Pandora

"Hmm, there's not much left to search, depending on what's found with the current actions" Charlotte slides her hands carefully under the pillows on the bed and over the bedsheets to check for anything hidden. "If we're thinking of moving on any time soon then I'd like to check the curiously empty room just opposite this one (1h). I'm astounded that Blue Star didn't sell, or utilise, all its rooms on a long journey such as this, so I'd like to see what, or who, is inside."

"Well, that would depend on how faithfully the food replicator would be able to replicate one of your fine dishes, for instance. If I could dine on your repertoire at home, I need not spend money at your restaurant, for instance. Anyway, it's just something to bear in mind." Charlotte trails off, more talking to herself "I suppose it's also possible that someone might want such a device, if it exists, for altruistic reasons; to feed a large group of hungry people perhaps. Hmmm." Charlotte moves with the others to Ezra's room. "Emily, Mr Parry is a fellow passenger, he doesn't work here! " Charlotte moves to search the rest of the desk, simultaneously keeping a close eye on Emily to make sure she doesn't smash anything or delete anything. "We are all here aren't we? Nobody has tried to slope off somewhere have they?"

"Oliver and Charlie, so nice of you to follow my lead" "We won't have an answer to that until the Doctor replies." Charlotte wonders to herself if she knew any of the names listed as financial backers. Charlotte is also still wondering about the timings of how long it would take to get from the bar to Alfie's room, and to engineering. "@Hinckley Gabby, have you managed to ascertain yet how long the power was out for?" "I'm happy for us to forge ahead to Ezra's room. You know it occurs to me that the person who might lose and or gain the most from the device Alfie was building would be our talented Chef. Who would need to pay for the services of a world renowned Chef if you could just replicate all their dishes 24/7? Equally, I imagine one's job as a Chef would be made immeasurably easier if one had exclusive access to such a device. No more quality control problems, all dishes hot, on time and perfect with minimal effort. Do you have any thoughts on this @Kristel Chef Baker?"

"I'm here, I'm here, chef. Well now, this is most disorganised and haphazard and I think we'll be better off with some organisation and stronger leadership." Charlotte glances sideways at the muttering Captain. "Emily, what in the blazes possessed you to smash the damned teapot woman?! It's this sort of behaviour that could cause us to miss vital clues for goodness sake!" "Oh dear Lord, no! Why did nobody stop the poor demented girl from filling her undergarments with evidence? There must be a better place to put them, surely? Maybe put them in one of those beach bags they were giving away at the Alpha Centauri holiday village timeshare presentation? And then.. just carry the bag around? Bleurgh." "I indeed looked for injuries in others earlier, at the same time as your greasy hands were identified. Ms Young appears to have the only injury currently, but apparently I couldn't really tell." "Well, we have established that this was heart medication for some rare disorder it seems, but I think the most sensible thing would be for @Fugazi Dr Frost to tell us exactly what the medicine is for and whether there is any bearing or relevance to our current findings and hypothesis. "It seems, currently, we're thinking that the teapot from the lounge was the murder weapon for both the blunt force injury and a shard thereof was used as the stabby weapon. The killer may or may not have been known to poor Mr Peck, and there was, as the captain has pointed out, a lot for them to achieve before returning to the group. It is worth considering, and I'm sure the captain will take this badly, that both she and Gabby were delayed in returning to us. Yes, I know they had important things to do, like both of them fixing the FTL drive, but it bears remembering, as does the fact that the captain has a keycard, and Arthur does too. It is also possible that there is more than one person involved, which would allow for so much dastardly work to be achieved in such a short space of time.... which reminds me "Captain, you know this ship intimately, yes? How long would it take one to get from the bar to Mr Peck's quarters and back? And Gabby, from your computer logs, how long was the power shut down for?"

