Yellowknife (Feb 25/04) - A word from the initiated -- if you've never worn a medieval fencing helmet before, don't put one on and then go for a drive. That next turn might be a doozy.

Needless to say, cotton-stitched ball caps and Synergy hockey sticks were in short supply during King Arthur's time. A lot of stuff people made back then was heavy -- very heavy.

"You get a little bit hurt," said Warren Cummins, president of the Yellowknife Medieval Society, before going a few rounds on the end of a broad sword after feasting at Coyote's Bar and Grill, Saturday night. "You got to practise."

Cummins was one of several Yellowknifers and gathered guests from Alberta and Saskatchewan, who donned authentic medieval wear for the feast.

The main goal of the group, he said, is just to have fun with like-minded individuals interested in Old English lore.

Oh yeah, it's kind of nice having some mates to cross swords and pole-axes with, too, he said. The event featured several medieval weapons and shields on display, plus some old-style leather purses.

"There are people in the city that have an interest for this sort of thing," he said.

"Right now, we're a fighting group, so we're focused on fencing."

Will Yannacoulias, head of the Western Canadian Living History group, came up from Saskatoon to see what the Yellowknife medieval scene was all about.

He came, he tipped a few tankards, and liked what he saw. "It's fantastic that a small community has such a scene here," said the University of Saskatchewan history major. "People here know their (medieval) history, and have done their research."

Of course, what would a medieval night be without a few tankards of ale.

"I just came up to do some weapons training and drink lots of alcohol," said Yannacoulias.