Sat, Sep 06, 2008
 Stephen Walton, 11, right, slays the red dragon, made up of squires from the Barony of Tir Ysgithr, at the annual fundraiser of Tucson's Society for Creative Anachronism. "I love it," said Stephen after finishing off the beast. "I've always liked sword fighting and medieval stuff." The event took place at Himmel Park. Photo by JEFFRY SCOTT / arizona daily star
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'Dark Ages' see the lightTucsonans re-create western European history at the Dragon's Hoard Annual Festival of Monsters
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.05.2007
The Black Death notwithstanding, the Dark Ages were filled with color and merriment, or so some believe as they re-create those times as subjects in the Barony of Tir Ysgithr.
"You can get an amazingly good understanding of how people lived, and how colorful the times were," said Perin de la Serena, seneschal of the barony, about the clothes and activities. "The Dark Ages weren't really dark at all."
Lady Perin, known in her everyday life as Sara Lewis, is president (seneschal) of the Tucson chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international not-for-profit group dedicated to studying and re-creating western European history.
About 100 members of the estimated 350 active in the barony gathered Oct. 20 and 21 in the northeast corner of Himmel Park. They met for the group's annual fundraiser, the Dragon's Hoard Annual Festival of Monsters, which featured scribes, pageants and fighting.
History comes alive through the group as period-correct materials and dyes are used for clothing. Fighters wear armor and carry weapons. Although they are made of bamboo and other less-than-lethal materials, they still pack a wallop.
"I came here last year and fought the dragon," said 16-year-old Norse-persona Valbjorn Hruttson while waiting to fight the "red dragon" with his two-handed war axe. "I didn't get far at all, but, my god, it was fun."
Sporting a new $800 stainless-steel helmet, Hruttson, known in everyday life as Valerian Bolduc, valiantly fought the multiheaded monster, made up of squires from the barony tethered together by rope. But he failed — as did all the other challengers except one.
"I love it," said dragon slayer Stephen Walton, 11, after finishing off the beast. "I've always liked sword fighting and medieval stuff. This is perfect for me."
● Contact Jeffry Scott at jscott@azstarnet.com.
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