Charlotte turns to see the scruffy and eccentric engineer addressing her. "Gabrielle isn't it? Thank you for your question. In this case the Opposition simply means the next largest political party versus the government, and is only relevant because we have a number of political parties, each of which have some overlap in agreement and disagreement with each other. This helps prevent polarised views of things being one way or another without any consideration of overlap. Yellow versus purple, if you will - there is no need to wholly agree with one and wholly reject and demonise the other. There are public records of the members of all political parties, and every party has its radical element I suppose, but I would expect my fellow parliamentarians to uphold decency and law to at least a similar extent to those of us in the ruling party." Charlotte pauses for a drink, pleased to be back in her role as a public speaker. "Alfie and Ezra were unknown to me. Again it is possible I may have met them once before, but I meet so many people, and have to kiss so many babies that sometimes it can be quite hard to remember. If they are any kind of guards it is unknown to me also, but I worry that my presence here may end up being a somewhat Orange Haddock." "Indeed, but only for the last couple of years, and only because of tireless lobbying on behalf of the Government!" Charlotte turns to the saccharine voice wheedling into her ears, holding her composure. "Dear Emily, as I have already told you, the Government has its own considerable legal force, so your .. services will not be necessary, thank you. I am sure that hiring you because we happen to be on this voyage together would itself raise a few eyebrows, no?" Charlotte finds her political smile and turns away to surreptitiously examine the other guests and crew for signs of greasy or injured hands, or other evident injuries.

"Good, glad that's ok. Let's carry on tidying!" Charlotte checks the flowers/ pot plant on the bar to make sure they're ok and nothing untoward has happened to them.

Charlotte feels a cold shiver down her back. The ship just dropping out of FTL did not feel good, aside from physically jolting her. It was a bad omen. "Well now, if we work together we can perhaps get this place tidied up a bit?" Now that she's able to take more of an interest in her surroundings, Charlotte looks for the shield she had seen earlier. She'd like to examine it and make sure it goes back where it should have been.

Charlotte turns and smiles the smile of a practised politician dealing with... someone like Emily. "But you are not me, Emily, and thank the heavens I am not you. It may be worth your while to not judge others by your own ... standards." Charlotte waves a hand generally at Emily, and smiles the same smile again. "And I can promise you that our Governmental legal team are legion, so if I get a whiff of anything remotely slanderous from you, they will smack you down so hard you'll think that Georgie is finally doing that thing you like. " and with a wink and a smile, Charlotte turns away. "Do you know, the Grey Goose sounds wonderful, but from the freezer please, no ice. Thank you." Charlotte dines on smoked salmon and barramundi, with a velvety smooth crème brûlée to finish. The mealtime passes quickly it seems, and others are calling out for card games. "My compliments to the chef! We shall be very lucky to have such fine food for this journey! I don't think I'd like to play cards, but I'll happily watch and drink an after-dinner coffee." Charlotte moves to sit nearer Jack Mallory, to pick up their conversation from earlier, choosing a seat from which she can still see the card game. "Mr Mallory, please forgive me if I have insulted you, I am merely unused to the concept of an author closely mimicking their creations. I must say, I am very glad you don't write books about serial killers in that case!" she giggles a little, thinking she's being very funny "So please, can you give me an early hint at what your next novel will be about? I am fascinated by your creative process."

"You are too kind... Arthur, is it? Do you mind if I call you Arthur, it seems ever so cold to call you just 'Steward' for such a long trip?" Charlotte looks up dreamily as she contemplates the gourmet meal to come. "I'm sure whatever Chef Baker whips up in his kitchen will be a true gastronomic delight. Personally I'm hoping for some YumYum Devilled Eggs with Purpleberry Shake." Her repast-related reverie broken, she turns towards the commotion, concerned. "Do you mean to tell me that firstly you're paranoid enough to put hairs over all the door openings, and secondly an actual demonic plush has actually, physically appeared in your cabin? This is for real, not some kind of joke on your part? Would a demonic plushie mean anything to you? Is it some sort of perverted gift? Do you have any reason to think someone might mean you harm or even may be clumsily looking for your affections?" Charlotte's blood runs cold as she hears the throwaway comment from the Captain, spoken in such a stage whisper as to make it obvious to everyone in the room. Surely the assassin was there for her? Nobody else was anywhere near as important as she, and surely the assassin already knows they are there so having others know about it helps them prepare to defend themselves. She turns to address the captain, only to find she's buggered off somewhere. Who knows where? Clearly not to fly the ship, that's patently obvious. Charlotte wanders over to the bar and sits next to a rather scruffy and sad looking woman in mechanics overalls. She is grimacing and muttering to herself. She looks at her with curiosity, and some sympathy, but not knowing what to say says nothing and instead turns to the Steward. Charlotte smiles as if she assumes she has a new friend. "What a bunch we all are eh Arthur?" she chuckles lightheartedly "I'll take a vodka now please. Double." she adds more introspectively.

