Speak language?

[Allanimal]

Between that and the fact that such a pipe is a more or less direct port of some cultural ceremonies IRL, just rolling with it is probably the way to go.

And roll (role?) with it I will. My character will continue to seek out the finest tobaccos for Smokey and try to find interesting new languages for him to acquire. I never envisioned my character as a pipe smoker, yet he puffs on the pipe on occasion, even when there is no translation needed, just so Smokey can stretch out a bit and see the world.