Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism muster for battle during their two-week encampment at Cooper's Lake Campground. According to the society, the name of the conflict, the “Pennsic Wars,” was created as a combination of “Punic Wars” (wars involving Rome from 264 B.C. to 146 B.C.) and “Pennsylvania.”

Megan and Carrie List of Butler have come back from the wars.

Or rather, Fenna Rioux of Frisia and Jergund Olfuss of Norway spent two weeks at the Pennsic Wars where the baronies of the Kingdom of Aethelmearc gathered to feast, sing, bestow honors and clash in single and mass combat.

Megan List, a Youngstown State University professor of curriculum instruction with focus on middle childhood and social studies instruction, and Carrie List, a seamstress, are both members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe.

The Lists are subjects of the Shire of Sunderoak, whose symbol is an oak split in two, an area that encompasses Butler, Armstrong and northern Indiana counties.

Shire of Sunderoak is the name of the Western Pennsylvania branch of the SCA.

Neighboring principalities include the Shire of West Hunters Home (Sharon) and the Barony of the Debatable Lands (the greater Pittsburgh area.)

It is part of the Kingdom of Aethelmearc, a larger, regional SCA group which includes West Virginia, west and central Pennsylvania and west and central New York.

Sunderoak has two or three thousand participants, List said. “They are registered as being part of the Shire whether or not they are active members. You don't have to be an active member to participate in anything.”

The local baronies took part in the recently concluded Pennsic War, an annual event staged during the first two weeks of August at Cooper's Lake Campground in Worth Township.

Staged as a “war” between the society's Kingdoms of the East and the Middle attendance in recent years has exceeded 10,000, according to the society.

The gathering featured single combat and large melees, tournaments, archery contests, stage performances, dancing and classes on medieval topics.

“Different kingdoms get together. Warlords organize in different groups of allies,” said Melanie List.

“Everything has a history because we are an historical organization,” List said.

Carrie List said she spent the two weeks attending lectures and exhibitions and expanding her knowledge of medieval times.

“They tend to have quite a few things going on. They could have up to 20 classes at any one time. You couldn't attend everything. You had to pick and choose,” said Carrie List.

She said she took in demonstrations of the warp-weighted loom, a loom that's hanging and not in a frame.

“There are different loom classes in many different cultures. There are different styles of weaving with different types of fibers,” she said.

“In a real way, it's like a medieval Olympics with lots of different events,” Megan List said, including exhibitions of weaponry, heavy combat in full armor, archery contests and lectures.

“There's fencing, but there is a debate whether fencing came in during the medieval period,” Megan List said.

“Arts and sciences is the how and why of what we do. There are demonstrations on mead making,” Megan List said. “I've taught about tanning, how to take rabbit hides and turn them into serviceable leather.”

“A lot of research goes into the period arts,” she said.

“This is where the anachronism part comes in, hand stitching a single garment. Our shire does a lot of handcrafted clothing” she said.

“I like embroidery from the Norwegian era,” said Carrie List.

Society members practice other nearly forgotten arts such as wire weaving to create chain mail and naal binding, an ancient way to construct fabric that predates knitting and crocheting.

Carrie List said everyone who attends wears period clothing, although eras and country fashions may clash.There is also pageantry, royal court activities, music and dance.There are royal social events where royalty and their retinues entertain. Chivalrous orders meet and laurels are bestowed on those who excel in arts and sciences or the martial arts.“We have different events at the campsite. We have bardic night where you literally sing for your supper. Everyone can be a bard. You get to try it if you want to,” she said.Carrie List said of their household, “We are part of House Stormhaven and have 20 people in the household group.”Kingdoms are made up of baronies and shires which in turn are made up of households.And of course, there is the medieval combat. Even this follows researched medieval customs.“There is a muster before the war. We don't just 'Braveheart' it. There are commands, formations,” Megan List said.While the number one rule in any fight be it fencing or large-scale melees is safety, Megan List said, “People do get knocked down.”Megan List as Fenna Rioux is a native of Frisia, a kingdom that existed in what is now the Netherlands, sandwiched between Saxony and the Angles.She has studied the Frisian people, customs and names to make her portrayal accurate.“When we look at the historical copies we look at historical perspectives: How would a Frisian have done this?” Megan List said.“My spouse has a Norse persona and approaches things from that perspective,” Megan List said.She said, “It's a fun and interesting way to enjoy yourself.”During the two weeks participants in Pennsic War live in tents organized into households whose members split duties such as making meals.“It was my first time at Pennsic,” Megan List, who grew up in New Castle, said.“It's a two-week vacation for the year. You really need to start planning now for next year,” she said.The Lists have been members of the society for three years.“What drew me in was I was on a picnic with my oldest son at Alameda and members of the local shire were having combat practice,” Megan List said. “As soon as we got there, there's a large, intimidating figure in shining armor said, 'Hey, how you doing?'”She had just moved back to Butler and got drawn in as she wanted to know more about the society and make new friends.“These people have become a big part of our family. We are broadening our close friends and building close relationships with people. A lot of people look forward to Pennsic for that aspect of family,” Megan List said. “It's like a family reunion.”As for her involvement in the society, she said, “I learned a lot about how to interact with people. I learned a lot about dealing with people, seeing them in one way and then seeing them in a different light.”Carrie List said, “I really enjoy the art and learning the forms of art: weaving and finger looping. I learned basket making.”“There are many crafts I could take. I could take illumination, food preservation. You can keep going. You can learn many things. I can take a class or there is always somebody who can introduce you to someone,” Carrie List said.

WHAT: Fireside Feast hosted by Shire of SunderoakWHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 2 to 2 p.m. Sept. 4WHERE: Breakneck Campground, 1757 Cheeseman Road, PortersvilleINFO: The event is centered around food. There are daylong competitions in which teams see who can come up with the best meals. Open-air cooking classes are offered.Those wishing to join the evening meal may take supplies and prepare their a dish over an open fire or bring a tureen from home. Fire pits and wood will be provided. Modern fare as well as period food is welcome.

The rulers of the kingdom address their troops. Attendance at the two-week event in recent years has topped 10,000.

While the major skirmishes seem to get the most attention, participants at the Pennsic Wars can also take part in fencing and learn medieval crafts. There are also royal social events.