Rats, Bats and other types of Vermin - Season Three, Mission #2
Rollover and Finale written by Aleena, Sebastian Dash, Mary Katherine O'Toole, Spaghettigirl and Catrina Whiteclaw
(misison logo created at     by Binajane (handler: Mary Kate O'Toole) ))

Historical recap: The Penguin Mafia's involvement in AIL dates back to the very first Rollover with the first hint of the Somber Six showing up in a penguin villa not long after. Early missions were dominated by clashes with the Knob Goblin kingdom, with occasional trips to the mysterious island and Hey Daze along the way. The Season ended with the Knob Goblins invading Seaside Town and trying to burn it to the ground. The attempts were partially successful, but the Council later recovered and expanded Seaside Town. Meanwhile, Catrina Whiteclaw is manipulated so that her dark side takes over, driving her to seduce King MTiger to impregnate herself. She immediately left King Mtiger and took over the Knob Goblin Kingdom, bringing along several former KOKOL allies. Catrina redubbed it the Feline Empire. Among those to join her was Kadlin Bearsmasher, who eventually took over the Feline Empire, eventually leading to an open revolt against Kadlin. With Kadlin's death, the Knob Goblins were left without a proper name, without a leader and in total chaos. During Kadlin's takeover, she had Slit kidnap Catrina's kit in order to help gain control over Daisuke, whom they also equipped with the ultra-rare spooky hockey mask which made Daisuke stronger, faster, tougher . . . and more obedient.

During the chaos surrounding Kadlin's death, the Penguins seized control of Seaside Town as the Kingdom barely survives a world ending selection of scenarios.

The Story so far: The penguins were eventually forced to relinquish command of the town, but in exchange, are given partial control over the Council. Later, Catrina found her still-missing kit, but she, Sebastian Dash and Aleena were ambushed and teleported. . . . somewhere. Meanwhile, with penguin members now on the Council of Loathing, their first call to adventurers was to find the Toot, who had been missing since the end of Season 2, and bring him to the Council for a meeting. Ultimately, after the Toot is saved from Larry the demon, Sassy Snake is the one the Toot goes with to see the Council while Dash, Catrina and Aleena are rescued from the alien bugbears who recently appeared from another dimension. During their time as prisoners, Aleena was hacked and tortured while the bugbears compromised her cysuit; she shuts her tech down and advises Dash to do the same, leaving her feeling invaded, powerless and vulnerable. Dash's vision is suffering and Catrina's kit is still missing.

On the upside, Sassy Snake got to have dinner with Father Crimbo.

With our second official mission, we're starting to really settle into Season three. Much like our second season had a different 'feel' than the first season of AIL, this one is unique from either of the first two seasons. Our remaining season 1 characters (Aleena, Dash, Catrina and Fahari, who debut in the Season two mission zero) are more in the background. Meanwhile, we've seen characters who were less active participating more (Sassy and Wildfall), while entirely new names like Mary Kate O'Toole, Blackeagle, Shelldor and Spaghettigirl are active in this mission and others. Oh, and Koumori makes an impressive debut this mission! Becky Joy and Cattaras Whiteclaw, who have been around AIL since the early days, are still generally going pretty strong, though.

AiL was conceived as a game for a clan in the Kingdom of Loathing game, KOKOL. That's why AIL is loosely based in AIL, and why AIL started off with KOKOL as the story focus in the beginning. It didn't last long, sadly. We later expanded the player clans with a short lived attempt to get another KOL clan, The Winking Judge, into AIL. Later, Catrina converted the Knob Goblins into our first (sort of) evil player faction the Feline Empire, first seen in the Season 2 finale. And finally, Konall Bearsmasher (KOKOL) and Sir Fumblies (Feline Empire) eventually left those factions to form a third faction, the Blood Clan.

But that's all Season one and two. Season three focuses a lot less on clans (aside from the KOKOL themed quest in the last mission and puts a lot more emphasis on our version of KOL's Council of Loathing, first met in AIL in Season one. With this mission, we take the long dormant Somber Six story and really start to focus on it, establishing Boss Bat and Baron von Ratsworth as the first two members.

Plus we debut Koumori, while Spaghettigirl finally makes her season 3 debut.

Although we chose to focus on the rats and bats for this mission, it isn't a split mission. Nevertheless, the players ended up falling into four different sections of the Finale, as you'll see, with three sections focusing rats or bats while Catrina, Dash and Aleena have an adventure that focuses on the alien bugbears and Black Paladin. It's a bit different to have a single-goal Finale where the players are spread out in different sections, which is partly why we introduce the reporters and scribes in the Finale.

So in that sense, maybe the style of Mission Finales are evolving with Season three as well . . .

