[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Shiva is safe in the Daycare Center while Golda and Wir busy themselves with housework. Two TV personalities appear to announce that Pokemon have broken town limits! The camera pans to show a vast stampede, led by Tauros and Doduo. Bigger shapes are visible to the rear, and dust covers everything.

Nathan and Ventus see it too, from their positions among the Runners. In the utter turmoil, Kirlia does not detect Ventus, who is covered in dust anyway. But he has managed to sneak close to Nathan and Kory, for now. Swiftfire coughs a little, but Kirlia stands stoically.

Shiva spots Nathan in the crowd as the camera briefly slides over his worried face. Then it has moved on to some of the more well known personalities, like Zamboni in the sidelines. The announcers are talking about Bouffalant Bill, a popular competitor with a huge afro haircut and bulging muscles. He's currently benchpressing a Beldum, grinning at a sideliner woman you recognize as Valerie, who does not look impressed. The reporter is dazzled, though.

The horde thunders onto Main Street, perfectly funneled onto the track until even BB has to pay attention. It begins.

A vine whips out of the dust cloud to snag a Runner. A fat Ivysaur darts through the legs of the pack leaders to confront his chosen opponent, who excitedly tosses a Pokeball. Your friend Geodude is suddenly there, smacking a Doduo around just to satisfy his own frenzy. It's a bit worrying how manic the whole crowd is, from Nathan's perspective. He can feel the battle lust behind his own eyes, though his own concerns for this event are stronger.

The Runners take off, trying to keep a lead on the unceasing wave of Pokemon. Kory sets a calm pace for Nathan, and Ventus is keeping up. People and Pokemon bounce off the barriers, trip over each other, call out their partners and corral Pokemon for attempted catches, and generally have a grand old time.

But something is wrong. The rear crowd suddenly begins to panic. Many jump the barrier, whether they are at ladders or not, and tap out. A familiar Mr. Mime leaps from his barrel to summon a Barrier, protecting the scramblers. Panic flows out in waves, infecting the sideliners too. Crests of purest black begin to appear in the horde of Pokemon.

"Nathan....!" begins Kory, but he is interrupted as not one but a small FLEET of Absol leap from the fray to land ahead of the slowest runners, who have by this point already been infiltrated by Nidorino, many Tauros, and the occasional Aron. These Pokemon give Absol a wide berth, until the press of the crowd forces the tide closer.

Cameras are zooming in on panicked faces, or on serene black and white feline expressions. One screen after another flicker by Shiva's eyes. Golda and Wir have come in to watch - this is exactly the kind of disaster they keep the TV on for.

Absol's claws dig into the earth as they speed onward. A small contingent of them race ahead toward Nathan's position. "This is it!" shouts Kory. He and Nathan put on a burst of speed, looking for a position like the one they practiced, utilizing Swiftfire and Skiddo.

All of Ginger Town is in uproar. This is much worse than previous years, where a single Absol caused panic and mayhem. Now there must be a dozen of the things, and they are all anyone can think about. The authorities are doing their best to control things, but the crowd has a will of its own, and it's all the League can do to stop looting and trampling. The barriers are barely holding against the increased craziness of this year's Running. From atop the Pokemon Center comes a loud, commanding "MOOOOOOO!" The tide of scared citizens turns in that direction, but chaos still reins.

At this point, any specific activities from the participants?