The initial work has been done and the banquet has been laid. Minstrels and bards entertain the ladies and knights. Knaves and maids bring in mountains of fare. Some of the knights are having difficulty not falling asleep. But it's worth staying awake – and not just because of the feast.
It's not unusual for the course of important decisions to be set during breaks and over dinner. This is where networks are formed and maintained, and where discussion with other members of the committee is possible outside the official schedule. Not infrequently, this is where compromises are negotiated or preparations made for a consensus to be reached in the actual committee meetings.
