For the creative at heart

KINGSTON – “For the next fight, if someone does not remove that car over there, we will assume it is a dragon and slay it,” yelled Sir Jorg Siggierrson, a ninth-century Dane.

Chuckles filtered through the crowd as everyone waited to see how long it would be until the car was moved or it would be attacked by armored knights and warriors.

Then, Sir Jorg, also known as Chris Jorgensen of Post Falls, started the bout.

Warriors dressed in armor made of materials as varied as titanium and hard plastic, met head-on in battle. Swords made of rattan clashed against shields as the combatants fought for supremacy in the Defender of the Hart Tournament at Bumblebee meadows near Kingston last weekend.

“One victory to Sir Devon!” cried a marshal.

“I think I’m dead,” moaned a knight with a mustache glued to his helmet.

Ladies in long dresses walked through the encampment and drank from pewter goblets. Men dressed in tunics milled around, drinking from tankards.

The period clothing ranged from barbarian to Renaissance. Some embraced their Italian or Japanese heritage, others wore Scottish or Irish kilts and many chose a Viking persona.

Domed pavilions scattered around the makeshift village gave the feel of stepping back in time. Piles of furs were heaped inside “tents” to be used as blankets or worn as cloaks in the chilly evenings.

The Society for Creative Anachronism studies and re-creates the clothing, workmanship and practices of the Middle Ages. It’s more than 30,000 strong with members all over the world.

In Berkeley, Calif., in 1966, a group of science fiction/fantasy fans threw a medieval theme party. It was such a big hit, it led to the birth of the organization.

Do you believe you live in Coeur d’Alene? Post Falls? Athol? Nay, yon Saxons.

If you live in Kootenai, Shoshone or Benewah counties, you are in the Canton of Silverhart. If you live in Bonner or Boundary counties, you reside in the Shire of Pendale. Spokane County is known as the Barony of Wealdsmere. All of these lie within the Kingdom of An Tir (pronounced “Onteer.”)

At the Defender of the Hart Tournament, the King of An Tir, Sven Falgr Gunnarson, otherwise known as Derrick Olson of Spokane, fought many brave battles and died numerous times during the weekend – the poor lout.

Olson, 35, a wholesale video distributor, joined the Society for Creative Anachronism with his father when he was 8 years old.

“When you’re 15 or 16 and try to explain this to somebody, they just think you’re a dork,” said Olson. “I never brought it up. But there’s nothing like this game. It’s the biggest thing you’ll never know about.”

The organization’s events are so big, one held annually in Pennsylvania hosts 10,000 people.

About 1,000 people are expected at a coronation at Farragut State Park July 20 through 22. The Crown Prince, Tiernan Mor Dal Cais, known by some as Todd Brothers of Vancouver, Wash., will step up to be crowned the new King of An Tir.

Battles will be fought, rapier-wielding fencers will face off, archers and weapon-thowers will compete. Merchants will sell their wares, and some may teach their craft.

The people of the Society for Creative Anachronism have many talents, and most enjoy showing them to newcomers. There are leather workers, costume makers, ale brewers and those who craft jewelry by hand.

You can find a blacksmith in most camps by the ping! ping! ping! ringing through the air with every strike on the anvil. At Defender of the Hart, it was Raegnarr at the forge; he’s otherwise known as Mike Dabrowski of Sagle.

“Before I started playing in the SCA, I tried to teach myself blacksmithing. I had a forge and some tools, but it’s not an easy skill to teach yourself,” said Dabrowski.

“I was fortunate enough to meet Master Iain Crawford, who took me in and taught me. I was his student for two years, and I’ve been his apprentice for four years now.”

Dabrowski’s grandfather was a blacksmith, as was his grandfather. Dabrowski knew he wanted to be a Viking and chose his Raegnarr name from a Web site of Viking names.

The fighters’ armor ranges from primitive to works of art. The helmet of the Crown Prince, an Irish 510 A.D. persona, has a mask of intricate filigree that he paid a friend to make. The King’s helmet weighs 17 pounds.

“The alternative is probably, you know, death,” laughed the King. “I wouldn’t want one made of tin.”

King Sven encourages everyone who is curious to come to a Society for Creative Anachronism event and enjoy.

Perhaps members of the society are best-described by singer Leslie Fish in an excerpt from her song, “True Story.”

“We’re just harmless historical nuts

“Who wear boilerplate on our butts.

“Who dress up in clothes from the 12th century

“To bash on each other with sticks and debris …

“Harmless historical nuts!”