Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Sophists were unable to immediately challenge the Advocates to break their tie in the third month.

In their stead, Tesha of Targossas, Emalyna of Cyrene, and Asani of Hashan formed the rag-tag group known as Team Ret, and fearlessly challenged the Advocates. A puppet fashioned in the likeness of Atalkez was also nominated as a team member of Ret, but was quickly over ruled by yours truly.

The Ashen Advocates and Team Ret were then given the third debate topic, "Polygamy, as exercised by the Fae." After a bit of preparation time including a brief impromptu interview with the Sidhe, Emalyna opened for Team Ret, stating, "Polygamy as practised by the Fae, promotes a group mentality, equality amongst their group and reproduction with the strongest males garnering the favours of more women. With this, the men nor the women know who fathered the children so, all are equally protective and nurturing of the young, providing more than adequate care and tending."

Asani further cemented Team Ret's stance with, "Polygamy, as a system, does not inherently bring harm to any of those involved. It's been practised within our own culture as well, most notably by Nicator, when Sapience was ruled by monarchies and royal families. Nicator was married to several wives, and used his marriages to bring peace and stability to the Seluecarian Empire, through ensuring his line was continued and bringing together different kingdoms...

...Oberion, considering his status, would be able to use this system for the same purpose. For the fae, this is an ingrained part of their culture, and cultural institutions are often preserved due to providing stability to the culture they are a part of. That said, I do not contend that Oberion himself has succeeded in this goal, but that is the failing of an individual, not the system. It would be equally fallacious to claim that Verrucht's rule in Cyrene has proven democracy to be a complete failure."

Farrah issued a statement on behalf of the Advocates, noting, "The royal family of the Sidhe Court is there to rule, to lead its people, to keep order and promote justice and progress, as is any leadership of any society. It cannot achieve this purpose if it is internally at war with itself. Yet, Oberions choice to take two wives has done nothing but destabilise the very ruling family of Annwyn."

Jiraishin later supported with, "The marriages of rulers bind polities together. Such is the case of Titania and Oberion, binding Sidhe Court to Dryad Garden. Now imagine if Titania is assassinated. Imagine the strife that would result. An inversion of the increased stability that was initially promised. -This- is what is created by the current situation of two wives at odds."

And then...there was Tesha. Bless her spirited rebuttal of, "The arguments of my dear citymates are based upon only a select few of the Fae: Rhyannon, Oberion, Titania, and Faylinn ... of the fae...While yes, they may be super suspicious, scheming, silly, sinful, and seditious, this shows only part of the culture of the fae. Faylinn is clearly angry, and tenuous plots are rampant in the land of Annwyn. HOWEVER! They fail to acknowledge the OTHER fae. No! They suggest polygamy is NOT common practice, and that it does NOT work, and that it is rampant with jealousy, animosity, and political plots! It clearly does work, as there are nearly limitless fae. If it "doesn't work", how are they still able to reproduce? HMMMMMM?!"

Both teams showed fire and passion upon the grassy knolls, but one stood out for the round--the newcomers, Team Ret!

- Nissa, Head Archivist of the Lucretian Athenaeum

Summary: The newly formed Team Ret faced off with the Ashen Advocates a midst the absence of the Sophists, leading to a very interesting fun round. Nissa declared Team Ret the winners!

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