In the Endless Night adventure, the main character, Erika uses a chain weapon with a square of steel welded to the end to defend herself as she tries to regain her freedom. A chained weapon can be very challenging to wield but something is always better than nothing. The weapon that Erika uses is still attached to her body so if it would have gotten stuck on her opponent, it would have been very bad. The weapon is heavy, bulky and it requires momentum to cause damage. Any large blunt objects are going to be able to do a lot of damage.

The weapon from the story may not be the best choice for an everyday carry item but there are lots of options that you can carry to defend yourself, whether you are headed to the office of the airport. A flashlight is an easy item to carry and it's purpose is rarely questioned. Tactical flashlights can be a very devastating weapon. The tops can be designed as a bludgeoning weapon and the strobe effect can be a useful tool at night. Keys on your key-chain or other hard objects that you have connected there can easily be carried in your hand while walking in public places. A metal pen can be an efficient stabbing tool and when used on soft body parts it can be extremely debilitating. A multi-tool is an item that is frequently carried and is a socially acceptable item to have at your hip. Your backpack or purse can be used as a shield against a bladed weapon or a weapon to attack with. Your belt can easily be removed and used as a whipping weapon in defense. Many people carry a water bottle with them wherever they go. There is a trend towards using metal water bottles to avoid plastics. This can be a great defensive tool. An umbrella is an acceptable item that can even be taken onto a plane. Make sure it is a quality metal that will not bend at the first swing. Your money clip, wallet or cell phone can be used as a bludgeoning weapon as well.

When you are walking a walking stick can be your best friend. It can either be purchased or made out of something as simple as a broomstick. Using a broomstick,you can shave our a portion of it and wrap it in paracord. Drill a hole through the top and use it as a tent post or a convenient anchor point. Bells can also be attached to it if you are hiking in the wilderness and don't want animals to be surprised by your approach. When you use a stick out hiking it turns you into a tripod which makes is safer and faster to travel. The walking stick can be used as a digging stick. You can judge the depth of water with it or put it in the ground and use it as a sundial. The stick gives you a longer reach for picking fruit from trees, checking unknown objects on the trail, checking for snakes and defending yourself from snakes. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to wield a bow staff but nothing takes the place of in person instruction. Relax and play with it. You may smack yourself in the head or the ear but keep going and have fun.

If your walking stick breaks in half, you will find yourself wielding two sticks. In martial arts the combination of two shorter sticks are known as escrima stick. They are very versatile weapons to learn to wield. Practice with these weapons improve hand/eye coordination for faster weaponless fighting. Your distance judgement will improve and you will be able to see objects coming at you faster. Using escrima sticks simulates bladed weapons when you focus on one edge as an imaginary blade. The strength in your wrist and hands will improve and your hands will get stronger from taking the abuse of the sticks. To learn how to wield these weapons you can watch videos but all the videos in the world won't replace quality instruction. Relax and let if flow. Think about a bladed edge. Once you get familiar with escrima sticks, most anything can substitute. You can use a bat, a rolling pin, a tire iron, a spoon, a stick, a broken walking stick, a magazine, a mag-light or fireplace tools.

They key to any weapon is to practice and become familiar with it. If you don't feel comfortable with it, you won't pick it up to defend yourself when you need it. If you are unsure what to do, there are schools that teach these skills all over the United States. Go meet some great folks and learn some valuable skills.