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    Cynosure??

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    • LittleMissBadass
      LittleMissBadass last edited by

      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: cynosures

      1 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:

      @Polaris:

      …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.

      @Polaris:

      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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      • Polaris
        Polaris last edited by

        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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        • Zool
          Zool last edited by

          There's also a lot of other 'cant' type stuff the gangs use.

          > !!!MOLES for the MOLE GOD!!!

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          • LittleMissBadass
            LittleMissBadass last edited by

            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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            • Polaris
              Polaris last edited by

              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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              • Audiographic
                Audiographic last edited by

                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

                MEOW!

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                • Polaris
                  Polaris last edited by

                  You're thinking of planescape, not the world tree cosmology.

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                  • Zool
                    Zool last edited by

                    Well… Actually, there is a book written by an old character in the library that mentioned Cynosure as a plane.

                    /topic/327

                    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.

                    > !!!MOLES for the MOLE GOD!!!

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                    • Polaris
                      Polaris last edited by

                      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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                      • Mr.Moloch
                        Mr.Moloch last edited by

                        @Zool:

                        Well… Actually, there is a book written by an old character in the library that mentioned Cynosure as a plane.

                        /topic/327

                        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.

                        In the future, there are two simple rules to remember:

                        NO SPITTING.

                        DO NOT CROSS MISTER MOLOCH.

                        https://youtu.be/WsMMN9Y9uEw

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                        • Zool
                          Zool last edited by

                          The books wrong yeah, but it explains why people think it!

                          > !!!MOLES for the MOLE GOD!!!

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                          • Cheshire
                            Cheshire last edited by

                            Hah, I "literally" find this topic to be "ironic"

                            _>

                            Alice: "I've often seen a cat without a grin but never a grin without a cat."

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                            • Mr.Moloch
                              Mr.Moloch last edited by

                              @Cheshire:

                              Hah, I "literally" find this topic to be "ironic"

                              _>

                              I know you misused both words purposefully, but it hurt my head all the same.

                              In the future, there are two simple rules to remember:

                              NO SPITTING.

                              DO NOT CROSS MISTER MOLOCH.

                              https://youtu.be/WsMMN9Y9uEw

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                              • LittleMissBadass
                                LittleMissBadass last edited by

                                @Cheshire:

                                Hah, I "literally" find this topic to be "ironic"

                                _>

                                [Maureen has a nervous breakdown after reading this post. –THE END--]

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                                • SinisterPlank
                                  SinisterPlank last edited by

                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

                                  'nuff said.

                                  <@Gmork> [17:01] <sinisterplank>Chand Ashweed saved all your asses by being awesome! >_> || This is the truth</sinisterplank>

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                                  • Puffy
                                    Puffy Admin [DM] last edited by

                                    So, how do we use the word then?

                                    @SpiffyMeister
                                    the real bench mark for success is if you seduce a puffy pc or npc
                                    @Prof-Misclick
                                    Puffy said "Don't you trust me? Then vote yes NERD!"
                                    #scaredofstrongwomen

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                                    • toportime
                                      toportime last edited by

                                      @Puffy:

                                      So, how do we use the word then?

                                      @Polaris:

                                      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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                                      • Puffy
                                        Puffy Admin [DM] last edited by

                                        Ah, my kind of English. Thank you, dear!

                                        @SpiffyMeister
                                        the real bench mark for success is if you seduce a puffy pc or npc
                                        @Prof-Misclick
                                        Puffy said "Don't you trust me? Then vote yes NERD!"
                                        #scaredofstrongwomen

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