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Sam is naturally a very easy-going entity at heart. Although her past was strongly troubled, she was blessed with the gift of a new life and a new hope, in which she is eternally grateful and joyful. Consequently, Sapphire wishes to spread this hope and joy in anyway she can, from her laid-back and charismatic way of speaking to the way she presents herself to people. She believes strongly in her religion, and that she has been saved and given a new chance just like others can as well, wether in this life or the next. And that's why she makes it her duty over everything to give advice to all in need and provide a loving heart in order to give example to the loving heart of her savior, Rhise. But most importantly, she wishes to save the souls of those most like she was once.
Upon first glance, Sam would look weird. Her hair, normally dyed a lapis blue (although right now it's a fading mess of brunette and lapis), nearly matches her blue attire which ties together the large Sapphire hanging from a gold chain around her neck. She's practically blue, in order that everything she does be attributed to Rhise.
On closer inspection, one finds that she is quite odd indeed. But, despite her peculiar facial expressions (particularly eyebrow movements) and extremely modest dress, she has a remarkable natural facial beauty which is tied together with her exotically large and perfectly sapphire blue eyes that constantly search for meaning. Her hair even has a slight natural curl that cuts off a short ways past her shoulder.
As with her personality, Sam's appearance is almost always radiating a sense of joy and hope, particularly when she sends a warm smile (or her signature smirk) to someone in need of it.
-Let Dad know he is forgiven.
-Save souls.
-Lay Low, Stay Safe.
-Pray for those in Ravenna.
-Help the Lucins.
"You can't catch me daddy!" screeched young Samantha Moore as she sprinted full speed away from her father who was willing to make a fool of himself for his little girl as he trampled in pursuit. Miss Moore always had a great relationship with her father when she was younger. She was always the happiest, most blissful child up to age ten when her father was caught cheating on his wife; twice. After the divorce, she wouldnât be able to forgive her father for a long time yet to come.
Living in this time with no husband proved difficult for Samanthaâs mother. Endless hours of work followed by nights in prostitution became this sweet motherâs fate in order to provide a meal every afternoon for the daughter she loved so much. It also kept her quite busy, and so everyday Miss Samantha Moore was asked to stay home all day and wait for her mother. Of course Sam obeyed her mom, for the first few weeks at least. Then she started getting bored, and began to leave the house and wander the streets when her mother wasnât home. She would often talk with other kids, strangers, anyone who had the heart to talk to this adorable young woman wandering around in Bellport. This openness to other people would eventually get her into trouble; trouble that would send her life in a downward spiral from then on.
At age twelve, Samantha was kidnapped on the streets by one of the strangers that talked to her. A disguised Xitian who had been attempting to spark civil wars in Bellport invited her to come with him. Sam, being the free spirit she was, followed him, which of course ended a bad decision. Sam was treated nicely that day, but when she wanted to go home to her mother, the Xitian wouldnât let her.
For half a year Samantha was stuck in the cavern the Xitian kept her prisoner in. At first the red-eyed man just interrogated her, seeing if she was related to any of the politicians in Bellport. When he found she was no use to him, it got much worse. Torture, and even rape became Samanthaâs fate through her time in captivity. All she could do was cry during these humiliations, and slowly lose any pride she ever had.
After a pain-filled half-year, Sam finally escaped from the cavern; taking off past the Xitian when he entered one day. He didnât mind much; he had much better entertainment by now. Miss Moore immediately went to her house, the bright light nearly blinding her after so much time in the cavern. She knocked on the door. There was no answer for a few moments, but eventually an old, frail woman with ice blue eyes answered the door and looked the beaten, scarred, child up and down. âIs Mommy homeâ¦?â Murmured Sam quietly, looking up at the unknown woman.
The old Lucin looked down with eyes of pity on Sam, knowing full well what happened to her mother. She slowly made her way off the porch, and gently beckoned Sam to follow her to the back of the house. Samantha began to cry, quiet at first, and then loudly into the old womanâs side as they stood looking at the grave of Miss Jennifer Fenway Moore; Samâs mother. The old woman never explained why she was in Samanthaâs home that day, but Sam didnât care. She needed a shoulder to cry on, and that was all she needed as she looked at the grave; the symbol of her life now shattered. The next day, the woman was gone, and Sam was on her own into a now cruel world.
