No one has ever claimed that being Ranger was easy.
Here are some of the comments of Wuaoi Yai-Zhio on this subject, taken from Rangers meetings held between the years of Jena 2580 and 2599, gathered by Ba'Ruly Wiser, scribe of
Wuaoi Yai-Zhio, and reported here in the form of a conversation.
Third day.
Aspirant: I see that Diligence is a Principle. But isn't it obvious that we have to complete the tasks that have been prescribed to us?
No rest until the work is done. Yes, it's obvious when you've been given a task. But the principle of Due Diligence is of the utmost importance when you have assigned this task to yourself.
Such a task, no one else but you will know that you have completed it - but YOU will know.
We can, as in everything else, push Diligence too far. It is never possible to carry out a task or project to perfection. There comes a time when you have to decide that the task is sufficiently advanced and consider it completed. It is the burden of a Ranger to make this decision for the tasks he has given himself and to stick to them. Stick to it or admit, humbly, that you have made a mistake and take up the task again to bring it to its true end.
One of the areas where Diligence is most important is our observation of Atys as we go about our daily routines. We must remain on alert to capture any changes in the behaviour of wild animals, kitins or even homins and, as soon as they are captured, analyze and report them.
Aspirant: What about Tolerance? If we let anyone do anything, doesn't that mean we don't adhere to any values?
Wuaoi: Not at all. The Principle of Tolerance does not apply alone but in conjunction with the other Precepts.
Let me give you an example: a Ranger Aspirant decided one day that he needed to become a [[Tryker] citizen and lost all the work he had to do to become an Aspirant. He did this because he was a sap tryker and felt that the Federation needed his services. His companions, although not wishing him to leave the [[Ranger]s, wished him good luck. In fact, his decision was made after he had thought long and hard about the You are free that opens the meditation on the Precept of Tolerance and demonstrated through it that he fully understood the Precepts of Service, Diligence, Tolerance and Libra. We hope that, once he has fulfilled what he considers his duty, he will come back to us.
Aspirant: So a Ranger could do anything according to the Principle of Tolerance?
Wuaoi: Within certain limits. If this behaviour undermines the overall mission of the Rangers, then tolerance will be minimal. In this case, the homin could be expelled from the Rangers and his badge torn off.
Aspirant: Is taking part in Outpost Battles part of these behaviours?
Wuaoi: The battles for Outpost are fought between guilds, at least in theory, and the Rangers as a group do not get involved. Each Ranger as an individual is free to act, while remembering the Precepts. Tolerance is one of them.
Aspirant: What if I am part of a guild that has a Foreword?
Wuaoi: I would expect you to listen to your Chief of Guild and remember the Precepts.
Aspirant: We can fight to defend ourselves but also fight for our guild ?
Wuaoi: Yes, but with the understanding that if your guild focuses its attacks on a single nation or religion, its actions will have an impact on the Rangers as a whole.
Aspirant: I think I know the answer, but can a Ranger participate in the capture or elimination of outlaws like Aen or Pei-Ziao .
Wuaoi: The predation of Aen on passers-by and the crimes committed by Pei-Ziao are flagrant. Killing them is a service to all civilized homins of Atys. In addition, the fight against bandit gangs improves the reputation of the Nations and Powers and makes it possible to obtain services from them.
Aspirant: Does the term bandits include the Marauders ?
Wuaoi: That's a trick question. Those who, fleeing the Old Lands, have nevertheless rejected the Nations and Powers of the New Lands, what are they? Are they homins like us? In an obvious way, yes, of course. Some seem to have a certain sense of honour, others do not. They have one enemy in common with us: the[Kitin|Kitins], whose actions have made them suffer more than most of us. On the other hand, they are known to organize attacks on Nation nationals and zealots of the Powers. The Tolerance extends only until then.
Nevertheless, we must compare their attacks against homins with those of United Nations extremists. Fyros] could attack the capital of the Matis and Matis invade the Burning Desert. Extremists could even start a civil war. We cannot tolerate all their behaviour, but if we fight Kitins and Marauders help us, we should accept their help and fight alongside them. We must decide on our actions with them on a case-by-case basis, based on theirs.
Aspirant: And if two groups claim supremacy within a Nation?
Wuaoi: In this case, the Ranger will have to stay out of the fighting and work towards a diplomatic solution. There is a thin line between insurgency and banditry - it is difficult to measure the extent of it, but we must try.
Aspirant: What if I see a Ranger attacking a driller in the Roots Awards?
Wuaoi: It would not concern the Rangers as an organization, but would involve your individual action.
Aspirant: I would defend the driller. Tolerance is one thing, but there are things I can't support.
Wuaoi: I would applaud this decision. This is in line with my personal opinion. It is not generally up to us to police our comrades, but Tolerance is not without limits. If you were to see the same Ranger attacking the homins over and over again, especially if they are still homins of the same allegiance, I would encourage you to report this to Melga Folgore , who is in charge of relations with the Nations and Powers. He may say that individual actions are not our problem or he may decide that we need to go further. Membership in the Ranger is not a right but a privilege and can be revoked.
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