A cross is a cross, whether made of wood, obsidian, purple jewels, or macaroni. It is a symbol most of people on earth know. The Crusades is a great example of iconography.
Thus, I agree that people in Faurun would probably recognize Shar’s symbol, with or without purple, etc. Scratch that sucker in the mud, the wee ones would gasp.
However, JandK’s synopsis of Shadowheart as a character (from a few posts back) is spot on imho.
