Set "eight weeks" after the last mission, Generic Summer Vacation week, this mission starts with the reopening of Seaside Town.. and the kidnapping of several princesses! You'll find I often recap, mention and otherwise dwell on AiL's first season, which was until this mission AIL's entire four year plus history. That's just since the published mission. Before that were months of planning, swapping ideas, and writing up a poll to gauge interest and gather ideas on how to write the AiL world. Then there were the weeks actually writing an extensive first "Rollover." As you can tell by the size and history contained in it, this probably took me a month or two.

I knew from the go I wanted to divide AiL up into seasons. I decided from an early mission to focus on the Knob Goblins and the Penguin Mafia, later developing that to have the first season end up with the fall of the Knob Goblins in a homage to the KOL fifth level mission. Two years in, that plan was retrofitted; virtually no one but Catrina's handler and I knew at the time, but we decided around Enter Hey Daze or slightly earlier to have Catrina's dark side lead to her rise to power, as she formed the Feline Empire out of the remains of the Knob Goblin Kingdom.

That's exactly what happened.

There's no need to go into too much detail. See the last two or three AIL missions if you want to read more about how Catrina ended up controlling the Feline Empire, which consists mainly of the Knob Goblins, minus the King, plus the various former KOKOL'ers and allies, as well as the Gnollish people, and presumably the Muri-Dan and even the rat army. This mission and the last help establish the Feline Army.

This mission also sees two impressive debuts - the twisted and demented Dios, and the intelligent and socially awkward Ozzie Whelk. Aleena becomes further ingrained into AIL, and we have an exceptional Live RP, as well! The stories in this mission flow together rather well, for the most part, and having Dash and Konall active is always a good sign. It also marks the point where it's decided Cattaras will take over the "PC" status from Catrina, who's, as you should know, Queen of the Feline Empire!

In keeping up with my hopes for a quicker gaming pace, and with much help from Cattaras's handler, I was able to put together the Rollover in a little over fifty hours. (Suitable since AiL is just a little over fifty months at this point. Or maybe I just like number irony.) Despite that, I'm quite happy with the mission opener.

Feature characters: Ozymandias "Ozzie" Whelk debuts here with an excellent, solid first piece, a solo write. He doesn't keep to himself, however; his story quickly overlaps with some of AiL's fellow newcomers, and an AiL mainstay. His character is quirky, interesting, and totally unique, and he obviously has the ability to support this with equally strong support characters! It'll be interesting to see how he develops in future missions.
Dios, the demonic demon, makes his demonic debut this mission in a rather horrific fashion, during the Live RP. The character undergoes further development in more traditional roleplays and co writes before setting up an interesting twist ending.
Sir Fumblies didn't score any solo pieces here, instead showing up where Cattaras and Becky do, aside from the Live RP. Fumblies accomplishes a major goal by finding Lady Goblin, but loses her due to forces beyond his control. It goes down hill for Sir Fumblies, but not the quality of his stories, as the mission continues.
Cattaras Whiteclaw's "ascension to PC" is pretty much cemented with this mission for the first time.
Aleena gives us it all this mission, from fun in the water with Aleena, to posing as a princess to get kidnapped, to ending up under the control of the demonic one! All that and more.. her co writes end up impressing like all out!
Becky Joy is relegated to support here, but still (in my biased opinion) oozes charisma and innocence, managing to hold her own with the likes of Cattaras and Fumblies.
Konall Bearsmasher is always a solid read, and he continues to be so here in bit roles, and a major role in the only Live RP of the mission.
And featuring: Sebastian Dash, Lapine, Kadlin Bearsmasher, Fahari, Todd Blackpaws, Katherine Swift, Miss Jones, an old man and a village of ninjas.
Antagonists for the series include (not necessarily limited to): Ninjas, Kung fu masters, Kung fu masters disguised as ninjas, a burly man named Hannibal Clunt, disagreeable Council of Loathing staff, and the psychotic ex Soldier's airship of kidnappers.