Enter Neoma
A/N: This is the first fic I wrote for my Vox Machina OC. I fell in love with the show last year. I had been working on this privately and finally thought Iâd share. I hope yâall like it!
Also like my old fics, this centers around a black woman
CW: Violence, cursing, character death
Grog obnoxiously yawned as the party walked through the woods on a cool night. âAre we there yet?â he groaned.
âObviously not.â Vax said as they kept walking. âAre we even going in the right direction?â
âOf course, we areâŠâ Scanlan said, sounding skeptical of himself as he rotates the map.
âWhy did we even let him navigate us?â Percy grumbled.
âI know where weâre going! We should be almost there.â Scanlan said.
âYou said that so long ago.â Pike said. âLet me see the map.â
âNo way!â Scanlan said, holding his hand out to keep her away.
âGive it here, Scanlan.â Vex sighed, reaching for the map.Â
âGet back, all of you.â Scanlan said, backing away. He gasped as he tripped over a root of a tree and tumbled down a hill.
âCan we leave him?â Vax sighed.Â
Vex shook her head and motioned for the group to come along. The group made it safely down the hill with Grog choosing to log roll down. They saw Scanlan laying on the ground, staring off into the distance.
âAre you peeing laying down again?â Grog asked, crawling over.
Scanlan shushed them and motioned for them to get down. The group looked at each other in confusion. âWhat are you looking at?â Pike asked.
âSsssh. Iâm trying to enjoy the show.â Scanlan said. Percy rolled his eyes and kneeled with Scanlan, looking in the same direction.
âWhat is it?â Vex asked. Percy pushed his glasses up to see a dark-skinned woman kneeling on a rug with her hands on her knees, mouthing an incantation. She faced the moon, almost a smile on her face.Â
âA woman, praying.â Percy said.
âI hope sheâs praying for a hunk, because Iâm about to answer those prayers.â Scanlan said, his mouth spreading into a grin.
âScanlan!â Pike scolded.
âWait, hush. You hear that?â Keyleth whispered, clutching her staff. The group stood, attentive as they heard loud footsteps. They watched as a giant in the distance walked toward the woman.Â
âWe should help her.â Vax said.Â
âAgainst a giant?!â Keyleth said.
âShe could need help.â Percy said, pulling his gun from his holster. The group ran down just as the giant came upon the woman. She looked up at him as he growled at her. The woman stood from her rug, reaching for her sword.Â
âIs she about to fight him?â Pike exclaimed.
âLooks like it.â Vax said. They watched as the giant was about to swing itâs club at her, only for the woman to dodge it, rolling out of the way. She sprinted, moving her sword to her left hand. The giant turned, searching for her. He grunted in confusion as she ghosted behind him. The woman sliced at his Achillesâ, cutting through with her sword like butter. The giant yelled as he was forced to kneel.Â
âLooks like sheâs got it, maybeâŠâ Vex said, shrugging. When the giant reached for her, she ran up his arm, letting out a war cry and slashing the side of his neck. The giant fell to the ground, bleeding out. The woman slid off the giantâs bald head and dusted herself off. She sighed and returned to her things, but froze as she noticed the party staring at her. The woman snarled, flicking the blood off her blade and dropping her foot back to prepare to fight again.
âNo, wait hold on!â Vex said, holding her hands out. âWe were actually coming to help, but looks like you got him.â She laughed nervously.Â
The womanâs face softened and she cracked a smile. âAh, yes. I guess I did.â she said.
âWho are you?â Keyleth said.
âOh, Iâm NeomaâŠâ the woman said.Â
âAre you from the Inyangi tribe?â Percy asked.
Neoma cocked her head to the side. âI am. You know about us?â she asked.
âIyanba?â Grog asked.
âInyangi. A tribe of people who follow the Moon Goddess, Inyanga Ephezulu. But, they arenât known to stray far from their own.â Pike said.
