Cape city officials hammer out safe solution for 'medieval' role-playing group

Andrew Litzelfelner loves playing an assassin. Dressed in medieval attire, he shoots padded arrows at the “warrior” and the “barbarian” on a sunny Saturday in Cape Girardeau’s Arena Park.

But Litzelfelner and his fellow role players in the local chapter of Amtgard — a live-action, recreation society centered on medieval times — recently discovered such “combat” put them in violation of a city law banning the discharge of any “projectile weapon.”

City officials have taken steps to put Litzelfelner and his fellow combatants back in good graces with the city.

The group, founded in 2013, had been using Capaha Park’s “Cherry Hill” as its outdoor kingdom.

John Stovall, whose role-playing name is “Lord Squire Ayrwolfe,” said his group approached city staff to resolve the problem.

Andrew Litzelfelner draws a bow back to fire a modified arrow during an Amtgard practice Saturday at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

“We wanted to make sure we wouldn’t get in trouble. We are not out here to break laws,” Stovall said. “We are out here to have fun.”

Litzelfelner joked he and his pals in their costumed attire also want to “look good doing it.”

Parks and recreation director Julia Thompson said the group was offered a location at Arena Park, near the teeball field, to play their games.

Thompson said the Capaha Park location was not suitable for such activity.

“Capaha Park is just too busy,” she said.

Thompson said the group’s members can use the Arena Park location as long as the teeball field is not being used.

Otherwise, the group can use the open, grassy area farther east of the ball field.

The group has been holding its activities in Arena Park for the past several weeks.

City attorney Eric Cunningham is drafting an amendment to the city ordinance that is expected to be presented to the city council for approval in the coming weeks.

It essentially would put in writing what city officials have already done in this case.

Cunningham said the change would create an exception to the “unlawful use of a weapon,” provided the activity or event has been approved by the parks director and takes place in a city park.

Thompson said she’s pleased with how the issue has been resolved. So too are the local members of Amtgard, who pointed out they always have been focused on safety with their foam-padded weapons, including swords and bows and arrows. Players also have foam shields.

The arrows, for example, don’t have sharp points. The end of the shaft is capped with a soft, practice tennis ball and is wrapped in layers of padding.

“Each one is checked thoroughly,” said Litzelfelner, who goes by the name “Lyle Rachir” in his medieval role. “You can’t have people out here being shot by a real arrow.”

Players are prohibited from targeting the head in their competition.

Dustin Parker, aka “Hammerfist,” serves as the group’s safety officer. “I check all weapons,” said the black-costume-clad Parker, who plays the role of a barbarian.

Group members have to abide by the international society’s lengthy rule book, which deals with everything from safety to the types of “weapons” that can be used by each character.

Parker said he joined the small group in April when he spotted some of the “combatants” out in Capaha Park.

“I was riding by on my motorcycle, and it looked like fun,” he said.

Stovall, who lives in Oran, Missouri, said the group he helped found has about five or six regular members.

They meet almost every Saturday to train and fight and on occasion hold organized games, he said.

He and his fellow role players said they would welcome new members. They carry around an informational flier that proclaims, “The kingdom needs heroes.”

Jordan Dickerson, aka “Hitman,” plays a warrior. The Cape Girardeau resident wears a vest of armor and a metal helmet when he goes into “combat.” Dickerson said he used to box. The role-playing activities remind him of boxing.

“It has a timeless, medieval feel to it. I get a huge adrenaline rush out of it,” he said.

Dickerson said he and his fellow players don’t just confine their activities to Cape Girardeau. They travel to other cities to participate in medieval games with other role players. Likewise, players from other cities travel to Cape Girardeau to enjoy their hobby.

Fellow role player Samantha Killion wears a full-length gown in her role as “Bertrice,” a monk. She said there is more to the group than just “fighting.”

She made her costume and those of several other players. Killion likes making the costumes as detailed as possible. She loves the camaraderie, too.

“It is a lot of fun, even for people who don’t want to get out and fight all the time,” she said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.