Lebanon resident Alvie Farley, clad in armor and medieval garb emblazoned with a griffin bearing a sword, said his first experience at an SCA event was unforgettable.

He walked into the event with no preparation, he said, just a desire to join a re-enactment of the Middle Ages organized by members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, commonly known as the SCA.

”Within two hours, I had clothes to wear, a tent to sleep in, a sleeping bag and a meal,” said Farley, who assumes the name of Nemo Magnus and the persona of a fighter at SCA events.

Farley said the chivalry he encountered then distinguishes SCA members from the general public even more than their garb or personas, alter egos that could have inhabited the ”known world” – mainly Europe – any time from the late 7th century to 1603.

A strict code of honor, Farley said, governs all SCA events, including the An Tir May Crown Tournament held Saturday in Prineville. The tournament was part of a weekend gathering, where a medieval village of tents sprang up at Crooked River Park. The event ends today at 12:30 p.m.

The crown tournament is one of two held each year in the kingdom of An Tir – Oregon, Washington, Idaho and the seven western provinces of Canada, according to Victoria Brumley of Bend. Brumley, whose alter ego is the Viscountess Her Ladyship Duana Traherne, said the victor in ”heavy combat” fighting, along with his or her consort, rules for six months.

Battles are held to rule both ”principalities,” or regional areas, as well as entire kingdoms, which encompass several states.

In heavy combat, armored fighters face off with rattan or solid-core bamboo weapons, Farley said. At a minimum, the competitors must wear a steel helmet and armor protecting the throat, elbows, knees, groin and kidneys. Many at Saturday’s tournament, however, wore more.

The honor system governs each bout, where the fighters themselves acknowledge receiving hits and ”killing” blows. Disputes rarely arise, Brumley said.

The motivation for competing, Farley said, cleaves to the medieval theme.

”I would say there are 100 men – and women – fighting, not to become king, but to crown their queen,” he said.

Although rulers can reign more than once, they cannot rule for consecutive periods, Brumley said. As a former regional princess, she said she couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to, even if it were allowed.

”You really need a chance to decompress,” Brumley said. ”(People) think it’s a showboat job. It’s not. People look to you to be their dream of what a king and queen are.”

She said rulers are responsible for fielding recommendations for awards and honors such as knighthood, must attend events throughout the kingdom or region, uphold the ideals of the realm and deal with disputes. Rulers, however, do not organize SCA events.

Although the heavy combat tournament to crown the next rulers was the marquee event of the weekend, participants competed in rapier fighting – period fencing – and archery and browsed booths displaying clothing, handmade jewelry and weapons, all in keeping with the time period the SCA celebrates.

In the evening, Brumley said, there is entertainment.

”They have marvelous bardic circles where stories are told, and they have dancers and drums,” she said.

According to Salem resident Sarah Hoggatt, who was at the event as her alter ego Lady Roana Deletoile, it isn’t unusual for people in the SCA to dabble in several different outlets.

”The arts and crafts are alive and well,” she said. Metal work, illumination and calligraphy, costuming and other activities are all well-established in the SCA.

Hoggatt, who participates in archery, composes poetry and serves as a lady-in-waiting, said the ”creative” part of SCA allows people to follow their particular interests.

It means both men and women can fight, and allows SCA members to use camp chairs, coolers and modern tents or RVs.

”It’s all the intrigue of the Middle Ages with all the modern conveniences,” Kristin Kinman of Eugene said. Kinman’s persona was Mauera Cethin, a 16th-century woman studying swordplay. ”It’s pure escapism. There’s not enough theaters for all of us.”

Hoggatt agreed.

”It’s a chance to step out of mundane life and (show) a part of you that isn’t so readily expressed,” she said.

Gesturing at her brown tunic, shirt and breeches, she added, ”I couldn’t get away with this in mundane life.”

For more information about the SCA, go to http://www.sca.org.