âAre you lost?â Vex asked.
âNo, just wandering. Are you lost?â Neoma asked, curiously.
âNo, weâre on our way to the town of CâAlto.â Scanlan said.
âThen you are lost, I fear. I just came from there, itâs that way.â Neoma said, pointing her sword in the opposite direction causing Keyleth to flinch.Â
âDamn it, Scanlan!â Percy said.Â
âGive me this!â Vax growled, snatching the map from him.
âI can take you back there if you like.â Neoma said, shrugging.
âPlease, if you will.â Vex sighed.
Neoma nodded, smiling. She gathered her things, tucking her sword in the holster behind your back. She led the group through the forest, taking them to the city. âSo Inyangis donât stray? Why are you out here?â Vex asked.
âAs I said, Iâm wandering. We donât usually get to see the outside world, so I left.â Neoma said.
âAnd your people were okay with that?â Percy asked. âFrom what I learned, your tribe is tight-knit. Only higher members of your society go through pilgrimages. And you donât look likeâŠâ
âMy mother and father were leaders of our tribe before they disappeared.â Neoma answered, solemnly.
âOh, weâre sorry.â Keyleth said.
Neoma shrugged as she kept walking. âItâs been a few years. We still have hope theyâll return. Truthfully, I hope to find them.â
âSo, uhâŠyou got a boyfriend back home?â Scanlan asked, scurrying up to get next to Neoma.
Her brows furrowed. âNoâŠâÂ
âSo youâre available? Sweet.â Scanlan chuckled.
âNo. I am not.â Neoma said. âWell, not for you anyway.âÂ
âWhat?â He said, raising an eyebrow.
âUs Inyangi choose partners and lovers based on physical and mental abilities. You got your group lost so I canât say weâd make a match.â she said with a grimace.
âNow thatâs just ableist.â Scanlan said, crossing his arms.
âWhy? Because youâre dumb.â Vax joked. The group chuckled, following Neoma. An hour later, the woman walked the group through the gates of the city. âFinally.â Vax said.
âGod, we can finally rest.â Keyleth sighed.
âWe can finally drink!â Grog exclaimed.
âEasy big man!â Vax said.
âNeoma, you know the townâŠcould you put us in the direction of a tavern?â Vex asked. âJoin us for a drink as thanks?â
âSure.â she said, waving them along. Neoma led them to a western corner of the town and walked them into the tavern. Neoma sat with the group, laughing at Grog and Scanlan.Â
âSo where were you headed when we came across you?â Percy asked.
âWherever I want, really.â Neoma shrugged, running a finger over the rim of her mug. âSometimes people need help here and there, other times Iâm just wandering.âÂ
âSo your tribe just let you leave?â Percy asked.
Neoma chuckled. âI didnât really ask their opinions before I left. They all had their ideas and we closed ranks once my parents didnât return. One night, I just packed up, left a note, and went on my way.â
âDo you plan on going back?â Percy asked.
Neoma sighed. âI should, Iâm supposed toâŠseeing as Iâm next in line to lead. You? Where are you from?âÂ
Percy sighed. âWhitestoneâŠâ
âI remember hearing about Whitestone. It was tragic what happenedâŠâ Neoma said, looking into Percyâs eyes. She felt a deep sense of grief in Percy. She studied the way his eyes dropped into his glass. âHow young were you? When it all happened?â
Percy sighed. âYoung enough that the nightmares donât stop.â
Neoma nodded. âI understand.â An obnoxious laugh from outside and the ring of the bell pulled attention toward the door. The door swung open with a half-elf woman walking in with another crew of people.Â
âA round for me and my friends!â the woman called out, waving her hand in the air. âChop chop!â
Neoma looked at her wrist and her eyes widened. âNoâŠâ
âSomething wrong?â Percy said, watching her stand up. Neoma shuddered, her breath staggered. Her eyes fixated on her wrist, the glint of the thick silver bands with a scripture on them. Her face twisted in agony and confusion.
