Cynosure??
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So, I keep seeing this word used IG/IC. I had not heard of it before so I investigated (that's what teachers do, I suppose). I find the following information:
cy·no·sure
?s?n??SHo?or,?sin-/
noun
noun: cynosure; plural noun: cynosures1 capitalized : the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also : north star
2 one that serves to direct or guide (in this case his "committment" was his "cynosure")
3 a center of attraction or attention <turned an="" eyesore="" into="" a="" cynosure="" —="" catherine="" reynolds="">(in this case, something ugly became beautiful, and thus, the center of attention)Origin
Yet the usage I'm seeing IG/IC does not reflect the above information. For example:
…It is said even Roger Clement of Shylock's, protected by cynosure and hardened by the vagaries of Old Town, lives in daily terror of the tiefling entering his establishment.
@RedGallant:
We can speak under cynosure in Shylocks.
Cynosureis upheld. ~Citizen, The Plebian Court~
@AlabamaBeautyQueen:
Will the status of cynosure continue, if neutrality is maintained in regards to the Mains…
It seems that the word is being (mis)used as a synonym for some banner of "truce" or "neutrality". And maybe it's because I'm a teacher that this bothers me. So if someone could explain why it's being used this way, I'd appreciate it. Maybe there's some sort of reference I'm not getting?
Maureen
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I'm aware of the actual meaning of the English word, the discrepancy is very much intentional. In FR, "Cynosure" is the legendary meeting place of the Gods, where they put aside their differences to hold councils. It's canon.
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There's also a lot of other 'cant' type stuff the gangs use.
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Even still, it's being used not as the name of a place, but a adjective/adverb condition of the place to be met.
Maybe I'm too much the grammar queen.
Besides, how many random adventurers/gang leaders know the name of some cosmic planar location where the gods meet?
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Street thugs are not the most erudite of specimens. There is a cant in use in Old Town that you can pick up pretty easily by spending some time around them.
As for the word itself, nowhere is it suggested that they know what the real Cynosure even is. To them, it just means "hands off, neutral" with no further connotations. The legend that the Gods meet to hold councils in Cynosure is not exactly unknown among the mortals, however, but it is not referenced in any theology if FR as far as I know.
You can consider it something akin to Dendar the Night Serpent. There's a nursery rhyme about her used to scare children, but only the Outsiders (and the players; not the PCs, the players) know she is actually real. Within the setting, Dendar's just another legend to mortals.
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Iirc, Cynosure is just another name for the Outlands, a place where the Lady of Pain disallows gods from having power/too much power putting them all on a more equal footing. And the Outlands is very close to the Prime Material (Again Iirc) and house Sigil, the city of doors. Its probably one of the most well known planes, along with the astral and shadow
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You're thinking of planescape, not the world tree cosmology.
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Well… Actually, there is a book written by an old character in the library that mentioned Cynosure as a plane.
It says this -
Cynosure The neutral plane where the gods host one another.
But again, it's a word gangs use, they are not experts in grammar by any account.
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Well, library books are to be taken with a grain of salt, but yes, I suppose the point's been made.
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Well… Actually, there is a book written by an old character in the library that mentioned Cynosure as a plane.
It says this -
Cynosure The neutral plane where the gods host one another.
But again, it's a word gangs use, they are not experts in grammar by any account.
Yes, but the book is wrong IC. :)
Cynosure is Forgotten Realm's specific, it is neutral meeting territory for the gods. Hence, the gangs use the word properly. Their Chondathan teachers are pleased.
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The books wrong yeah, but it explains why people think it!
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Hah, I "literally" find this topic to be "ironic"
_>
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Hah, I "literally" find this topic to be "ironic"
_>
I know you misused both words purposefully, but it hurt my head all the same.
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Hah, I "literally" find this topic to be "ironic"
_>
[Maureen has a nervous breakdown after reading this post. –THE END--]
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc
'nuff said.
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So, how do we use the word then?
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So, how do we use the word then?
Street thugs are not the most erudite of specimens. There is a cant in use in Old Town that you can pick up pretty easily by spending some time around them.
As for the word itself, nowhere is it suggested that they know what the real Cynosure even is. To them, it just means "hands off, neutral" with no further connotations. The legend that the Gods meet to hold councils in Cynosure is not exactly unknown among the mortals, however, but it is not referenced in any theology if FR as far as I know.
You can consider it something akin to Dendar the Night Serpent. There's a nursery rhyme about her used to scare children, but only the Outsiders (and the players; not the PCs, the players) know she is actually real. Within the setting, Dendar's just another legend to mortals.
Relevant part bold and underlined by me. At least that is what I got out of it.
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Ah, my kind of English. Thank you, dear!
