The Tarot Sequence 2022 Readalong discussion

This is the readalong/discussion thread for Scenes from Quarantine for Week 8! Share all your thoughts and Feels!

Day 7. We’ve all been there.

I love the little snippets we learn about Rune and Brand's relationship with their neighbors. Do you think they through a block party when they left?

I wonder what repercussions we'll see in future books because of the vow Rune makes to never talk with Tower about what happened the night the Sun Court fell.

I wonder what Quinn saw during the pineapple conversation.

I wonder if the Matriarch Lady Death is going to become an important character later. As far as we know, she's the only former Arcana still alive who stepped down, and that's an interesting thought as so much about New Atlantis is about power, it's weird to think about an Arcana giving up their throne outside of death.

I feel like whatever is in that warded tower belong to Rune's dad is going to be important. Maybe in there is information on why the Sun Throne was attacked in the first place.

Hannah wrote: "I feel like whatever is in that warded tower belong to Rune's dad is going to be important. Maybe in there is information on why the Sun Throne was attacked in the first place."

After some of the Q&A stuff - ie KD hinting that the Sun Throne was very much Up To Something (albeit not necessarily bad or wrong) I'm thinking this too. Maybe something tied into the prophecy - or what Rune's dad was thinking about/going to do re the prophecy (because surely it affected his long-term plans? He WAS Lord Tower's bestie, I'm sure that means he had plans within plans like Lord Tower does.)

@Siavhada I have this theory that is likely untrue, but I enjoy anyway, that there was more to the Emperor's murder than we know and maybe Rune's dad was looking into it and that's part of why the Sun Court was attacked, and a prophecy was why Rune and Brand were left alive.

Regardless, I think there's some very, very important information hidden in that tower and I can't wait to know what it is.

@Hannah I'm positive the Emperor was murdered, not 'killed in the war'. My going theory is that there's a conspiracy to disrupt the Arcanum, and that started with someone going after the Emperor and Empress - that the Empress ran not out of grief, but because she knew she'd be killed if she didn't.

Which very much fits with the idea that Lord Sun was looking into it - the Sun Court was supposedly a haven for creative types, which is a pretty good cover for...well, almost anything, what with having all these outrageous, unorthodox, loud people around, masking whatever you're doing quietly.

And yep, I'm firmly of the opinion that the prophecy is why Rune (and Brand) is still alive. My worst fear is that the whole raid happened to ensure Rune didn't grow up a spoiled, pampered scion, but to forge him into something very unusual (and special). I hope that's not it, because I can't imagine what the guilt of that would be like for Rune (even though of course it wouldn't be his fault!)

@Siavahda I'm wondering if maybe tyne Empress thinks members of the Arcanum were involved and that's why she left. And I'm also scared of it being all about Rune/a way to break him or say him on a certain path for a prophecy. Which is why I'm hoping it's at least a two birds/ one stone type of situation.

Hannah wrote: "I have this theory that is likely untrue, but I enjoy anyway, that there was more to the Emperor's murder than we know and maybe Rune's dad was looking into it and that's part of why the Sun Court was attacked..."

Am I the only one who finished this mini and is now obsessed with the theory that Rune's dad isn't dead? I don't have the books on me but didn't they say that everyone was "destroyed beyond recognition"? Can someone confirm or deny this? Maybe Lord Sun was kidnapped or is hiding out somewhere

aza wrote: "Am I the only one who finished this mini and is now obsessed with the theory that Rune's dad isn't dead? I don't have the books on me but didn't they say that everyone was "destroyed beyond recognition"? Can someone confirm or deny this? Maybe Lord Sun was kidnapped or is hiding out somewhere"

I NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED THAT! You're not wrong, it was stated as early as Last Sun that the bodies were unrecognisable, they had to work out who had died by who didn't turn up for work the next day.

But Jesus, Rune's dad would have to either be a monster or have the most INCREDIBLE reason to abandon Rune like that. ...I suppose it's possible he was taken prisoner rather than killed? But I can't believe anyone could keep him contained for this long, he'd have escaped by now, surely.

THANKS AZA I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS IDEA AND NOW IT WON'T GO AWAY

There's the Q&A today

If we ask KD if Rune's dad is still alive and get a :) I will LOSE MY MIND

@aza and Siavahda Or maybe Rune's dad lost his power or something or he knew something and was concerned letting Rune know would endanger him and he wouldn't be able to protect him. Especially if he doesn't know which courts can be trusted...

It would also make sense in a way, as with all of the other remnants we've seen resulting from what happened that night (the gyo-ro and Mrs. Barrie), you'd think there'd be something of his dad he would need to clear...

Siavahda wrote: "There's the Q&A today

If we ask KD if Rune's dad is still alive and get a :) I will LOSE MY MIND"

Did anyone ask I don't have twitter ahhhh

Hannah wrote: "@aza and Siavahda Or maybe Rune's dad lost his power or something or he knew something and was concerned letting Rune know would endanger him and he wouldn't be able to protect him. ...you'd think there'd be something of his dad he would need to clear..."

YES this is exactly why it came to mind. While they were clearing the remnants I thought initially for sure that they were about to run into Rune's dad. When it wasn't his dad my brain immediately went "yup. that guy's definitely secretly alive"

We also don't know what Actually Happened that night that Rune keeps secret so... anything goes IMO