âNeoma?â Vex asked, looking up at her. She as well as Percy looked in the direction that Neoma was. Entranced, Neoma stalked over to the woman, her steps heavy enough to break the wood of the floor. She stood behind the woman, her body rigid.Â
âCan I help you, darling?â the half-elf woman chuckled.
âThe wristletâŠgive it to me.â she said in a dark tone.
The woman chuckled along with her party. âExcuse me?â
âTake it off and give it to meâŠor I pull it off your corpse.â Neoma growled.
âWhoa, hey!â Vax chuckled. âLetâs not do thisâŠâ He put a hand on her shoulder. Pike stood up as did the others, rallying behind her.
âThe wristletâŠnow.â she growled. The half-elf womanâs mouth stretched into a wicked grin.Â
âOr what?â The woman said, reaching behind your back.
âYour options were already given. Choose now.â Neoma snarled.
âNeoma, dear. Letâs not do this.â Vex said, noticing other patrons looking on and glaring.
âYou better listen to your friends, sweetheart. You donât want a scuffle with me.â the woman chuckled.
âIâm going to paint the walls with your blood.â Neoma said as she reached for a gold cylinder on her hip.
âHey!â the bartender yelled. âYou get your arses out of here! No fighting in my bar!â
âSir, please.â Percy said.
âOut, I said! Out!â the bartender said. âOr elseâŠâ the bartender stood up, his head nearly touching the ceiling. Scanlan audibly gulped.
âYeah, letâs leave.â Scanlan said, nervously.
The half-elf woman snapped her fingers prompting her party to stand. She pointed towards the door, signaling them to leave. âLetâs go. I wouldnât want to drink around dark trash anyway.âÂ
Neomaâs mouth stretched into a snarl as she started to lunge for the woman. Vax, Vex, and Percy reached holding Neoma back, struggling as she pulled against them. âGrog, help!â
âHuh? Oh!â Grog said. He wrapped his arms around them, lifting them up.Â
âThatâs not what we meant.â Vex said.
âPut me down!â Neoma yelled.
âYou lot! Out! Go!â the bartender growled.
Grog carried Vex, Vax, Percy, and Grog out the door of the bar, followed by Scanlan, Keyleth, and Pike. He dropped them on the ground with Neoma landing on her feet and breaking out in a near sprint as they watched the other group disappearing in the dark edge of town. Percy grabbed her belt and yanked her back. âLet go of me, they are getting away!âÂ
âNeoma, stop!â Percy said.
âI said, get off!â Neoma said, spinning around and pushing Percy back. âStay out of the way!â
âWhatâs with the gaudy bracelet anyway?â Scanlan growled.
âHow dare you?!â Neoma growled at him.
âNeoma, please! Help us understand. Why were you so fixated on the wristlet?â Pike said.
âIt was my motherâs!â Neoma cried. Her face contorted in pain as her eyes began to sting. âMy motherâŠshe always had that wristlet. Itâs been in my family for generationsâŠit belonged to our Goddess. Itâs made from the same mineral as my tools. My mother was never without it, never! She never took it off, not even to bathe. It belonged to her, our family!â
âBut if that woman is wearing it thenâŠâ Keyleth said, solemnly. The party looked at each other in despair, the night air turning cold. They looked back at Neoma whose eyes stared at the ground, teary, and her shoulders shaking.
âNeomaâŠIâm sorry.â Pike said.
âIâm going to get it back.â Neoma said as she turned away from them and started in the direction the group left in.
âLet us help you!â Vax said.Â
âWhat?â Neoma said, turning to look at them in irritation.
âWe can help. Let us return the favor for you bringing us to town.â Vax said.
