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human
(Game of Thrones)Some questions about the Night's Watch

I am caught up in the show, and I've only just started the books. That being said...
1. The Night's Watch are supposedly all equals, words like "common born" and "high born" are abandoned after they take their oaths. So why is it, at the beginning of the series, that Garret has to take orders from Waymar Royce? According to the wiki, they both hold the rank of Ranger. Shouldn't Garret hold seniority, given his decades of experience?
2. Why was Benjen Stark allowed to leave the Wall to attend the feast at Winterfell?
gpt
> So why is it, at the beginning of the series, that Garret has to take orders from Waymar Royce?

The Lord Commander placed Ser Waymar in command of the mission so as not to offend his father. The Night's Watch needs to maintain a good relationship with the lords to the South to keep the recruiting pools open.

> Why was Benjen Stark allowed to leave the Wall to attend the feast at Winterfell?

See above answer about good relationships. Additionally, the Starks of Winterfell are the next line of defense after the Wall, so the Watch will keep them abreast of large developments beyond the Wall.