Well, that is a very kind offer, but I find it best to engage in politics by talking to people on a more personal level. Too many of my predecessors would stand in front of large crowds and make sweeping promises that they clearly had no intention of keeping. I prefer to talk to individuals and small groups in a more interactive way to find ways to make society better for all of us, rather than lecture an intractable point of view. Obviously one has to forge ahead with a determined policy in order to get things done, but a representative should always be willing to accept feedback from her constituents. Another drink please steward.

If you're that hungry you could always just have breakfast again while you're waiting for lunch. Charlotte watches the news on the screen in front of her. Say, does anyone know if this ship has shuffleboard, or a cabaret or some kind of entertainment?

Ah, excellent thank you. Mmm, yes, this is very good, thank you Steward. I'll have another please. I beg you to reconsider Chef, I would rather the tiger dined on Fois Gras stuffed Autolahn than, well... us. Speaking of, I would adore some of your world famous petit déjeuner à l'anglaise complete with brise-lames de saucisse for les haricots cuits au four please Chef Baker

When you said you had a tiger named Colin, I didn't think you meant you had him here with you! Are you crazy, bringing a wild animal into the depths of space? I vote for the chef cooking up some food regularly to make sure Colin is not peckish. Ever.

Yikes. I honestly don't know why I said that when I even said to you in the game that I wanted to be tracked, so I knew it worked, plus Rutherford even resurrected his bardic self to give the Watch result on me. Clearly my brain only works part-time. See above. I did, I just said something stupid in this thread. No, I knew absorbed actions would be successful as it happened the very first night with the Lullaby and I understood that had happened, I just spoke wrongly earlier when I replied to Shadows. It threw me off because I feel like there's a history of it happening to me. Whether or not that's actually true is another matter, but thinking back over many games, being falsely accused of anything does sometimes set me off like that. I will say, for metagame purposes, that I don't always react like that, so it isn't necessarily a town/scum/neutral tell. Anyway, genuinely thank you for such a fantastically crazy and wonderful role, and for hosting a beautiful and hilarious game.

Oky, thank you so much for this amazingly in-depth review, you really have shown all the details of the set! Great photos, great writing, and I love the gifs that you've created to show off features too. It's also really helpful to see what additional information we get in the instruction booklets, and I'm grateful you gave me the choice to know the secrets of the bonus box by spoilering it, thank you. There really is so much to this set, as we'd hope considering the price! The level of detail in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is enough on its own to make me really want this; the crazy colours work so well, and there's just so much stuff crammed in! I agree with your criticisms regarding the set, and they are a shame, but I doubt those on their own will detract hard-core collectors from picking it up. I know we're now one step closer to adding it to our collection thanks to your review.

*Flicks hair and smoothes skirt* Actually, I am a lady. You may paint my portrait sometime, painter.

Yes, yes this is much more fitting transport for a woman of my importance. Now, where is the steward? Ah, there you are. I should like a Mimosa, and after that I'll likely want another one, so don't go wandering off anywhere. I can assure you, Captain, that I am no mere tourist. I am Charlotte Sawyer, Representative Member of the United Earth Parliament, and I would expect your superiors to have informed you of my presence on board your fine ship. Oh Dr Frost, I am so glad you're here, you see I'm under such terrible strain with the importance of my work, and nobody could possibly understand how difficult it is to be as important as I, but if I could have some therapy sessions with you you might, of all people, be able to have an inkling of how to make me feel better.

Today there is a more speedy response. Sorry @JintaiZ ! Hi Toastie, you'd be very welcome but I'm not sure what you envisage regarding the non-LEGO-electronics/programming-for-LEGO-stuff-side relating to the Reviewers Academy. Regardless, you are most welcome to come and have a look around and see how you'd like to combine the two, and as Makoy has said, things will be potentially changing with regard to the RA in the future. Welcome to the Reviewers Academy!

This is absolutely incredible. It's so beautiful and done so cleverly, plus it is a faithful representation of the programme! It would be a gorgeous scene anyway, but you've managed to make the figures exude the characters from the programme, and the level of detail is wonderful. I especially like the bush pin connector plant (and the other plant), and also the barometer, but in truth I actually love all the amazing details. You've even added the flappy bit of the counter! Just fantastic, great build!

