Players diving into the rich and mythological world of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey often encounter various side quests that leave lasting impressions, and among them is the questline involving the young boy Demosthenes. As a character, Demosthenes adds a layer of strategy and historical intrigue to the game, especially for those interested in Spartan and Athenian politics. However, many players have questioned whether Demosthenes’ questline has a true conclusion or if it remains open-ended. Understanding the nature of Demosthenes’ quest is essential for completionists and lore enthusiasts seeking to unravel every piece of the story in the game.
Who Is Demosthenes in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?
Demosthenes is a real historical figure reimagined in the game as an Athenian statesman and orator who opposes Spartan influence. In Odyssey, he is introduced in Athens and is one of the many characters who offer contracts or side missions to the player, known as the misthios. His quests typically revolve around weakening Sparta’s hold on the region through strategic assassination of high-ranking Spartan Polemarchs.
The series of tasks he offers forms a repeatable objective rather than a traditional, narrative-driven questline. Unlike some other characters in the game who undergo dramatic arcs, Demosthenes is more static and exists primarily as a gameplay mechanism tied to bounty and conquest systems.
What Is the Nature of Demosthenes’ Quest?
The core of Demosthenes’ quest involves hunting Spartan Polemarchs at various forts scattered throughout the Greek world. When you eliminate a Polemarch, you collect Spartan Seals as proof of the kill. These seals are what Demosthenes wants, and he rewards players for bringing them back in groups of three.
Key Features of the Quest:
- Repeatable in nature, not limited to a single storyline or arc.
- Functions as a way to engage with the conquest and mercenary systems.
- Rewards include drachmae and experience, but no cutscene-driven conclusion.
While it seems like the quest might build up to a significant turning point or reward, it essentially serves as a long-running activity that ties into your ongoing conflict with the Spartans. This structure often leads players to wonder: does it ever truly end?
Does Demosthenes’ Quest Ever End?
The short answer is: no, Demosthenes’ quest does not have a definitive conclusion in the traditional sense. Unlike other side quests that conclude with a major decision, plot twist, or cinematic, Demosthenes simply continues to ask for more seals. The game treats this quest as one of the repeatable contracts, and there is no climactic event that wraps up his storyline.
This design choice can be disappointing to players expecting closure. However, it makes sense within the context of the game’s larger systems. Since new Polemarchs can always be found across the map, the quest remains active indefinitely, allowing players to grind for rewards whenever they please.
What Players Often Expect:
- A final dialogue that acknowledges the player’s efforts against Sparta.
- A reward unique to the quest, such as armor, weapons, or lore items.
- Demosthenes taking political action based on the seals turned in.
Unfortunately, none of these outcomes occur. Demosthenes remains a static NPC who accepts Spartan Seals without significant narrative change or advancement. The lack of a true ending often leaves the impression that the quest is incomplete, though it’s functioning exactly as designed.
Demosthenes and Lysander: Parallel Questlines
Another layer to this questline is the introduction of Lysander, a Spartan general who offers a similar repeatable quest involving the killing of Athenian commanders. Both he and Demosthenes represent the ideological divide between Sparta and Athens, and their mirrored quests reinforce the ongoing nature of the Peloponnesian War.
Comparing the Two Questlines:
- Both require killing enemy officers and collecting seals.
- Both lack a formal conclusion or cutscene.
- Players can pursue both simultaneously without consequence.
This duality highlights the game’s commitment to choice and neutrality. The misthios can serve both sides of the war without disrupting the game’s main narrative or triggering any penalties. However, it also means that both questlines remain perpetually open, with no real payoff beyond basic loot and XP.
Why the Lack of an Ending Might Be Intentional
From a design perspective, the never-ending nature of Demosthenes’ quest could be intentional. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers a massive open world filled with ongoing conflict. The absence of a quest-ending moment may reflect the historical truth that the Peloponnesian War dragged on for decades with no clean resolution.
This design choice also encourages ongoing player engagement. As long as new forts are discovered and Polemarchs exist, there’s always a reason to revisit the quest. In this sense, Demosthenes’ task serves as a long-term gameplay loop rather than a narrative feature.
Player Reactions and Community Discussion
Many players have taken to forums and discussion boards to express confusion or disappointment about the Demosthenes quest. Some believe there is a hidden trigger or specific number of seals that finally ends the storyline, but this is not the case. The game provides no hidden achievement or final scene linked to the quest.
However, other players appreciate the ongoing nature of the task, especially those who enjoy grinding and strategic conquest. It’s also a useful source of drachmae and gear if you’re aiming to level up efficiently in the mid-to-late stages of the game.
Common Misconceptions:
- That giving a specific number of seals will unlock a final reward.
- That completing both Demosthenes and Lysander’s quests affects the ending.
- That you must pick a side between Athens or Sparta to conclude the quest.
None of these theories are supported by in-game mechanics. The quests exist independently of the main story and have no lasting effect on the game’s multiple endings.
The Demosthenes questline in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey serves as a repeatable challenge rather than a narrative experience with a firm conclusion. While players may hope for a dramatic payoff, the quest is designed to persist as long as there are Polemarchs to kill. There is no final mission, unique reward, or storyline resolution tied to Demosthenes. Instead, his character symbolizes the endless political struggle between Athens and Sparta, echoing the game’s broader themes of war, loyalty, and freedom. For players seeking completion, it’s best to view Demosthenes’ quest as a strategic gameplay element one that complements conquest battles but does not offer a scripted ending.