Meknès — The Forgotten Oath of the Black Guard
Uncover the shattered oath binding Moulay Ismaïl's Black Guard. Decode fragments hidden in Meknès' imperial ruins to expose a betrayal that doomed the elite Abid al-Bukhari.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the early 18th century, Sultan Moulay Ismaïl forged the Abid al-Bukhari, his fearsome Black Guard of 25,000 enslaved soldiers, into an unbreakable force through a sacred oath sworn in a secret regi
Meknès — The Forgotten Oath of the Black Guard
You are a scholar dispatched by the Alaouite court to Meknes in 1727, tasked with finding the parchments sealing the fate of the Black Guard after the Sultan's
Dive into the heart of Meknes, the imperial city of Moulay Ismaïl, to uncover the forgotten oath of his formidable Black Guard.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest for the forgotten oath begins in front of Bab Mansour, Meknes' most imposing gate. Built in the early 18th century by Moulay Ismaïl, it served as the ceremonial entrance to the imperial palace. Its green zellige tiles and calligraphic inscriptions give you a first glimpse of the imperial city's grandeur. This is where messengers and dignitaries passed, perhaps carrying the same parchments you seek. Place El Hedim, a vast esplanade bordered by souks, was Meknes' vibrant heart. It was the site of the Black Guard's military parades and royal proclamations, a key historical site for understanding Meknes' history and its inhabitants' role.
Continuing your visit to Meknes, you reach Heri es-Souani, Moulay Ismaïl's royal granaries and gigantic stables. These impressive structures, built to store provisions and house 12,000 horses, bear witness to the Sultan's military logistics and economic power in the 17th century. The Agdal Basin, a huge water reservoir, supplied these facilities and irrigated the royal gardens. These places, though functional, were engineering marvels that supported the life of the court and the Black Guard, essential elements of the Fès-Meknès heritage. They are silent witnesses to the city's past.
The path then leads you to Dar el-Kebira, Moulay Ismaïl's imperial palace. Although largely in ruins today, this architectural complex was once a city within a city, housing mosques, gardens, and residences for the court and the Black Guard. It was within these walls that important decisions were made and oaths of loyalty were sworn. Ksar el-Hdim, or 'fortress of ruins,' is another testimony to this era, solidifying the image of a powerful and well-defended Meknes. This thematic circuit brings the era of the sultans back to life.
Your exploration of Meknes continues towards Bab Lakhmis, another monumental gate that marked the city's entrance. Less ornate than Bab Mansour, it was nevertheless strategic for controlling trade and military flows. The surroundings of this gate were likely gathering places for the Black Guard's troops before their expeditions. Moulay Ismaïl's Mausoleum, your final stop, is the Sultan's eternal resting place. This pilgrimage site, built in 1703, is a place of veneration and a time capsule of Moroccan art and architecture, a highlight of any visit to Meknes.
By completing this GPS treasure hunt in Meknes, you will not only have discovered the emblematic monuments of the Fès-Meknès region but also uncovered part of the mystery surrounding the Black Guard and its oath. Each augmented reality clue will have brought you closer to the truth, revealing aspects of Meknes' history that books alone cannot convey. This journey offers you an immersive understanding of Moulay Ismaïl's power and legacy, a true discovery of Moroccan heritage. You carry with you the feeling of having walked in the footsteps of a bygone era, having accomplished your scholar's mission.
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
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?
Forgotten Register
Reconstruct a secret document that detailed the Black Guard's oath of loyalty.
The Sultan's Army
Dive into the heart of the most powerful military organization in 17th century Morocco.
Imperial Heritage
Discover the symbols of power of Moulay Ismaïl and his imperial city.
Loyalty is carved in the stone and blood of the Empire.
Will you find the oath that united Moulay Ismaïl's men?
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, 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
Dive into the heart of Meknes, the imperial city of Moulay Ismaïl, to uncover the forgotten oath of his formidable Black Guard.
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
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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