why 'Amaranthine' Gargoyle?

I'm trying to understand the name 'Amaranthine Gargoyle.' The other 3 are straight forward but the fourth was intriguing enough to google and I can't see anything than identifies with this Gargoyle's name and features except perhaps the color profile of the wings - based on the "amaranthine hue" which seems to match the wings. Every other result for the amaranth color (flower/plant) profile is quite different, and all of the other features (bird heads, snake head) don't appear to have a connection to the name (that I can find).

I also found Amaranthine to be Greek for "unfading," "undying," or “color that never dies" which again points to the wings but still does not explain the rest of this Gargoyle. If you google Greek Amaranthine it returns some gold jewelry despite the fact that the word describes the purple-red color profile (and there is jewelry to match those colors as well). Maybe this explains the gold on the Gargoyle?

What's the significance of the 2 bird heads and a snake on that gargoyle?

Amaranth seeds are the color of the gargoyle, the wings are the the span of colors the flower can bloom as.

At least that's my guess.

"

cgexile wrote:

I'm trying to understand the name 'Amaranthine Gargoyle.' The other 3 are straight forward but the fourth was intriguing enough to google and I can't see anything than identifies with this Gargoyle's name and features except perhaps the color profile of the wings - based on the "amaranthine hue" which seems to match the wings. Every other result for the amaranth color (flower/plant) profile is quite different, and all of the other features (bird heads, snake head) don't appear to have a connection to the name (that I can find).

I also found Amaranthine to be Greek for "unfading," "undying," or “color that never dies" which again points to the wings but still does not explain the rest of this Gargoyle. If you google Greek Amaranthine it returns some gold jewelry despite the fact that the word describes the purple-red color profile (and there is jewelry to match those colors as well). Maybe this explains the gold on the Gargoyle?

What's the significance of the 2 bird heads and a snake on that gargoyle?

Top tier stuff in GGG support packs typically have purplish hue. You might be right that its called "amaranthine" simply due to the colour.

cos GGG like the pink lo

"

peachii wrote:

The name seems to indicate the color on the wings or the fact that the pet won't die (or any other synonym that goes along with that).

My guess is the gargoyle ascends to a different form, reading some myth sites seems likely ascends into a chimera form as they are said to have had gargoyle, lion, snake, bird heads after the transformation as well as being immortal.

That makes sense - that the gargoyle ascends. It would explain why it's so radically different from the others. I would say it's an overly exaggerated chimera since that creature is fairly well defined in mythical lore as having up to 3 heads with one typically being that of a lion. But that said, yeah that would explain the differences in appearance even if GGG appears to have taken some extra creative liberty there.

I wish they'd change up their colour scheme a bit. Doesn't have to be purple all the time.

I've run mine through a few maps and a couple of farming jaunts so far.

It stays very close to your side as you run, but can't keep up when you 'blade' through empty sections.

An interesting conglomeration of parts, the colours that stream off the wing tips as you move along is a nice touch.

It gathers a crowd when in town. However, that will soon stop as soon as a few are regularly seen around.

Overall, it's fine. If only GGG would make something that actually attacks with you I would be extremely happy.

I remember my big bear from D2 that went everywhere with me. Man, could he fight!

"

Rayzabladez wrote:

I've run mine through a few maps and a couple of farming jaunts so far.

It stays very close to your side as you run, but can't keep up when you 'blade' through empty sections.

An interesting conglomeration of parts, the colours that stream off the wing tips as you move along is a nice touch.

It gathers a crowd when in town. However, that will soon stop as soon as a few are regularly seen around.

Overall, it's fine. If only GGG would make something that actually attacks with you I would be extremely happy.

I remember my big bear from D2 that went everywhere with me. Man, could he fight!

Agreed, shiny pet is shiny! ^^
Thankfully though GGG wont implement pets actually having an active role in the game because of 1 simple reason.

The pay to win argument.

HOWEVER is the pet had fighting animations yet did no actual damage or pull any agro that would be sweet!! ^^

GG GGG

"

cgexile wrote:

I'm trying to understand the name 'Amaranthine Gargoyle.'

Amarynth is an elder being, thrice ascended.

Brinerot legends speak of her as the Eaglefish rider, and say that while mounted on the mythical flying creature she wounded the Beast and drove it underground. Their legends say that Amarynth wasn't just a flower of the mountains - she was their jeweled essence. The gems caused by the beast's corrupted dreams were like clipped off toe-nails compared to the living power of her crystal spirit. Though the Brinerot revered her, they didn't worship her, as her blessing and curses were as fickle as the seasons. She was a being best left alone.

The Balladeer's journal notes that the poem Amarynth's Boon


from the tragedy Craegor and Amarynth



actually predates the Brinerot culture, and was found in Ezomyte tomb carvings.





For those who might be interested, here is a snippet from

Craegor and Amarynth

..............

A consternation ran through the gathered crowd of the Fire Tomb clan and they began shuffling and mumbling.

