What are the rules of Tradition?

It is a code of honor, rules which make our dealings with each other more orderly and respectful. There are many subtleties; I may not be able to fully express it to you in a short time. First, the Song of Annunciation, which you have learned. There are more Songs, appropriate for different circumstances. The foul art of Lying is forbidden. A traditional dragon must treat their elders and juniors with respect, giving and demanding nothing for free, but neither unfairly oppressing their juniors. The elders also can demand whatever they wish with their might and strength, but Tradition forbids this - they will test their juniors harshly, but not with impossible tasks. Visitors may challenge a dragon to a contest for a fair wager, though the challenged may decline. An exchange of riddles and a fight are the most common challenges. There are rituals for claiming a territory and for challenging another for theirs, or just a portion of theirs. It is against Tradition to sneak into a territory and poach or steal. No dragon may order another against their will. No dragon may claim Treasure found in the territory of another without a proper challenge. A traditional dragon does not bow to the demands of lesser beasts, and does whatever they desire so long as they have the strength to, whether that is clawing Treasure from the ground or diligently crafting the land itself into a Treasure as I do. Vengeful ghosts and other disorderly things are to be destroyed, while the lines of goodbeasts and the bounty of nature is to be preserved.

Tradition is not law. Those who are known to abide by it are trustworthy, and the spirits and beasts will know and whisper of it, and one's reputation is a worthy thing to cultivate; Those who do not are less trustworthy, but Survival is a greater law than Tradition. A dead dragon is far more pitiful than one with a poor reputation.

I think it will be pretty doable for Vanda Nossëo to keep those rules firmly in mind while among you.

I do not know how my kin will react to Vanda Nossëo. I do not know how to react to it. The hive-of-many-worlds greater than the Onesong we thought we knew is a staggering concept. When the world has been much the same for year upon year, such a fundamental shift brings dissonance to the Onesong. Many kin, I think, will rather you had not found us at all simply because your existence is so confusing and will change many things more quickly than they usually change.

I think a lot of planets have some people who wish that. We would rather find a way to satisfy everyone, but if we leave a planet alone - there's another federation that does just that, leaves them alone no matter what until they've invented star travel themselves - if we leave a planet alone, people starve and die of disease and violence, raise their children in poverty.

And what is wrong with that? The strong grow great, the weak perish, and the Onesong continues on. Thus is the way of dragon. I suppose it is not the way of Elf.

It's not. And it's not good for humans, either, or for the weak who perish. At any rate, even strong humans decline in just a few short years, compared to the immortality they can enjoy among the stars.

Compassion.

The dragon is silent after that, echoing patient contemplation through osanwe.

The Elf returns wordless agreement.

Every Draak seeks greatness in their own way. I prize order and beauty. I am interested in learning of new ways of order, of new tools to create beauty. Some will reject you, and some seek to wield the opportunity you offer. Perhaps I will interact with your great hive to this end.

I have heard that the Great Elder known as Allmother follows the path of Compassion, though I do not know where she lives. The one known as Darktooth the Wise similarly follows the path of Learning, and may be found where the rustmountain valleys come together like a tree near great Ocean, to the south.

One of us already found the Allmother and had a very productive conversation with her! We'd love to send someone to talk to Darktooth the Wise too.

I once took lessons from them. I could show you but it is a flight of many days.

Can you give me a mental image of the place? That will let someone teleport to it.

Warden transmits it.

Darktooth claims an especially large area apparently. A long, wide valley between two mountains with a river delta and swamp, as well as one of the mountains, with a sense of great caution attached.

Thank you. What did you take lessons about?

I have learned some lesser secrets of Number, and of the sigils that can be used to preserve events beyond memory. As well many things about the nature of the world and its ways, of the fire within Earth and the cycle of Water in the air, and other such things. I will return one day when I am more worthy.

What makes you worthy of such things?

I have long contemplated that. I do not know. I think I will know I have arrived at correctness, when I do.

Do you think you or other dragons might be interested in traveling around Vanda Nossëo and learning in classes there?

What are such things like?

There are magics that can be taught, including song magic that most species aren't good enough at singing to do well with but you might be, and sciences and math like what you learned from Darktooth, and ways to preserve things beyond memory, writing and recording.

I heard your singing and it was a thing of sound only, not of spirit like our own True Songs. Worthy and beautiful; Yet I have difficulty imagining how sound alone might cause great changes in the world.

Would you like to see?

Yes.

So she sings a song for warmth, and the area around them heats up gently.