âTaking on a group of vandals in exchange for being a tour guide doesnât seem equal.â Scanlan said. Vex flicked his ear and gave him a scolding grimace. âBut, sure yeah letâs do it.â
âYou donât have to do that.â Neoma said. âThis has nothing to do with you.â
âItâd be wrong to let you go off alone. Not that you canât handle yourself, but you helped us. We can help you.â Percy said, offering his hand to her. Neomaâs brow furrowed. She looked down at his gloved hand and back into his eyes. Her face softened from his sincerity.Â
âVery well.â she said. âLetâs make haste though.â
With Vax tracking the party, the group came upon the vandalsâ hideaway deep in the forest. It appeared to be a cave on the side of a small hill. âHow do we know thereâs no booby traps?â Scanlan asked.
Vax tossed a throwing knife at the entrance of the cave. A wire snapped causing a large log to swing through the trees in front of the entrance. âWhatâre the chances itâs the only one?â Pike asked.
âWe could send the big guy. He looks sturdy enough.â Neoma said.
âHey, Iâm not turdy!â Grog whined.
âThatâs notâŠnevermind.â Vex said.
The party made it past other traps and through the entrance of the cave. Pike and Keyleth led the way, shining light around the cave. Neoma walked shoulders tight and footsteps light. The group froze in their tracks at the sound of laughter and clattering. Neoma pulled the cylinder from her side and began to crouch and stalk to the source of the sound. Vex followed behind her with her bow and arrow ready. Neoma stuck to one side of the cave while Vex stuck to the other. They both spied two of the vandals. Vex made the first move, tucking the arrow back into her quiver and sneaking behind one vandal to strangle him. Neoma took the next assailant, the cylinder turning into a spear, knocking him unconscious as she swung the heavy handle at him.Â
âWhoa, thatâsâŠa lot.â Vax said. Neoma collapsed the spear and shrugged.Â
âWe need to keep going.â Neoma said. They carefully crept through the cave coming across a cot and chests of gold and other stolen goods.
âJackpot!â Grog said. He was hushed by Pike as the others searched through the crates.Â
âI mean, come on. We might as well make a killing off them.â Scanlan said, picking up a diamond necklace.
âTake what you wantâŠIâm only here for whatâs mine.â Neoma said, moving an arch covering and going still. âSssh.â
The party froze and gathered at the arch. They heard the boisterous laugh of the female half-elf. She stepped into view, tossing a chalice. âI didnât think weâd get so much off those last lads.â
âThink we should rob the idiots from the bar?â She chuckled.
âNo, theyâre too witlessâŠthat girl though. Seemed familiar.â the woman said.
âSeemed to be really into that wristlet of yours.â the other vandal said.
âMmm, it looks to be more valuable than I realizedâŠâ she said.
âMore than you knowâŠâ Neoma growled, walking through the arch.
âOh look!â the woman chuckled. âThe dark trash.â
âBy the time, weâre finished with you, youâll be less than trash.â Percy said.
âThat one wasnât very good.â Vex said.
âNot the pointâŠâ Percy whispered.
âYou donât want it with me, dear.â the woman said, pulling out a long blade.
âI told you that either you give me the wristlet or I take it.â Neoma said, pulling her sword.
âCome get it.â the half-elf woman snarled.
âCome along men!â the other vandal called out, prompting others to rush the group.Â
Neoma made the first swing with her sword. The half-elf woman dodged and ran off. Neoma gave chase at full sprint. She pulled her spear, elongating both ends and throwing it in her direction. The elf woman gasped as the spear plunged into the cave wall, tripping over herself. She turned back to look at Neoma who lifted her sword and swung in her direction. The blade landed near her head, slicing through the rock. The half-elf kicked in her stomach, knocking Neoma back. She chuckled. âMaybe, I should take your sword to match my jewelry.â The woman stood, trying to pull her sword from the rock. Neoma stood, grabbing the womanâs hair and throwing her into the wall. Her hands wrapped around her neck, squeezing. The woman reached for an empty bottle, smashing it over Neomaâs head. She fell to the side, letting the woman go. The woman picked up her blade and ran down the hall. Neoma growled, gritting her teeth. She sprinted after the woman at an ungodly pace, throwing her spear in her direction.
