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Assassin's Creed Odyssey is massive. Huge. Maybe too big for its own good sometimes? You’ve got hundreds of side quests, some that involve killing legendary beasts and others that involve... well, helping an old lady get her "performance" herbs. But one quest stands out for being particularly annoying if you don't know exactly where to look. I'm talking about Odor in the Court. It's a support quest in the "Free Speech" questline located in Athens. You’re basically doing the dirty work for Aristophanes to help him take down Cleon. Honestly, the game doesn't give you a GPS pinpoint for every objective here, which is why people are still searching for it years after release.
Finding the Odor in the Court AC Odyssey Quest Location
You aren't just going to stumble onto this by accident unless you're deep into the Attika region's story. You have to trigger it. This quest is a piece of the larger political puzzle in Athens. After you meet Aristophanes at Perikles’ symposium, things get messy. He wants to discredit Cleon. To do that, he needs dirt. Or in this case, a witness who smells like a sewer.
The quest begins near the Pnyx in Athens. You'll find Aristophanes waiting for you. He’s agitated. He needs you to find a guy named Metiochos. This guy was supposed to help him with his play, The Knights, but he’s gone missing. Typical. You head to Metiochos’s house, and that’s where the "odor" part of Odor in the Court AC Odyssey kicks in. The house is a wreck. There are snakes everywhere. Why are there always snakes in this game? I hate the snakes.
Searching the House for Clues
Once you clear out the snakes—seriously, just use your torch or a multi-shot arrow—you need to investigate. This is the part where players get stuck. You have to interact with specific clues to progress. If you miss one, the quest marker won't move. It’s frustrating.
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- Check the body on the floor. It’s not Metiochos, but it's a start.
- Look at the smashed furniture.
- Find the note on the table.
Basically, you figure out that some thugs took him. They didn't like what he had to say about Cleon. This is where the game asks you to track them down to a nearby construction site or a small camp. It’s not far, just a few hundred meters away.
Dealing with the Thugs
When you get to the location where Metiochos is being held, you have choices. Odyssey loves its choice system, though here it’s mostly about how much blood you want on your hands. You can go in stealthy. You can go in like a maniac. I usually go for the maniac approach because the combat in Odyssey is just satisfying enough to justify it.
You’ll find three or four thugs guarding him. They aren't legendary bosses. They’re just standard Athenian guards/thugs. Once they’re dead (or unconscious if you’re playing a "non-lethal" Kassandra/Alexios, which, let's be real, almost nobody does), talk to Metiochos. He’s shaken up. He tells you the thugs were sent to silence him.
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Why the Name "Odor in the Court"?
The name is a pun. Obviously. It plays on "Order in the Court." But it also refers to the literal stench of the situation. Cleon’s politics are "stinking up" Athens. Aristophanes uses his plays to expose this. It's meta. It's clever. It’s very Ubisoft. By rescuing Metiochos, you’re ensuring the "odor" of Cleon’s corruption is aired out in public.
Why This Quest Matters for Your Playthrough
You might think, "Can I skip this?" Sure. But you shouldn't. Completing Odor in the Court is a prerequisite for "The Musician and the Muses" and eventually "Nightmare in the Undercroft." If you want the full story of Cleon's downfall—and you want that sweet XP to hit the level cap—you need to finish this.
Plus, it gives you a better look at the historical figures. Aristophanes was a real guy. He really did write The Knights. He really did hate Cleon. The game does a decent job of weaving these historical tensions into the gameplay. It’s not just about stabbing people; it’s about the cultural war happening in the background of the Peloponnesian War.
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Common Bugs and How to Fix Them
Sometimes the clues in the house don't trigger. It happens. If you’re standing over a clue and the "Interact" prompt isn't showing up, try this:
- Save your game right there.
- Completely close the game (don't just go to the menu).
- Reload.
- Usually, the assets reload properly and the prompt appears.
Another issue is Metiochos not talking after the thugs are dead. If he’s just standing there looking at you like a statue, check to see if there’s one lone guard running away somewhere. The "in combat" state prevents NPCs from talking. Hunt him down. Finish the job.
Actionable Steps for Success
If you're about to start this quest or you're currently stuck, follow this workflow:
- Clear the Snakes First: Don't try to investigate while being bitten. Use a torch. It saves arrows.
- Use Ikaros: If you can't find the thug camp, send your bird up. He will highlight the enemies in red through the trees.
- Check the Rooftops: Sometimes a clue or an NPC spawns slightly above ground level due to a clipping error.
- Follow Up: Immediately head back to Aristophanes after talking to Metiochos to chain into the next quest. Don't wander off, or you might trigger a different world event that pauses the political questline.
This quest isn't the hardest thing you'll do in Ancient Greece. It’s not a Medusa fight. But it’s a vital piece of the narrative architecture that makes the Athens arc so compelling. Get in, find the clues, save the witness, and let the satire do the rest of the work.