In a not-so-distant kingdom, tucked deep inside the Rockridge BART parking lot, lies a land where swords are yielded, armor is worn, and principality is everything. Led by the Society for Creative Anachronism, the Kingdom of the West is an organization of royals stretching from Alaska to southern California, with branches even in Japan, Guam, and Thailand, known as the Barony of the Far West.
The Principality of the Mists is the Bay Area’s local society, where every Thursday evening, from 7 – 10 p.m., medieval-style sword fighting brings LARPers together. LARP, or live action roleplay, is where one brings their own fictional character to life through acting, typically in a group or game setting. However, for the Knights of Rockridge, this is no game. They are a full-fledged kingdom, complete with Kings, Queens, Dukes, and Duchesses of the West.
Their first fighting practice, hosted in May of 1966 at a private residence in Berkeley, has since blossomed into a tight-knit community. The knights are endowed with awards based on achievements, with an emphasis on personal achievement, as opposed to glory.
I attended a meeting, where I spoke to Buffy, a knight who regularly attends the Thursday evening fights. He explained, “Are you kind? Are you courteous? Are you helpful? Do you think before you yell at somebody? Do you stand up and say something when someone is being contrary, or mean, or bullied? Can you stand up and say something?” as being the most important qualities of a good knight.
The knights also strive for inclusivity. Along with having a sizable LGBTQ+ community, the Kingdom of the West also works to include history from around the globe. “Yes, for a while, we were a little astray because our history concept was very European-centric, and even though you could branch out, it was really hard.” Buffy explains. “We have since changed those rules. It was like, you know, let’s just stop. We’re not the end all, be all existence. The whole world had a Middle Ages.”
And inclusivity builds community. Despite members of the 59-year-old Kingdom of the West being worldwide, one would believe they grew up in the same turret. Buffy recalls a story he heard during his time knighting. “A girl is going to college in New York, and her car breaks down in Tennessee. So they start talking to each other across kingdoms. And they find her help. They find her help for her car, they find her a place to stay. They get her stuff loaded up and get her safe. So this college age kid is now safe and fed and taken care of, and then sent on their way. These people, we help each other.”
So next Thursday, when you are inevitably walking down College Avenue, check out the knights under the overpass. For anyone interested in the hobby, the knights of Rockridge have gear and swords to borrow, and they are extremely kind towards those who are looking for a battle.