Medieval Combat of the Nerf variety

NORMAL -- Amber Conrader called her mother to let her know she had arrived safely in the Twin Cities at the Wolfpack opener of the Belegarth Medieval Combat Society season.

"Hi mom, I arrived safely and I'm ready to die a few hundred times," is the kind of message Conrader leaves.

But instead of fighting and dying that Saturday, Conrader of Yorkville, spent her time cheering and photographing her boyfriend, Andy Jones, an Illinois State University student, known as Ixous on the battlefield.

They were among close to 400 medieval combat enthusiasts who literally hit the ground running at ISU's Horton Field House, wearing medieval or fantasy-themed clothing and fighting with foam-padded weapons.

"It's like a giant game of rock, paper, scissors," said Diego The Goat, also known as Shannon Kelley of Mahomet. Here, the pole-armed beat the shields, the shields beat the archers, and the archers beat the pole-armed.

Combatants pounded their shields as the two warring forces walked toward each other in battle. In addition to major battles, there were also smaller skirmishes.

Kelley stood out from the crowd, with newly made black and gold leather shoulder pads. "They make me look intimidating, but also a bigger target," he said.

He has been fighting for 16 years and brought a fan club that included his wife and their two toddlers to cheer him on from the stands.

"The costumes are a big part of it," said Laura Cunningham of Warlord of Wolfpack on the High Plains, the ISU group sponsoring the event.

The ISU Wolfpack, founded about 13 years ago, has 120 registered members, with about 50 active during the season.

Cunningham, known as Faline on the battlefield, started at age 15. She's now 28, working on her master's degree in fine arts and has designed all her own costumes, like many participants.

The games are a good place for medieval enthusiasts to role play, with people mixing authenticity and creativity in their costumes, she said.

The majority of medieval fighters are 18 to 25 years old. But, among the Champaign-based Numenor Belegarth group that Kelley belongs to, there is a wide range that includes students, doctors and lawyers.

For some the medieval garb comes second, and the physical activity is what it's all about.

"I stay in shape and have a blast," Cunningham said.

"I wouldn't miss it," added Jonathan Chapman of Phoenix, attending the first combat of the new season. "Everybody has been sitting home all winter wanting to fight."

Much of his life centers around the sport. Today he earns more of his income designing and making costumes for combat than through his work as a commercial painter.

"Lots of friends think this is childish, but I love this sport," he said.

He admits to having a few minor injuries, holding up a bent pinky finger as proof, but says the sport is safer than most those played in high school.

And while the majority of participants were die-hard, longtime combatants, there were some new recruits as well.

"I'm still new, but I have a thirst," said Kristen "Sway" Ramsour of Ohio, taking a breath after battle.