“
Once particularities come into question and all that passion has drained away, they are bored by the specificities. And that is where I shine.”
Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh is one of the Princepts of the Divine Principality, opposed by Dahlia. He is known as the Peaceful Princept, and he is on the side of the Curtain of Divinity (and later the Bilateral Intercession).
Appearance
He is described as a middle aged bureaucrat with salt and pepper hair, handsome in a "gaunt" sort of way. Jack facecast him as Keir Starmer, the (at time of recording) leader of the Labour Party.
Personality
In PARTIZAN, Cynosure was largely a figurehead, lacking in his own ideology.[1] He was not raised to be the Princept, and his awareness of that shortcoming was part of what made him a poor one. He was not particularly talented at speeches, and when confronted with a tense situation was more inclined to complain than take action.[2]
After the events of PARTIZAN Cynosure started taking charge (notably, for example, chastising and hanging up on the Lace of Divinity in the wake of the theft of the Divine Discernment).[3][4] He gave at least one famous address of note, known as the Garden Speech.[5]
History and Involvement
PARTIZAN
Cynosure was not meant to inherit the position, but instead was thrust into it as part of Stel Kesh’s attempt to hold onto the title after Dahlia defected to Stel Apostolos. When he was still “only” Cynosure Kesh, he was a mediocre negotiator of economic policy (notably losing ground to Stel Orion’s Rye, elect of Space, during the Kesh-Coronet Trade Dispute of 1390) and an even more mediocre poet, having written the much panned collection “In All Days the Sun Second” which has been described as miserable,[2] shitty,[1] and not particularly well regarded.[2]
This section contains spoilers for PARTIZAN 28: Millennium Break: The Storm Over Cruciat.
Click here to reveal.
While attending the Summer Passage of Arms in 1423 of the Perfect Millennium he was kidnapped by Millennium Break and kept aboard Icebreaker Prime for some time. He was primarily restricted to his quarters, but did attend a mixed-Asterism service within the base with an awkward solemnity, and more Principality-aligned members of Millennium Break were still deferential to him. After Millennium Break takes Cruciat, he was traded back to Kesh as part of a prisoner exchange organized through Stel Nideo.
PALISADE
In the time between PARTIZAN and PALISADE, Cynosure negotiated a treaty with Rye naming terms of war between Curtain and Pact forces. He became more than just a figurehead and got involved in the actual affairs of the Divine Principality, beginning a "civil reclamation" of the Curtain and demoting its leadership during the power transition to the Bilateral Intercession.[3][4] He kept a close eye on the Bilats' intelligence arm, the BIS, requiring reports directly from the Stargrave.[6]
Relationships
Lucia Whitestar
Lucia Whitestar is Cynosure’s daughter[note 1], and one of the major generals of the Whitestar family. Cynosure has great confidence and trust in her military ability.
Clementine Kesh
Clementine Kesh is Cynosure’s first cousin once removed.[note 2] Clementine knew him as one of her older relatives before he was declared Princept, though they were not close.
This section contains spoilers for PARTIZAN 28: Millennium Break: The Storm Over Cruciat.
Click here to reveal.
After Cynosure’s kidnapping by Millennium Break, he is glad to see Clementine, if only for a sense of normalcy. This quickly changes when Clementine attempts to impress upon him the reality of Millennium Break preparing to take Cruciat. Cynosure pushes back, arguing that Millennium Break must be an Apostolosian ploy, and laughing outright at Clementine’s ambition for the throne of the Winter Palace.
Appearances
- The Road to PARTIZAN 11: Summary & Recap (opening)
- PARTIZAN 27: Millennium Break: She said, "To Win We Must Play!"
- PARTIZAN 28: Millennium Break: The Storm Over Cruciat
- The Road to PALISADE 01: HOUNDs Pt. 1
- The Road to PALISADE 03: Stealing the Throne (opening)
Notes
- ↑ Notably, Lucia is referred to as Cynosure’s cousin at one point, and his daughter in a later episode. Based on the context, with the cast audibly checking before saying she's his daughter, it is assumed this is the correct version of the family tree.
- ↑ Probably. Crysanth Kesh is referred to as “Cynosure’s cousin” while Clementine is referred to as his “second cousin”. Assuming the first is correct, Clementine should be Cynosure’s first cousin once removed, rather than his second cousin. A few minutes after establishing this, Cynosure refers to Clementine as his niece, which is close enough.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 PARTIZAN 27: Millennium Break: She said, "To Win We Must Play!"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 PARTIZAN 28: Millennium Break: The Storm Over Cruciat
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Road to PALISADE 03: Stealing the Throne, opening
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Road to PALISADE 05: Wagon Wheel Pt. 1, opening
- ↑ The Road to PALISADE 01: HOUNDs Pt. 1
- ↑ PALISADE 03: Today Is a Monday