The External Story.

Before the Pattern was made, a Thief stole the Eye of the Serpent. Swayville the Golden, King of Thelbane was angered at this, and he despatched his greatest warrior, his daughter the Princess Bellissa Minobee, with her squadron of Hellmaids, the greatest fighting force known, to apprehend the Thief and return the Eye.

Bellissa caught up with the Thief, but instead of apprehending him, she conceived a child with him, presenting him with a son, before releasing him to go and continue his intended work, which was the founding of a New Order. Thus was Oberon born, and Amber founded.

She then had herself ritually entombed, with her organs removed and held in stasis, against the day when her actions might be forgotten and she could be revived without fear of punishment.

This tomb was on the island of Minos, on St. James. This is the first mention of the realm of St. James in recorded history.