Swords clashing, banners waving in the wind, and the sound of drums echoed through Glenmere park last week.

To my surprise, there were several dozen people on the hill, most wearing armor, carrying weapons, and dueling each other. 

I had stumbled upon a meeting of one of the most unusual clubs that UNC has to offer,聽Bearsgate.聽

鈥淭he SCA is a pre-renaissance living history society, and we recreate 17th century life,鈥�
said Skye Sutherlin, Co-president of Bearsgate.

The society for creative anachronisms, also known as the SCA1, is an organization recognized internationally. 

Northern 黑料社区, called 鈥淯nser Hafen鈥� by players, falls under one of 20 kingdoms of the 鈥淜nown World鈥� called 鈥淭he Outlands,鈥� which includes parts of New Mexico, Wyoming and Texas. 

This branch of the Unser Hafen barony, Bearsgate was founded around a year and a half ago by Skye Sutherlin and Cody Field. 

鈥淪kye posted a story on Snapchat saying like 鈥榟ey, our school doesn鈥檛 have an SCA chapter, and the SCA is a cool historical re-enactment society for like knights and things,鈥欌�� said Cody Field, Co-president. 鈥淎nd I thought that was cool and exactly up my alley.鈥�

There are two types of meetings you鈥檒l find Bearsgate members at. Either donning plate mail to enter heavy combat training or picking up a quill to indulge in the arts of the time period. 

I was able to attend both events hosted by Bearsgate, asking myself why very few people knew about the game. 

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have a FaceBook, a lot of the information we got was through word of mouth,鈥� said Hammons, a veteran player who has been a part of the SCA for 29 years. 

Bearsgate is made up of not only UNC students but surrounding community members like Hammons as well, with around 25-30 active members at any given time.

If you don鈥檛 happen to have the tools on hand, Bearsgate has you covered. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e working on creating a lot of sets of loaner armor because not everyone is going to have a full set of medieval armor, or something safe for combat,鈥� said Amanda Farley, one of the newcomers to Bearsgate.聽

Made from recycled plastic drum barrels, the armor is heat molded, fastened together, and is suitable to endure heavy combat.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really not too bad, it slows you down and you can feel the weight moving, but it鈥檚 not uncomfortable or difficult at all,鈥� Farley said.

The club has made such a large impact regionally to the SCA that many members have won awards.

鈥淚 received an award called 鈥楾he Order of the Dancing Monkey鈥�, which is essentially an award of 鈥榟ey, you are kind of a funny guy, you make this barony a better place,鈥欌�� Field said. 

Bearsgate is always open to new members and invites anyone who is interested into their ranks.