Sam lived in the home with no income in her teen years. She begged on the streets of Bellport for food, money, anything. For a while this worked, the passer-bys saw the beautiful yet destroyed young lady, and willingly gave charity to her. After awhile however, as corruption started to infest the town of Bellport (the civil wars began drawing into the city), this no longer was an option. People no longer had the money to give to others, nor the good morals to help someone in need. And so Samantha, like many people in Bellport, was forced to become a part of the growing crime in the town in order to survive. She was no longer able to pay for her home and nourishment at the same time, and became a vagrant on the dirty streets.
After a several weeks of generosity so low that people would spit on the beggar as they passed, Samantha was in a state of near-death starvation. It was in this desperate time of survival that a particular nightmare of Sam's would come back to haunt her in reality.
"Ya look like ya could use a job 'oun lady!" An unnaturally ugly older man stared down at her wildly. Sam just nodded slowly, raising her eyes at the hag in hopes of gaining some food or money. He squatted down next to her, his filth-lined eyelashes flickering nastily over bulging eyes as he studied her.
"What if I told ya I got just what ya need 'oun lady! Nice meal or two a day... 'lil shelter, all for just a bit of work.. sound nice to ya?" Spit came flying from his lips against Sam's face, she could care less, intrigued by his words. She nodded slowly, and stared at a hand that was now outstretched to her worriedly.
Reluctantly, she got up and followed the old hag to where he was taking her. Upon seeing it was Bellport's brothel, her eyes went wide and she took several quick steps away from the man.
"What's the madda lady? Ya see 'an things o somefin?" His eyes glanced, agitated, towards Sam. She responded by just shaking her head violently. She wasn't going in there...no matter how desperate she was... not after what happened.
The man rolled his eyes, he'd seen this before. "Da fuck ya think ya are? Bein' picky en all? Ya know yous just a street rat... and ifs ya planning on livin' ors not being put in prisn' yas betters come with me." He took a step toward her as she shook her head violently again.
"No." Was all she could muster. She began to take a few steps back, slowly, barely able to move much in her starved state. However, the man moved quicker, even in his old age being stronger and more agile then Sapphire in her current state.
"NO." She screamed as he dragged her into the brothel, tears streaming down her face and clawing wildly at the man, slashing his old skin in some parts. She grew dizzy, unaware of her surroundings, as her screams faded into bloody tear-stained blackness. She remembered her nightmare. That brutal time in the caverns. These were the only grim memories she recalled as she fainted due to malnourishment compiled with the energy of fighting the man.
When she finally awoke, it was too far to turn back now. She was there, with all the women just like her crammed into the small shelter. She tried to escape immediately, but her body wouldn't let her. And as she nibbled on the nasty slop of food, the women would grimly continue to ensure in her that the old hag was right. This was her life now. The life of a street rat, and she had no more say in the matter. From then on, she was forced to relive her nightmare every night with every man she was forced to be with to survive. She grew to loathe the old hag, to see men as monsters, and worst of all; to hate herself. Why was she even alive?
Her teenage years of torture continued on like this. Finally, at age 16, she had another major breakdown (which were quite frequent by now). This time, after a rage at the brothel she had called 'home' for many years, she revisited the place she used to live. This is when the frail old Lucin again appeared to Samantha in the very same doorway she had once met her before.
âRhise has chosen you.â Murmured the old woman scratchily as Sam stared up in confusion, fear, and regret. It took awhile, but as she stared, Miss Moore finally remembered the woman. She was the same ice-eyed frail being that had comforted her when she was twelve.
âWhat do you want?â Muttered the bewildered young Sam in reply.
âTo save you from your sadness.â Replied the old woman simply, with a welcoming, warm eyes and a smile.
âHow do you know Iâm not just dandy?â Muttered Samantha in reply, hiding her slight warmth at the thought of someone willing to help her beneath her feigned grimace.
âWeâve kept an eye on you ever since your mother was lost.â The old woman looked down with kind eyes upon the street rat she spoke to. âRhise allowed many hardships in your life, Samantha, but she kept you safe. She kept you safe because she loves you⦠and for this we believe she has chosen you.â She smiled warmly to Sam.