Feature characters: Koumori takes the feature spot for both a very powerful (award winning) debut, which he followed it up with by meeting Mary Kate later on in a co-write that featured Wildfall (although he didn't meet Koumori in it). This is our first 'bat furry' type character - although he doesn't seem to be a "furry" in the traditional AIL sense. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding this character.
Co feature character: Mary Kate absolutely shines in our second mission, tossing out a pair of high quality solo roleplays while also taking part in co-writes with Shelldor, Wildfall, Blackeagle, Blackpaws and Fahari! Mary really starts to grow as an adventurer in this one and a few of her familiar NPC's return as well from the last mission.
Co feature character: Fahari returns in this one and kicks up a storm during her four co-writes here. It's the first time she's been in a Season 3 mission and she make the most of it. She even serves as 'love advisor' to Mary Kate at one point.
Sassy Snake scores seven sensational solos for the mission! We see her unsure if she wants the mission. Later, she sets out for revenge, although she still finds time to take on the role of mentor to Icy as well. Briefly goes by the name "Viper" during the mission.
Wildfall is injured during an attack from the bats and spends the rest of the mission trying to heal from it. He and Mary Kate get some solid bonding time, too.
Todd Blackpaws is his usual charming self, serving as advisor to Wildfall, acting as the voice of reason when needed, and generally being as charming and funny as ever.
Blackeagle unite! They confront Mary Kate and Wildfall but the four eventually work together, joining up with Todd and Mary as they go. Blackeagle also battle Black Cutler during this one.
Aleena is reeling from the loss of use of her cysuit but she is determined not to let it stop her! This is a colder, meaner Aleena as a result.
Catrina Whiteclaw is still searching for her kit, but she takes some time to resolve a disagreement with Aleena!
Shelldor is here along with Bob, who is furious over the kidnapped familiars - and vows to actually do something about it! Whoa!
Sebastian Dash plays the role of noble hero as always, but falls more into the background this time.
Spaghettigirl mostly deals with her familiar Bingo during this round. She's hanging out with Becky Joy!
Becky Joy rounds at the list, hanging with SGirl and generally being silly!

Gem (aka Jewel) and Mole: The two "street urchins" show up to offer to help Sassy Snake and company. They prove quite invaluable as allies and travelling companions. Things get complicated later on when they (and the rest of Sassy Snake's crew) run into Baron van Ratsworth's cousin, Ratso.

Omar and Naomi: Last mission, they were Mary Kate's guards, but this time, she sends them to help Bob out in rescuing kidnapped familiars, which leads them to meet Sassy Snake and some of her crew as well (again).

Miscellaneous: A balloon monkey, Belushi the Killer Bee, Bob, Bingo, Bristle, "Paid" Trish P. L. Cape, Dr. Phil "Ties" Cappa, Council member Cheatum, a cocoabo, the Council of Loathing, the Daily Deli's little Canadian owner, Darson, Council member Dewey, Alisha "TC" DiPrepp, Dottie, Bart Ender, flocks of penguins, a furry shopper, Goblina, Grelva, Captain Hortaio, Crystal Ice (formerly Caramel Ice), Shea "Ax" Joutred, Buana Katherine, a wet Knob Goblin brute, Linger (aka Bruiser), Wilton "Boring Dude 7/9" Madman, Meaty, Miss Merha, Carlo Penno, Pete, Spice Phipps, Pippin, Rascal the Rattler, the Rocks bar and inn barkeep, Seaside Town authorities, Serpentina, Drea Jo Set-Ahax, Mr SewRite, Chandler 'Expo' Sition, Bob's smiling rat, Bob's stabbat, Professor Thadious T. Thurgood (aka "Thur the thinker") and a weaponsmith.

Baron von Ratsworth: The Baron shows up here and there, establishing him personality during the last bit of the Finale.

Count von Ratsoni (Ratso): Boss Bat didn't really get much time to be developed during the mission despite being a main enemy. Meanwhile, the Baron's cousin (?) Ratso comes face to face with Sassy Snake and company twice (once during the Finale) and seems to know who Gem is as well.

And also: About a thousand bats, an alien bugbear, the Black Paladin, Black Paladin's war steed, the Boss Bat, dancing skeleton couples, hordes of bats, hordes of rats, hundreds of rats, Trinity member Jerome, Bob King, "Rat King" Herbert King, Knob Goblin Elite guards, the Knob's guards, a lone mage, the Muri-Dan, a Knob Goblin patrol, four possessed soup cans, Ratso's sixty or so rats, rats with wings, a Knob Goblin scout, Lord Spookyraven, a swarm of country bats (ya'all), thousands of rats, and an unnamed Trinity member.