The momentum picked up with the second month's topic, "Civilisation is an abuse of the natural world". Sophists, determined to make up from their previous loss, delivered the opening statements in favour of the topic.

Truax notably stated, "Intrusion upon Nature throws off that balance by taking more than it contributes. This is the very essence of civilisation's abuse. Taking, taking, taking always and never giving back more in its place, civilisation is always hungry for more progress and rarely generous with its returns. And as a result, this persistent abuse is setting our world up for impending disaster."

Of course, the Advocates proved they would not be bested so easily, with Sothantos stating, "You would not claim that ants, beavers, monkeys, and crows are not part of the natural world. Ants live in a strictly stratified society, farm aphids, and even go to war with other colonies. Beavers construct dams, directly changing the landscape around them as they create lakes through blocking the rivers. Monkeys, crows, and I am sure countless other species of animals are capable of rudimentary trade. What, then, is sentient civilisation but a higher form of these naturally occurring structures? We should not think of civilisation as some entity separate from the natural world, but rather as part of it."

After hearing the rebuttals of Jiraishin and Mathonwy, it was decided that the Sophists of the Seat had taken the second round!

- Nissa, Head Archivist of the Lucretian Athenaeum

Summary: In the second round of the Worlds' Fair debate tournament, Nissa declared the Sophists of the Seat winners over the Ashen Advocates, creating a standing tie.

Penned by My hand on the 2nd of Valnuary, in the year 805 AF.