Samantha didnât know who Rhise was, who this woman was, and how the blazes she knew so much about her. And yet, the warm way she said what she did and her kind words said something to Sam that day. Someone loved her. Someone wanted her. Despite the filth she was, the beasts she had provided with pleasure, and her life of pure nothingness, there was someone who cared for her. These words sunk down into her after the many years of sadness, tears, and pain every day since her father left. And so, despite everything her outward appearance would assume, Sam went with the frail old Lucin that day, leaving her world behind.
Sam was brought to a small camp of Lucins outside Bellport. Here she began to learn about the worship of Rhise, and became part of a large community, a family. This was what Sam needed, a community of people to be around that loved her, and showed her that every day through their good deeds. It didnât matter what race they were, they cared for Samantha, and thatâs what counted. As Samantha grew from sixteen to eighteen she matured, and changed. She became known as the kindest and most forgiving of all the people in the camp. She grew the biggest heart of all, learning to forgive the people that caused her harm: men, the Xitian who did such horrible harm to her, and even her own father. She began to see everyone as her equal, and no longer held grudges. With this loving heart came happiness and a constant joy that all the Lucins admired of the young woman as she grew. Sam had the zest for life, and wanted to bring the joy of her salvation to the people just like her. And yet no one had yet told the woman what the special âcallingâ she had received from Rhise was. It was a question she always pondered, and wondered about in her times of silent prayer.
Her confusion was finally answered a few days before her nineteenth birthday. A meeting was called in the camp. Everyone gathered in the central shrine of the campsite. The highest elder Lucin took his place above the crowd, and proclaimed, âMay Rhise shower her mercy upon us.â
âAnd upon the whole world and its inhabitants.â Echoed the crowd.
âWe call us here together today to announce the beginning of a new evangelization.â Boomed the elder. âAn unknown world and an unknown journey await anyone who is willing to take the words of salvation to these new lands. There is no guarantee of safety, only the protection of Rhise if she so wills it. These new lands have been deemed, âRavennaâ by the believers of the false gods, but none that shed the truth. We, the weary elders who cannot travel to the lands of our own accord, pray to Rhise that a youth shall volunteer themselves to spread the truth. For the salvation of those who dwell in these lands of Ravenna.â A long paused was heard over the crowd; silence ensued.
The silence was one meant for meditation on this thought, and so Samantha did. She thought about how she wanted to see her father again. She thought about the Xitian that dwelled somewhere in the crumbling down of Bellport. She pondered the calling that the elder woman had told her that brought Sam here, and Miss Moore decided then that this was her calling.
The silence came to an end finally as the elder spoke up, âPlease stand if you feel Rhise has called you to leave your world behind for those in these lands.â With a rush of blood, Sam stood up. She looked around her. No one else had done it. âSamantha Moore!â Beamed the elder, beckoning generously towards her, âCome and accept your blessing for your journey!â There was no turning back now was the only thing that came to Samanthaâs mind as she walked up to the elder, applause sounding behind her. She would leave behind her life again just as she had so many times beforeâ¦but this time with a purpose. As she was blessed, a tear fell from her eye, landing on her smiling lips. Rhise loved her.
When she looked up from her blessing, the older woman with frail, ice-blue eyes looked down upon her too beside the elder-priest. She held a necklace, with a large Sapphire gem upon it. She whispered in the priestâs ear, and then bent down to give Samantha the necklace with a warm smile. âYour eyes of Sapphire..how blue they always wereâ¦â her voice croaked with her old age but still contained the warmth Sam always remembered, âLike the eyes of Rhise herself⦠it is how I knew she had chosen you.â
Samantha had no idea how to respond, and simply smiled back at the woman, and looked down at the necklace in awe. Again the elder spoke, breaking the applause of the crowd, âWith the call to evangelize comes the name from Rhise. On request of Isle,â he smiled towards the frail old lady, âHer name shall become Sapphire, for her eyes are the same shade of blue of the creator herself. Sapphire, go on to bring truth and light to the people, that they shall see salvation with Rhise.â Another tear fell to Sapphireâs grinning lips.
Miss Sapphire spent several months learning the keys to evangelizing, growing in faith, and learning survival necessities. However, when she began on her way, Sapphire was soon to find large stone structures, stops, shelters, food, and everything needed to live which led her directly to the lands in which she sought out. She attributed this all to Rhise, along with the welcome she got from the Lucins in this far away land. As a sign of love and thanks, Sapphire died her hair a lapis blue, to go with her eyes; the eyes of the creator.