Headless, Hapless is a Z-machine interactive fiction game written with Inform 7 and is © 2013 by Geoff Moore. It was an entry in Ectocomp 2013 where it took 3rd place.
In this small game, you play as a ghost. You've had a great night freaking people out with your headless horseman act, but you're ready to go home now. Just one problem: you've lost your head.
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Release 1 of the game.
Desolate Moorland
This game is mostly just wandering and looking at stuff. It's surprising how many things either look like heads or are about missing heads.
> x me. i.
> x neck. (No, your head isn't there.)
> x hands. x left hand. x right hand.
> x arms. x left arm. x right arm.
> x horse. x saddlebag. open it. x radish.
> w.
Forgotten Forest
> x trees. w.
Carnival of Utter Horror
> x clown. x sign. x mailbox.
> open mailbox. x leaflet.
> se.
Clearing
> x stump. x head.
> n. e. e.
Lake of Bottomless Despair (West Side)
> x lake. x scarefish. x heads.
> se.
Lake of Bottomless Despair (South Side)
> x deer. x bucket. x cabbage.
> nw. n.
Lake of Bottomless Despair (North Side)
> x cabin.
> w.
Castle Grounds
> x statue. (Also missing a head.)
> x raven. x castle. x door.
> n.
Castle Bloodmoor
> d.
Dungeon
> talk to paul. g. g. (If you ask for another hint, you'll owe him one.)
> talk to paul. ("It's under your arm!")
> look under left arm. (+1)
*** You have won ***
Yes, you could've won on the first turn if you knew what to do.
Mentioned:
Since you're a ghost, you can't pick up anything except your head. And the game ends when you find it. However you do have some other body parts, not listed in your inventory: neck, left arm, left hand, right arm, and right hand. Look under your left arm to find your head and win the game.
You have so far scored your-score out of a possible 1, in some turns.
This walkthrough is provided free of charge since the work it's based on has less than fifteen locations. Please consider it a thank you for your support!
I create larger walkthroughs too! Please visit my Patreon account if you're interested in helping me create more interactive fiction walkthroughs. I appreciate all the help I can get! Thanks again.