The Lost Decree of Frederick II — Decipher the Liber Augustalis
Uncover the hidden truth behind Frederick II's revolutionary legal code. Track down eight clues scattered across medieval Melfi to expose the conspiracy that nearly destroyed the Constitutions of 1231.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
September 1231: Emperor Frederick II, the Stupor Mundi, issued the Liber Augustalis from Melfi Castle—a revolutionary legal code that would reshape European law for six centuries
Frederick II: The Stupor Mundi Emperor and His Revolutionary Code
September 1231: Emperor Frederick II, the Stupor Mundi, issued the Liber Augustalis from Melfi Castle—a revolutionary legal code that would reshape European law for six centuries. But legend whispers of a darker truth: a secret clause, struck from the official records, that threatened the power of the Church itself. Now, hidden within the stones of Melfi's Norman fortress, its cathedral, and the ancient streets where papal councils once convened, fragments of the lost decree remain. You must piece together eight cryptic markers left by Frederick's loyal scribes before the Church's agents erase them forever. Solve the riddles at each landmark, decipher the hidden message woven through the castle's towers and the town's sacred sites, and expose what Rome tried to bury for nearly 800 years. The truth of Melfi awaits—but only if you can outwit the centuries.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
« We have forever abolished the injustice of custom and decreed that justice be administered equally to all. »— Constitutions of Melfi, Liber Augustalis, 1231
The Birth of a Modern State
Frederick II, born in 1194 in Jesi, was a Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily of rare intelligence. Raised in the multicultural melting pot of Norman Sicily, he spoke several languages and was interested in science, philosophy, and law. His vision was that of a powerful, centralized state, capable of rivaling the great monarchies of Europe and freeing itself from feudal and papal interference. His reign was marked by a constant desire to rationalize administration and create a unified legal system for all his territories.
The culmination of this ambition was the promulgation of the Constitutions of Melfi, or Liber Augustalis, in August 1231. This collection of laws, the result of colossal work by jurists such as Peter of Vinea, is considered one of the first modern legislative codes of the Middle Ages. It aimed to standardize law in the Kingdom of Sicily, strengthen royal authority, limit the power of barons and the Church, and ensure more equitable justice for all subjects. Frederick II affirmed his divine right and absolute sovereignty, laying the foundations for a secular and bureaucratic state administration, well ahead of its time.
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Revolutionary Code
Discover the Constitutions of Melfi, the first secular legislative code of the Middle Ages.
The Visionary Emperor
Follow in the footsteps of Frederick II, the "Stupor Mundi," and his ambition to build a modern state.
The Fortress of Laws
Explore Melfi, the place where the Liber Augustalis was proclaimed, the heart of his kingdom.
The Emperor, the Law, Justice.
An empire of rules, an eternal legacy.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Outsmart the traps of time and piece together the Emperor's secret message to defend the legacy of his revolutionary laws.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
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