With the mass involved in a wheel of this size, it is likely that once it contacts, the raft will be capsized. The fox is going to have to act fast…

Francisco edges the raft just a little closer until the wheel is within reach of him. Gathering up the remains of his broken paddle, he tries to jump into the inside of the paddlewheel.

The raft splinters as it hits, but this time luck is on the fox's side, and his timing is near perfect … A "spoke" provides a good grip, but the downward motion takes him down INTO the murk … and then back up again, on the other side of the axis. He's being borne upward now, up to the level of several dangling pipes and cables. The latter don't look very sturdy.

Taking the broken oar in his hands, the fox looks for somewhere to jam the mechanism. If he can stop the wheel, the other parts of the machinery should stop too.

There's a gear that joins with cogs on the other side of this wheel. However, that would require going ACROSS the paddles, and to the opposite side of the wheel. That could get ugly, if he doesn't make it across and get a good grip before the paddles take him under again.

Francisco considers his options, and eventually decides on trying to traverse the paddles. He moves down the wheel slightly to try and get as much time to get across the wheel before it turns a particular part over the top.

The footing is very slippery … but the fox manages to make it across perfectly, and finds handholds on the other side, in the form of spokes with a bit more definition. He can see the axle this wheel is turned to, which leads to a massive gear, which is in turn moved by another. Or, depending on how this works, perhaps it MOVES the other gear.

"Which one," he wonders out loud, trying to decide. In the end, he takes the piece of wood and thrusts it through where the two gears meet.

*CRUNCH* The wood doesn't have a chance. The gears don't so much as pause at the passing of the wooden "obstruction".

Sighing, the kitsune looks around the place for other options, continually shifting to keep above the muck.

The options don't look terribly great. At least on this side of the paddlewheel, it seems that the fox may have avoided one potential hazard, but the "threshers" are still downstream. Either he can try to stay here indefinitely, take his chances by diving into the sludge … or see what he can reach on the "high ground", if there's anything on the other side of that gear, or if he can trust those pipes.

Francisco looks at the gear – it's twice as big as he is. He thinks that he will try and take his chances with going higher.

It takes some scrabbling, and a few slips on slime, threatening to drop the fox in the sludge (or, worse, get caught in the gear teeth) … but, at last, he makes it to the other side! He has a much better view of the threshers … but also a support platform that looks like a positively WONDERFUL route of escape, right within leaping distance, if he can jump to it before he is taken back down by the gear again!

Francisco decides quickly, and jumps!

Fortunately, the fox's claws help him against the slime … and he makes it onto the platform … only holding by his arms, at first, but his claws get enough grip for him to scrabble up to the suspended, railed surface.

It stretches on … toward what looks like a set of stairs leading up and into the ceiling.

The fox takes a moment to pause, and vows never to consider starting to bite his claws. Not only is it a bad habit, it can be life threatening too.

It still stinks here, but it appears the fox is – for the time being – out of harm's way.

Francisco gets his breath back a little, and heads towards the staircase.

The staircase leads up, and light filters downward. A breeze blows down … and it DOESN'T carry the smell of filth!

The multi-tailed fox drips and continues upwards at a slightly increased pace. There are some poodles that he needs to have a word with now.