European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Top this suit of homemade Armor a made by staff sgt. Michael Harkness weighs around 80 pounds. Right Harkness As Quot lord Tafon of Black Oak Quot prepares to perform a coup de Grace on scottish peasant Quot pfc. Trahern Macmurray. Above a Viking prepares to do Battle. Story and photos by Jim Derheim staff photographer cowboys and indians. Cops and robbers. Most of us grew up playing make believe using our fingers for pistols and a Bent Branch for a Bow. Our backyards or vacant lots were our battlefields. Now that we re grown our games Are a Little More sophisticated. But instead of Nintendo Why not try knights and Maidens or Kings and jesters. And you Don t have to imagine your dreams apes. Through Europe s historical landmarks you can step into .1 Castle courtyard and do actual Battle with a fully equipped sword wielding Squire. The Art of make believe is carried to a High degree of realism by the society for creative anachronisms. Made up of people whose imaginations Are in overdrive the society performs in a wide variety of events throughout Europe. Most participants have not one but often two or three different Personas each of which stays totally in character no matter How much you taunt and tease them. Of course he Man with the Mallet in one hand and the axe in the other does no to have any problems intimidating the jesters in Cowboy boots who never graduated beyond cowboys and indians. On a recent summer weekend an armoured bejewelled rag tag royally outfitted ensemble of about 25 americans descended upon the ruins of a Castle in Minzenberg West Germany to join about 50 other actors and actresses from surrounding areas in a very real step Back to the Renaissance period. For two Days the caste Walls once again held a court magician wandering minstrels beggars shouting tax collectors and clashing swords. For the upper class there were Booths Selling Lum-of-the-14th-Century arts and crafts. Staff sgt Michael i darkness who dressed in 80 pounds of homemade Armor for his rebirth As he lord of Black Oak did Battle with someone who would normally be his Comrade in arms in the Field of real War. Huge clubs smashed against leg and Chest Armor. The crowd of Mere mortals gasped each time one of these ghosts from Feudal times found his Mark against has opponent. The scottish peasant otherwise known As pfc. Trahern Macmurray tried to fend off the blows with his brightly painted shield but in the end fell panting and beaten to the grass growing around a 700-year-old Tower if cops and robbers had been this real none of us would have made it into adulthood. Those wanting to join the society for creative anachronisms can Call Michael Latzko president at. 06023-67 39 or write to him at Box 934, Apo 09057. July 1% 1990 stripes Magazine