When I learned that an Escape Game had emerged close to our home, in Normandy South Eure, I immediately booked a session! This is how my sister and I, my husband, my brother-in-law and my nephew, we prepared to face "The assembly of black magicians".
Born in Japan and become a flagship attraction all over the world, Escape Games appeared in France in 2014. Between treasure hunt, Cluedo and role-playing game, the concept appeals to all age categories. This phenomenon, already well established in Paris, is now conquering all French regions.
The Ludo d'Iton, an itinerant associative game library, based in the south of the Eure department, has designed several scenarios for beginners as well as for addicts. If you think association implies amateurism, think again! The storyline is designed by gaming professionals. Its difficulty is real, the means are diverse and varied and the pleasure of the game has nothing to envy that of the big cities!
"The assembly of black magicians" is a scenario accessible to a family (minimum 8 years old) or experienced players who will have just as much fun.
A rumor is circulating in the city; black magicians are said to be preparing a bad move. Our group has just found their meeting place. It seems these shadow men have plans to summon a demon. We have 60 minutes to act and find a way to ward off the curse. Will we make it out alive?
Simon, the host, welcomes us as soon as we arrive. The tension is palpable. My 10-year-old nephew struggles to contain his excitement. Facing the library door, Simon briefs us on what we can and cannot do. A little impressed, he reassures us by explaining that he will be standing in the adjacent room and will observe us using a camera. At any time, he will intervene, if he deems it necessary, to give us clues. And finally, comes the moment to jump into the mouth of the wolf ...
The door opens. We barely have time to discover the setting that we must launch into the investigation. A clock begins to count down the allotted time. Scary music sets the tone.
At the beginning, we are a little clumsy, hesitant. No doubt for fear of breaking or moving a clue that would have escaped us. Then little by little, we get caught up in the game. We dig, we observe, we open everything that can be opened, we look for improbable combinations… We can get stuck for several minutes because of a minimal error or chain discoveries at an extraordinary speed!
Coolness, team spirit, communication and thoroughness are essential. The youngest also have their place in this game. Not because it is easy (quite the contrary), but because they have a capacity of adaptation and manipulation that adults do not have. Sometimes you have to reframe them because the excitement of the game scatters them, but they are formidable teammates capable of surprising us in the logic they develop!
At the 58rd minute, believing that we are still far from having discovered everything, I begin to prepare myself for failure. While my playmates are busy on a track that I have not followed, I do not know where to turn! Suddenly the music stops. A terrible, blood-curdling laugh sounds the end of the 60 minutes. At the same time, my brother-in-law and my husband cry victory. It seems they found the solution at the very last second! Simon walks into the room, making us all jump! He congratulates us.
The pressure is suddenly released. We are slowly coming back to reality. We do a little debriefing on the progress of the game: our impressions, the elements that blocked or enlightened us… etc. We are pleased ! Simon invites us to leave a note in the guestbook where other participants who have gone before us say they are as happy as we are.