Nod. I'm going to ask Aulë next time I see them, but there are a couple of unaging species in my world, I don't think it's that hard to do - I should probably ask before I give the talk, so I can reassure everyone properly.

At this, she takes a fresh sheet of paper, draws an extended hand at one corner, and then adds a quick sketch of Aulë.

Lovely! Is that a preliminary organization for the talk?

Reminder to go talk to Aulë sooner rather than later - I can expect to live another hundred years, now, I wasn't expecting that before, asking for more isn't urgent - but that's why I brought the paper and ink in general, yes, so I can draw reminders of how I intend to do things.

I do the same thing. Okay. How long are you thinking you'll want to talk, allowing for questions?

She considers. There's a lot of stuff to talk about here, we might need to break it up into separate talks. Make them a couple hours each, maybe?

That seems like a good way to do it. How are you thinking of organizing it into separate topics?

Hmm.

Talk about the world in general, first, I think, and I can explain Inspired Gifts and give an overview of my magic at the same time, since those aren't kobold-specific. She draws a tree, a tigerperson, a ring, and a gem, and circles them. Then maybe an overview of the tribal structure and some of the more important interpersonal customs - campfire, plainer ring, kebabs, pair of kobolds - I'll mention Speaking then, but it ought to get its own talk, probably. She draws a more detailed kobold, probably a specific person. I'd also mention that we don't talk, in with the tribal structure talk, and I'm not sure if people will want more detail about that - it's the kind of thing I'd be curious about, but the people I've mentioned it to so far haven't been.

I am desperately curious but worried I'd say something rude. The assumption here is that talking is the distinguishing trait between people and nonpeople. 

Yeah, back home, too. She makes a complicated face. That's the diplomacy I was doing, was going and being obviously a person at the tigerfolk and then explaining that other kobolds aren't animals either; I'm pretty hard to offend on that topic.

I am trying to imagine what having thoughts would be like if I did not have words.

Most of my thoughts aren't in words, but I'm not sure that's possible to share over osanwë. I can try...

She looks around the room for a small group of people talking together, and attempts to send her impressions of what their body language is saying.

Hmm. I don't think I'm quite understanding but I gather that it's me failing to understand. All of our complicated thoughts are in words. 

Nod. Maybe I can come up with a simpler example; I would like to share one if it's possible. This time, she doesn't bother switching back to thinking privately; a jumble of thoughts cross her mind before she settles on a memory of building a fire - judging each piece of wood for how it will contribute to it, considering how it'll burn in different configurations, working out how to get the longest, safest fire out of the least wood so she can sleep safely next to it and wake up warm. Also: lonely. sad. stressed.

He frowns at her concernedly. That is a good example. Are you all right?

She blinks at him. ...didn't realize it'd send the emotions too, sorry about that. I'm doing better now; kobolds aren't meant to be alone like I was then.

I am very glad you're doing better. It'll be a very useful and interesting talk. 

Yeah. What else I should include in it? I'm not actually sure what you'd want to hear about, it's all everyday stuff to me.

How kobolds distinguish tribes, what the environment of your world is like - what things were new to you here, anything we don't have here - more of kobold customs around marriage and family...

Notes, notes, ...I don't think we have that one.

Family? Parents ahd children and brothers and sisters and cousins?

We have families - we approach that differently, but it's similar enough to be more or less recognizable. The other thing sounded like a very specific kind of partnership?

Oh, marriage. If you don't have genders I suppose you couldn't have marriage.

Yeah, that's another thing we don't have.

...I'm not sure if I want to ask about that and I'm not sure I can figure out a polite way to do it if I do.

I think cultural gaps are best bridged if we assume everyone's trying at politeness and will get better at it if explained how they're coming across. Marriage is a partnership between a man and a woman to love each other forever and usually have children together.

Nod.

We have partnerships; romantic ones are common, but not the only type, and they're only loosely related to egglaying or raising children - my imprinted parent was partnered but their partner wasn't a parent to me, for example.