Vax kicked the last assailant back. âShould we find Neoma?â
âWould she really even need our help?â Keyleth said. A scream rang out through the cave. The party rushed down the hall, sprinting in the direction that Neoma took.Â
The woman staggered back, holding her ribs and coughing blood. She weakly held her blade up to defend herself as Neoma stalked closer, holding both the sword and spear. Her tattoos began to glow as did her eyes. She began to speak in a language unknown, causing the engravings in her sword to glow. âWait, pleaseâŠâ the woman pleaded.
âBeg your gods when I send you to them.â Neoma said, her voice deep and echoing. She swung her sword, colliding with the half-elfâs blade. She thrust her spear into her thigh, causing her to scream out. The point of it, piercing flesh and splintering the bone. Neoma headbutted her, knocking her back into the wall of the cave. Her eyes shined brighter as she lifted her palm. The woman groaned as her wrist lifted. The bangle began to ring and the scripture began to glow. Neoma stretched out her wrist, letting the wristlet come to her. He slid on her wrist perfectly and began to hum.Â
âYou got what you wantâŠlet me live.â the woman said. âTake the loot, if you want. Just leave me.â
Neomaâs eyes continued to glow, she stood unphased. She lifted her sword and came down with a single swipe. The sound of the womanâs skull splitting echoed off the walls. The woman let out a single gargle then a whispery sigh. Neoma turned to look back at the members of Vox Machina. The glow of her skin and eyes darkened, and her shoulders dropped after yanking her sword from the now corpse.Â
âGot yours?â Percy asked.
âYeah.â Neoma said, flicking her sword to remove the blood and matter. She slipped her sword into the sheath on her back. She pulled her spear and collapsed it, tucking it back to her side. She glared at her wrist with a soft, yet sad smile. Once out of the cave, Vox Machina and their guest convened.Â
âSo you got your motherâs jewelry back.â Vex said.
âItâs more than jewelry. Itâs a piece of our Goddess, our culture.â Neoma said. âItâs one of the last pieces of my parentsâŠâ
âYou arenât going to go looking for answers?â Percy asked.
âIn my culture, we learn to accept whatâs made clear. We donât dwell in uncertainty.â Neoma said. âI may never know what exactly happened to my parents. When you found me, that was probably the millionth time I prayed to Inyanga for answers, for clarity. This may not be the answer I wantâŠbut this allows me to grieve, in the best way I can.â
âIâm sure itâs not going to be easy.â Vax said.
âNo, it wonâtâŠbut no journey Inyanga ever gives is, which makes it all the more meaningful. I truly thank you all. You had no reason to help me and yet you did. If you ever need a favor and we cross paths againâŠâ Neoma started.
âActuallyâŠâ Percy said. The rest of the crew turned to him, curiously. âWhy donât you come along with us? You arenât going back home anytime soon. And while things can get a bit crowdedâŠwe could use another person.â
âOh?â Neoma said.
âI mean, you can clearly hold your own and whatever magic you have could be great in a pinch. Why not?â Vex said.
âAs long as you can drink!â Grog exclaimed.
âHey, whatâs the harm in adding another member to the crazy crew?â Vax said.
âIt would be kind of nice.â Keyleth said.
âEverlight welcomes all, so why not?â Pike said.
Neoma studied their faces, the waves of sincerity caused a smile to etch onto her face. The wind blew, but instead of the nightâs chill a warmth ran up her spine. She turned to the moon, a soft hum in her ears. She glanced down at her wristlet and smiled. Before they came across her, Neoma prayed for guidance. The fact that this group led her to find her motherâs wristlet told her what she needed.Â
âSure, where are we going next?â Neoma asked.
Fin
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