Smoke Over Water

Guide your way through the Smoke Over Water quest in Assassin's Creed Origins. Learn how to deal with hippos, clear out Sefetu's soldiers in Mefkat, and rescue Pentu.

Alright, let's tackle the 'Smoke Over Water' quest in Assassin's Creed Origins. First things first, head back to Harkhuf's house and grab this quest from the Informant Table. Your next stop is the search area on the southwestern edge of Sais. Use Senu, your trusty eagle companion, to spot your target, Amosis, once you're close.

When you reach the dock where Amosis is selling fish, have a chat with her. She'll let you know that Harkhuf's agent, Jeska, isn't dead after all. Turns out, to avoid Sefetu's patrols, she took a huge risk and sailed right through waters infested with hippos. Kind of a bold move, right?

After you get this intel, deploy Senu again and fly south. You're looking for Jeska, and predictably, she's having a bit of trouble with some massive water pigs. Your job here is to commandeer a nearby vessel and sail south to find a Hippopotamus Lair. Once you're there, locate the target hippo (it'll be level 14) and any other hippos hanging around (they're level 15). Your best bet is to pick them off from a safe distance, aiming for headshots. Don't worry too much, Jeska will be fine – she's just keeping them busy.

• Reward: 300 XP

Once the hippos are dealt with, go talk to Jeska. She'll spin a bit of a tall tale, but eventually, Bayek will bring up the name 'Sefetu'. After she explains the situation, she'll propose a deal: help her get her smuggled supplies to their destination, and she'll help you out later. It's not the greatest deal, but it's what you've got.

Hop on her ship, and she'll sail you south – a nice change of pace! As you sail, she'll share her story. When you finally make landfall, she'll point out the obvious signs of trouble and rush over to check on her village. Follow her to Mefkat, which, let's just say, has seen better days. To make matters worse, it's swarming with Sefetu's soldiers.

Mefkat

Your goal here is to be stealthy. If you don't draw attention, Jeska won't give away your position. Find some foliage to hide in and scout the area with Senu. He can help you spot the enemies scattered among the ruins. There are about eight soldiers in total, all between levels 15 and 16. Luckily, there's plenty of cover, making it pretty manageable to take them out with assassinations. Stick to the eastern side of the sacked village and pick them off as opportunities arise. Whistling to lure them away will be your best friend here.

Once all the soldiers are down, climb a tree near the center of town. You'll find a satchel waiting for you on one of its branches. After that, loot a small chest sitting on a wagon near a ruined tower. Grabbing these two treasures will complete the location objectives for Mefkat.

• Reward: 300 XP

Ptolemy Statue

Before you chat with Jeska again, there's one more thing you can do in Mefkat. Along the western edge of the village, you'll find a Ptolemy statue. Show it the same disrespect his soldiers showed Mefkat by destroying it – it's an easy way to get some extra experience points.

• Reward: 300 XP

Now, talk to Jeska. She's surprisingly stoic about the destruction. Just as you're about to leave, you'll hear a man moaning in pain. This leads to a close encounter that proves Bayek's earlier worries weren't unfounded. After that little scare, pick up the injured man, Pentu, and make your way northeast to the farm Jeska mentioned. Keep an eye out for soldiers patrolling the road to the north. Use cover to hide from them, or if you have to, put Pentu down and take them out yourself.

However you manage to get past them, ford the river beyond and approach the farm to deliver Pentu. With that done, Jeska will reaffirm her determination to take down Sefetu, and Harkhuf will finally get his agent back. Everyone wins! Well, except for the folks in Mefkat, but you know... details.

• Reward: 2,000 XP