Knights and wizards capture the ‘whimsical nature of being a human’ on Sundays at Marina Bay Park

With Halloween fast approaching, it’s not strange to see people toting chain mail armor and a coat of arms. But the knights and wizards running into battle at Marina Bay Park aren’t there to trick or treat.

The Duchy of Wyvern’s Spur, a live action role playing group, brings people together from all realms of life to duel and cast spells in Richmond’s Marina Bay Park every Sunday at noon, providing a supportive space for members to be silly and creative.

The current reign of  Duke Mask, also known as Benjamin Gratch, just ended on Oct. 19. Mask has been involved in Amtgard — a live-action role playing that combines combat and spell casting — for 22 years and has won many awards and accolades for his leadership in the group. Each reign is defined by a specific quest created by the duke. The goal of Mask’s quest was to take back Marina Bay Park, which had been wrongfully usurped by three evil cults. The only ones who can save the land – Wyvern’s Spur.

Eduardo Villa, who plays by the name Chewy, came from a different live-action role playing called Belegarth, which is exclusively combat based. He switched to Amtgard because it is more accessible and anyone can win.

“The thing I like most about being here is that you can just be silly,” Chewy said. “There’s not many opportunities for you in the real world to be silly and have fun and to remind yourself to practice the whimsical nature of being a human.”

Though there are many rules outlined in the Amtgard rulebook, the game is simple: Swords can strike limbs and the torso. If two of your limbs or your torso get hit, you’re dead. Magic users can cast spells in which they point at their opponent, state their name, and repeat the spell three times. “I command thee to stop” is a spell that will make your opponent halt in their tracks.

On the battleground on Oct. 19, two groups fought at the castle wall, which was a rope placed on the ground. Mask counted down and the team outside the castle advanced. Warriors wielding swords made of PVC pipe and foam stormed the castle, while wizards began casting spells. Druids threw blue iceballs that froze their combatants and healers saved team members with the phrase “by the grace of the divine, thou art healed.” Incantations swirled in the air and mixed with the sounds of Marina Bay Park, where there were picnics and a family celebrating a quinceanera nearby.

Gaining popularity

The Duchy of Wyvern’s Spur is a part of the Kingdom of Westmarch, which includes Amtgard groups across California, Nevada and Hawaii. Wyvern’s Spur began at Cesar Chavez Park 2001 in the Berkeley Marina and moved to Cordonices Park in 2011 due to low attendance. In those days, there were as few as two members and the group was demoted to a shire, a designation of the smallest Amtgard chapter. According to the AmtWiki, a rumor spread throughout the kingdom that the squirrels of Cordonices had taken over; they had been voted into leadership positions because there weren’t enough people to fill the roles.

Though the group has ebbed and flowed in membership, since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a resurgence of players, and the group was promoted to a duchy. In 2023, the Duchy of Wyvern’s Spur moved to Marina Bay Park in Richmond to accommodate the growing chapter.

On the field, players may be fighting against one another, but in between battles and quests, the Duchy of Wyvern’s Spur lets fantasy lovers, crafters, and Dungeon and Dragons’enthusiasts gather and socialize.  

Bridget Canfield, who goes by Lady Bridget, used to drive her kids about 60 miles from Davis every weekend to play. They played through middle and high school, and she said the silliness of the game helped them through the awkward years. 

“It teaches you fair play, to be a good sport and laugh at yourself,” she said.

Now her kids are grown up, but she participates in the duchy by weaving yellow, red and white enchantment strips for the players and running the Angarium Post and Exchange, a mail service that sends letters of encouragement to the players on and off the field. She brings her cart and her dog to the park every week to handout hand-made crafts and offer support to the group. Everyone in the duchy has a role, including her dog, Duff, who was awarded the title of lord.

Growing up with Amtgard

The youngest member, Amelia Stender, plays under the name Wildflower and is in 10th grade. She  has been a part of Amtgard her whole life. Her parents, Christine and Josh Stender, play by the names Ailanthus and Castings, and met while fighting in another Amtgard group when they were 18 and 19. The two played together, began dating, and eventually got married. They gave their son, Alex, the fighting name of Super Ninja before he was even born. Within Amtgard, everyone is called by their in-game names.

“Once we were married,” Ailanthus said, “I finally started calling him Josh.” 

Isca Dawnshadow, who fights by the name of Era, just joined the duchy three months ago after taking an eight-year break. 

“Pretty much everyone here was immediately welcoming and kind and very queer-friendly,” Era said. 

Lady Bridget gifted Era a light purple Paragon warrior sash with chain woven delicately on either side, welcoming Era into the group. 

People outside of the Amtgard have generally been welcoming to the sword bearers in Marina Bay Park. 

“Historically, we have occasionally had people complain just because we look kind of weird. But in the last five years, there’s a whole lot more acceptance,” Ailanthus said. 

Amtgard is open to anyone 14 and older. Even if you don’t want to fight on the field, Ailanthus said, “There is a role for everyone. Any interest you have out there, there is a way to put it in this game.”

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