Rōnin (ɾoːɲiɴ)

Paid blade's silent creed, Job's demand, no more, no less, Rōnin's code, professed

Created & Written by Khali A. Crawford

Paid blade's silent creed, Job's demand, no more, no less, Rōnin's code, professed

This is the Rōnin Prayer and motto by which they do business. All Rōnin are different and obey their own laws in the end, but this prayer sums up their practice. They perform to the letter of their contract, no more, no less, unless you are willing to pay more.

1. Precision and Efficiency: They execute their assignments with meticulous care and calculated strategy, ensuring that the job is completed without unnecessary complications or collateral damage.
2. Discretion and Secrecy: The more people who know about a secret, the less likely it is to remain a secret. Unless they are dead.
3. Transparency in Contracts: All terms and conditions are carefully outlined to prevent misunderstandings or disputes.
4. No Emotional Attachments: In adhering to the Professional Code, Rōnin avoids forming emotional attachments to clients or targets.
5. Non-Discrimination: Race, Gender, Religious alignment, sexuality, food preference, the Rōnin only cares whether or not the coin is good.
6. Adaptability and Resourcefulness: Rōnin are resourceful problem solvers who can adjust their strategies and tactics to overcome unexpected challenges and obstacles that may arise during a job.
7. Professional Reputation: Word-of-mouth and referrals are their lifeblood, and a positive reputation ensures a steady flow of lucrative contracts.
8. Contractual Obligation: Rōnin adhere to the letter of the contract. They do not overextend themselves by taking on tasks beyond the agreed-upon scope, nor do they shirk their responsibilities.

Career

Payment & Reimbursement

In the world of Rōnin, the payment structure is a crucial aspect that reflects the diversity and adaptability of these skilled warriors. Rōnin charge their rates for their services, and the payment system varies depending on the nature and complexity of the job. Here, we'll delve into the intricacies of Rōnin payment methods:

• Flat Rates for Drop and Dry Jobs

For straightforward tasks like delivering an item to a specific planet or eliminating a target in a distant star system, Rōnin employs a fixed flat rate. These missions are commonly referred to as "drop and dry" jobs, as they entail minimal complications. The simplicity of these missions allows for the establishment of standardized rates, ensuring both parties have clear expectations regarding compensation.

• Rolling Rates for Complex Assignments

Complex and multifaceted assignments require a more flexible approach to payment. Rōnin reserve "rolling rates" for these intricate tasks, which encompass a range of scenarios. Examples of such assignments include safeguarding a person during a perilous journey between planets, tracking down a missing item with an uncertain trail, or serving as a personal bodyguard to a client. Rolling rates take into account the evolving nature of these missions, adapting as new challenges arise, and additional responsibilities are shouldered.

• Diverse Rate Structures

Within the realm of Rōnin, there is no one-size-fits-all rate structure. Each warrior may have a distinct approach to pricing their services, reflecting their expertise, reputation, and individual circumstances. Some Rōnin prefer to charge by the hour, allowing for precise measurement of their time and effort. This method is often favored for relatively short-term assignments. Others opt for daily or yearly rates, suitable for tasks that span a more extended period. These rates may include provisions for rest periods or other considerations. Some Rōnin go a step further by signing comprehensive contracts with clients, outlining specific job duties and a fixed time frame. These contracts may stipulate additional fees for any tasks that fall outside the initially agreed-upon scope.

Other Benefits

1. Independence: Rōnin enjoy the freedom to make their own decisions and choices. They are beholden to no one and have full control over their actions and destiny.
2. Diverse Experience: By taking on a variety of contracts, Rōnin gain exposure to different cultures, technologies, and environments. This diverse experience can make them adaptable and resourceful.
3. Flexible Work Schedule: Rōnin can determine their own work hours and take breaks when needed, reducing the stress associated with rigid work schedules.
4. Financial Gain: Rōnin have the potential to earn significant wealth, especially if they are skilled and successful in their contracts. They can accumulate resources and wealth from their various employers.
5. Networking Opportunities: Interacting with a wide range of clients and employers provides Rōnin with valuable networking opportunities. They can build relationships and contacts that might prove useful in the future.
6. Enhanced Skills: Constantly facing new challenges and adversaries hone the skills of Rōnin. They become proficient in combat, negotiation, problem-solving, and other essential abilities.
7. Freedom of Movement: Rōnin can travel extensively and explore different worlds or regions. Their mobility allows them to avoid political entanglements and escape dangerous situations.
8. No Loyalty Constraints: Rōnin are not bound by loyalty to a single employer, which means they can pursue their interests and principles without conflicting loyalties.
9. Unbiased Perspective: Being detached from any specific faction or organization, Rōnin often have a more objective and unbiased perspective on various conflicts and issues.
10. Personal Growth: The challenges Rōnin face, both physically and morally, can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. They constantly adapt and evolve, becoming more resilient and self-reliant.
11. Resourceful Problem Solvers: Rōnin develop a knack for finding creative solutions to complex problems, as they often need to think on their feet and adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
12. High Demand: Skilled Rōnin are in high demand, and their reputation can lead to lucrative contracts. They can choose the contracts that align with their interests and values.
13. Legacy Building: Over time, accomplished Rōnin can build a legacy of their own. They may leave behind a reputation as legendary warriors or skilled professionals, which can impact their world or inspire others.
14. Opportunities for Change: Rōnin have the freedom to switch their focus or change their goals at any point in their career, allowing for personal and professional evolution.
15. Control Over Alliances: Rōnin can selectively form alliances or partnerships when it suits their interests, without being obligated to any single group or individual.

Perception

Purpose

Troopers are conscripted or volunteer, and Knights are bound first by their Code and then their Oath to a Master. Sometimes, you just need a Rōnin to carry out a job that may not be pretty or honorable. Rōnins exist to serve whoever has the coin to pay them and whoever is paying more gets the better blade in this circumstance. But they also give skilled marksmen and swordsmen the ability to provide for themselves without surrendering their autonomy to a Master while also capitalizing off of their own skills. The path of the Rōnin gives financial freedom and moral determination.

Social Status

Depending on who you ask the perception of a Rōnin will change. They can be seen as honorless drifters who sell themselves like meat for coins or tools for which a job can be completed with. In more civilized worlds, they carry a negative connotation, as the services of a Rōnin are inferior to the status symbol that Landed Knights provide. In such spaces, a Rōnin has been employed to carry out unsightly work so as not to tarnish the honor of the Household Knights. Inversely, in worlds that are less civilized, Rōnin is the symbol of fear and power, if a Warlord can afford many Rōnin, then he is wealthy and if they can maintain his power they are powerful in the art of death and violence.

Rōnin Quotes Through the Ages

1. "Duty, not morality, shapes my path. I'm a Rōnin, not a savior."
2. "Precision in action, discretion in silence. That's the Rōnin way."
3. "Contracts are the language of our trade, and duty is our currency."
4. "No targets are innocent, no clients are guiltless. I serve duty, not judgment."
5. "Moral dilemmas are for poets and philosophers. We deal in deeds, not debates."
6. "I carry no banners, wear no colors. My allegiance is to the task at hand."
7. "Trust the blade, not the hand that wields it. In this world, actions speak louder than words."
8. "In the end, it's not about right or wrong. It's about the job done and the coin earned."

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Alternative Names

Wandering Swordsman | Blade With no Master

Demand

Depends

Famous in the Field

• Star Javelin Bālkyth, Beholder of the Word Endings