Headless Guide

"It is said in Nova Scotia that, when pirates decided to bury treasure, they came ashore with only a handful of men. The Captain, of course, and two or three men he trusted.

And one stranger.

It is said that, once the treasure was safely buried, the Captain would ask who wanted to stay behind and guard it. In the stories, the stranger volunteers, hoping to take the treasure and run.

So, the stranger is beheaded on the spot, their ghost left to haunt the place and guard the treasure for centuries. According to the stories, the stranger is bound to the place now, unable to leave, rest, or move on.

Unless, of course, someone were to discover the gold they have been guarding. Unless they could find some way to convince someone, anyone, to face their fears, head out into the night, and claim the blood gold for themselves."

Headless Guide is a game for a single person. It can be a simple solitaire card game or, if you prefer, a map-making game.

Gather two six-sided dice, something to write on, and something to write with. If you want, get a blank piece of paper to draw the map on.

A player lays out 11 cards with the Ace of Diamonds (representing the Treasure) on the end.

After choosing one of four characters, each with a different combination of Courage and Silence and a special ability, the player flips a card and reads the description tied to that card.

After resolving the rules on a card - often including an attempt to roll under their current Courage or Silence - and adjusting their values accordingly, the player flips again until their Courage runs out, or they claim the Treasure.