I'm right here.. I was going to do the same again this game on day two, and then everyone got their knickers in a twist about the Baby Dwagon stuff, and it was no longer feasible. I wasn't; I agree, he did. Yes goddamnit, all your fault! I think DLL/Bartosz said it on the deadboard also, and it is an important point. When you seemingly have some active townies (Holbrook, Corrina and I'd like to think myself) who aren't actually townies directing the scumhunt for their own ends, then there's the tendency for people to not want to derail what they see as the genuine town organisation, I guess. It was a genuine pleasure. I've already said this to you: I don't think I can return to the role again, but if you'd like a co-host to plan a crazy game with, I'm your gal. Everything is absorbed, so nothing works. Which makes it quite complicated to pick a path through a role madness game, where screwy things could happen if I'd been targeted by the right (or wrong) actions. I absorbed the Baby Dwagon Lullaby you sent, but I also got a "proper" role PM to say that I went and sang a lullaby, so that whole debacle was super irritating when I'd deliberately been very careful. I absorbed Bixby's protection and Parvani's deflection and Rutherford's posthumous watch but never used them (nor wanted to). I was only a little sad nobody tried to kill me, that's always a tough one to explain why you're not dead when all the roles and targets are on the table, and my strategy didn't involve killing anyone, well, until the end at least. I'm glad you had a different experience, but I don't think you need to feel bad at all. My conversations with you were entirely self-serving, even if they were very enjoyable, and even if that were not the case, duplicity is a necessary part of the game.

I would like to play too please, if I may?

Our Social Moderator and Reviewers Academy Teacher Makoy has published a beautiful, in-depth Review of this brand new set! Head on over to the Special Themes Forum to tell us what you think of this remarkable LEGO IDEAS set.

1) Obviously the Panda, but I also gave my heart to a Rabbit with a baguette, so that's a close second. 2) No, because it won't ever be as good and might actually taint the memories we already have. I mean, just look at the 2nd gen eyes. 3) Some idiots ran a game with an Acetic and a Nexus so those maybe? I've never played a role I disliked. Conversely my favourite role is Vanilla Town.

Sorry... I guess? As to your second question, I'm not about to reveal all of my thinking. Don't want to give anyone any ideas. I couldn't see the point of arguing it at the time, but that kind of shit pisses me off. I hadn't resorted to hissing. I was making reasoned points, albeit flavoured with more than a hint of "Exasperated Townie". I can accept that someone might not buy the Townieness of it, but to say I had resorted to 'hissing' was plain bollocks.

Thanks for the great game Hinck, it was glorious. Well done town and bad luck scum. I think you've definitely deserved that! I wasn't about to start protesting about being framed on day one after what had happened with Hendrick, but I knew the frame would show me up, as Hinck and I had talked about it in Night Zero. Best I could do was to act casual and try to make you believe I was actually being framed or you were being duped (or anything else that I actually argued). You were the one I needed to convince, you were the town leader, and you tunnel-visioned on me, and if I couldn't convince you then it wasn't going to work. At the point you did that, the scum had all but folded and there was little else left to distract from me, coupled with you knowing you had the town numbers to lose me if you were wrong, and I couldn't roleclaim as the open setup made it clear there were no roles to claim. Essentially your extremely good town play and the night action result against me completely scuppered me. I've successfully talked my way out of some very sticky situations before and it just wasn't going to happen here. I got to choose the setup each day from a choice of three. I made plans assuming I'd have the same choices each day, and then on day two I saw that obviously I didn't (because really, why would I?! ) I think when I chose Day Two's setup I even referred to it as the "MurderDeathKill" setup or something. Some fun facts: I didn't give you the vig thinking you'd use it on me, but it would have been wonderful if you had (and if you'd not then tried to lynch me). I had in my notes that I gave Priella the missing frame on Day One, not Lyev (I checked and Hinck got it right, the mistake was my end) but I had so much other stuff going on that I had it in my head that Priella was lying when she specifically denied having the frame, so when it came to lynching her I was trying not to let her be lynched because I "knew" she was scum, even though I actually didn't. Weird, huh? Anyway, as a result of that I also hugely suspected Hayleigh for jumping at me about lying because I thought I'd given away that I knew Priella was scum because she had lied. Except she hadn't. Fun times. I absolutely loved it. I had a ton of fun with it and I am so sad it's over. There were teething problems, and issues that needed to be addressed, but it was a joyous experience, thank you Hinck. It also saved you one whole game of me not sending in my "don't let me die you bastard" night action every night.