"Speak up, what is it?" Craegor, their chief warmonger asked.

Aldun, the ember reader looked up from the burning coals in his palm, "I have confirmed it, the Eaglefish has landed,"

"Who suggested such nonsense?" Craegor asked.

"Kylan, the scout did, with his last words before he became gilded," Aldun replied.

"Bring him to me, NOW!" Craegor shouted.

"We can't, he is already at the smithy being melted down," Aldun shrugged

Craegor roared and the crowd dispersed. While the crowd plotted and left to gather their implements of hunting, Craegor's mind was possessed by an even greater prize. As mighty as the Eaglefish was, it had a rider, and her beauty was unforgettable. He went back to his hut to gather his gear.



"You are mad!," Tylene turned her face away so that he could not kiss her.

"You need not worry, you will still be first of my heart," Craegor tried to stroke her face.

Tylene pulled his hands away from her and stood to dress.

Craegor shrugged, "I will likely grow bored of her, just like I did the others and return to you."

Tylene's eyes narrowed, "Your promises are like flatulence, if you leave to pursue her, I will not mourn your death."

Craegor's eyebrows furrowed, "What mean you?"

Tylene pointed a finger at him, "Only this, that she will slay you as she has slain everything that dared to disturb her."

"She did not slay the Beast," Craegor said, "but wounded it and it fled from her."
Craegor recalled the first time he had seen Amarynth when he was just a strapling...



When the Sky Father spoke, everyone listened. Craegor watched as the jackelope he had been sneaking up on froze. The great rumbling rolled across the sky once more, and the jackelope's wings unfolded from its back and it flew off. Craegor sighed as he watched his dinner fly down into the great canyon.

He knew the thunder was no more than a Brinerot hunting clan, and the smell of ozone meant they were near. Although Craegor had already staved in the skull of a wounded Brinerot lookout last summer, he knew these were far too numerous to face.

With the knowledge that his end was nigh, Craegor leapt away from the pulse that indicated an incoming lightning warp. He then felt the nearness of fire. Jets of flame rushed through the space he had just been in. Redblade raiders were pouring out of the pockmarks in the cavern walls. It was an ambush, and judging by the numbers, this was going to be a large battle. With the Brinerot's attention momentarily distracted by the adult raiders, young Craegor made a dash up the narrow trail that ran alongside the cliff.

Three Brinerot broke away from the clan skirmish and pursued him. Craegor wasn't much faster, but he hoped his stamina would outpace them before they thought to use ranged attacks on him. As Craegor reached the summit of the trail, he noticed some odd trees growing near a defile ahead. He had little time to consider the silver, copper and gold leaves as he heard the buzzing sound of lightning warp beginning behind him. Craegor sprinted and then dived under one of the unusual trees, hoping its metallic leaves would disrupt the lightning casting.

A flash of light and pulse indicated the Brinerot had materialized behind him. Craegor had been prepared to meet death many years ago, and as he scrambled to his feet, he thought of all the joys in life that he would never know.

Then he saw her. Her hair billowed and flowed around her like a brewing storm. The intensity of the her serene gaze transfixed him. Her form was as supple as the wind and her vitality would make a waterfall seem stagnant.

Her eyes flickered away from him and towards those behind him.
There was a rumbling, and the path behind him crumbled away, taking the Brinerot with it. She looked once more at Craegor and smiled. Then she turned and was gone.



Ever since that chance meeting, Craegor had learned all he could. He learned that her name was Amarynth, and she was an elder being. Her skin was like mica, shimmering and immune to lightning, heat, cold and chemical attacks. She was solitary, but had a menagerie of "pets" at her disposal. Among the lesser were gargoyles whose talons ripped flesh, and four winged harpies whose shrieking cast all manner of spells. Among the greater were fabulous Rooks who dropped scores of rock golems onto their opponents. The wind elementals were maelstroms that rebuffed and returned most of any spell or projectile cast toward them. Additionally, their swirling winds contained diamond shards which rapidly ate away armor and buffeted energy shields into oblivion.

The ground obeyed her every whim. At her will, piercing stalagmites shot up from the ground under her opponents, magma pools erupted melting and engulfing or spraying her enemies. Giant bottomless voids appeared taking her enemies into the bowels of the earth.

When the Beast arrived and began to expand its territory, it attempted to invade her mountain ranges. Amarynth disrupted the beast's dreaming and slumber with continuous shock waves. When it tried to use chaos against her immutable form, she grew irritated and began bringing mountains down on top of the Beast. She began crushing the Beast, and when it realized death was near, it fled.

Wounded, it crawled under the mountains of Highgate to sleep and try to heal itself.



Craegor's mind came back to the present and he finished gathering his gear. He reached out for his young son, to give him a hug, but the boy looked at his mother and then flinched and drew away. Craegor snorted. There was nothing more to say, and he turned and began heading toward the high trail.