The good Captain flips a coin towards a local when they go into the field. It's behind a warehouse, out of the way. Looks like it's some sort of animal pen, usually.

"The foundation is the spear. Even if you choose a different weapon later, knowing the spear will do you good. There is a tradition and body of knowledge for it. The pointy stick may very well be Man's first friend against the dark."

He puts on a look of focus, and out of nowhere a beam of light seems to melt into reality in his hand. He slowly demonstrates a few poses and basic routines, expecting Bria to follow along. Stand just so, rest your weight like this. Grip the spear shaft and use its leverage. Stern, expecting perfection from the start, but not impatient - and willing to explain why spear form is the way it is.

Bria starts off doing it on her own, but after a moment, all three headmates flicker into view, quickly becoming substantial enough to hold spears, and then, with a touch of effort together, they all mentally push, and three more spears appear, one in the hands of each girl. They all start drilling forms together.

This push seems to be a strain, a stretch- It takes serious effort, like lifting something heavy that hurts your fingers as they dig into too-small corners or forcing yourself up at three in the morning when you've barely gotten a wink of sleep and it's warm and comfy-

But they can manage it.

The good captain does spear drill right alongside them, movements firm and steady with practice. Nick decides, after most of an hour, to test how substantial the other three are at the moment. He animates a mass of glittery rope into a vaguely-humanoid form three feet high, and singles out - Maya first, getting her to fight it.

She turns to face it sidelong, feet spread in a steady stance, spear at the ready, pointing toward the practice dummy.

The animate mass of rope charges with a fairly believable sense of weight and balance - or more specifically, reckless disregard for balance or caution. It leaps forward, claws out, and attempts a halfhearted dodge, trying to close in for a claw swipe.

She steps quickly back from the incoming swipe and thrusts the spear at the center of the mass.