Vox Machina Origins Series I

Vox Machina Origins Series I is the first six-issue series of the Vox Machina Origins comics. It depicts the formation of Vox Machina in 809 PD as they converge as three independent groups in Stilben to investigate the town's poisoned water supply.

The series is written by Matthew Mercer and Matthew Colville and illustrated by Olivia Samson with colors by Chris Northrop (who was also letterer) and Travis Ames. The comic series ran from September 20, 2017 to April 18, 2018, and it was collected in a single release on May 31, 2018.

Synopsis
The children of the port town of Stilben are stillborn. Someone is poisoning the K'Tawl Swamp which the people of the town use for their industry. There are three different groups, each acting independently, orbiting around the same problem.

Issue #1
Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia try to solve the mysterious curse afflicting the residents. Along the way they run into a young druid named Keyleth who believes the "curse" is actually an intentional poisoning of the water supply. Upon returning to Stilben, they discover that the alchemist Lustran Zeth is responsible, and find themselves enmeshed in a conspiracy of assassins.

Issue #2
Scanlan Shorthalt, Grog Strongjaw, Thurista, Arnicor, and Vash recover a vial of the potent poison from a swamp temple, with the intention of getting it identified by the alchemist. However, when they enter the alchemist's shop, they find Myriad agents, who attack them. During this encounter Vash is killed, but the group gets the upper hand and kill the remaining Myriad members. They then decide to go to a bar, where they meet a sorcerer named Tiberius Stormwind. Tiberius identifies the potion as Aqua Caedis and offers to trade them a diamond in exchange for the potion. He then leaves. This exchange attracts the attention of a watchman who also wants the poison. Scanlan realizes that the watchman is actually likely an imposter but agrees to meet him at midnight. He and Grog depart from the rest of the group to search for the sorcerer.

Issue #3
Keyleth, Tiberius, Stitch, Brul, and Helicax are hired by The Clasp to find out who's poisoning the people of Stilben, on whom the Clasp relies for their income. The party discovers that the Myriad is trying to kill everyone in the swamp. When they return to the Clasp, Stitch asks for compensation for a job well done, but gets poisoned by the Clasp for attempting to shake them down. The Clasp then gives the rest of the group 12 hours to get to the bottom of the killings, or Stitch will be denied the antidote. The various pairs - Keyleth and Tiberius; Vex and Vax; and Grog and Scanlan all finally converge at the alchemical laboratory where the poison is refined. There they fight each other, and then some thieves. After the fight Iselda emerges from a mirror, getting a few hits in before putting Grog into a ball.

Issue #4
The group fights Iselda to free Grog, but she flees into the mirror with Alchemist Lustran Zeth. This breaks Grog's imprisonment. The group then argues over the alchemist's book, and the twins disappear in to the shadows. The twins then continue to argue, at which point Iselda emerges again from the mirror and kidnaps Vax. Vex swallows her pride and ask for aid from the others. When they refuse, Vex decides to retrieve Trinket outside of town and save Vax herself, but not before Keyleth catches up to her and pledges to help.

Issue #5
Vax is alone on the Myriad's floating fortress galleon, The Mockingbird. Vax fights his way out, despite having no weapons. Meanwhile, Vex retrieves Trinket and introduces him to Keyleth. They meet everyone again by coincidence on the dock while searching for the ship Vax is held. They then see an explosion, and Vax jumps out of a hole on The Mockingbird.

Issue #6
The group boards The Mockingbird, fighting their way through Myriad members to do so. They find an arcane circle relating to the poisoning of Stilben, and attempt to neutralize the poison but are startled by a construct, and then Iselda, who stabs Keyleth. A fight ensues, and the party nearly loses before Grog kicks Iselda into the arcane circle, incinerating her. They all agree to begin traveling together as a group. The Clasp expresses an interest in tracking down some of the party members who had interrupted their plans, and Lustran Zeth is contacted by the Myriad.

Vox Machina

 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia
 * Tiberius Stormwind
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Keyleth
 * Trinket

New

 * Iselda
 * Spireling Harrock
 * Alchemist Lustran Zeth
 * The Servant, Flesh Golem
 * Thurista
 * Arnicor
 * Vash
 * Stitch
 * Brul
 * Helicax

Mentioned

 * Syldor Vessar
 * Vilya
 * Elaina

Collected editions
Series I was released as a collection, titled Vox Machina Origins Volume 1, on October 15, 2019 with cover art by Stjepan Šejić. This collection was released as a trade paperback, as a hardcover, and digitally. The collection included section of extras: a map of Stilben by Kendra Wells, statblocks for Iselda and the Servant, item description for the Mirror of Translation, concept cover art for issues #1-6 with notes by F. Avedon Arcadio Barrerra II, and reference artwork by Olivia Samson of the cast of characters.

It was also released as in a limited edition hardcover. It was bound in foil-stamped and burnished faux leather and a lithograph and cloth portfolio and was housed in a faux leather, foil-stamped, and burnished slipcase. It featured the same extras as the standard editions. The limited edition is out of print.