Editing Kingdoms: Autumn - Harvest (section)

=Ransoms=

A '''Ransom''' is an agreement between kings - a prisoner is released, in exchange for a quantity of Glamour. 

This price is not fixed, but is reached through negotiation. The King is never obliged to release a prisoner. If a price is agreed on though (generally signified by a handshake between the two king players, witnessed by the adjudicator) then the '''Ransom''' takes place automatically, with no possibility of interference from either party.

Don't forget that come springtime, prisoners will get a chance to attempt escape, so its often worth selling prisoners back to their Courts when you can!
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==Prisoner Exchanges==

Part or all of the price of ''Ransom'' can be provided by releasing a Prisoner in exchange. For example, a King might decide to offer a Bishop and 5 Glamour in exchange for the return of his Queen.

As with any other ''Ransom'', '''Prisoner Exchanges''' are agreed in front of the ''Adjudicator'' and cannot be interfered with once agreed.
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==Promises, Favours and other Worthless Bits of Paper==

Additionally, a King may try to exchange promises and future favours as part of the price.

Vitally, no promise or future favour is binding. A King can always break his word, and the ''Adjudicator'' will not enforce any promises or favours made.

That's not to say such things have no place in the game. A canny King will ask for a promise that can be fulfilled quickly, and will only trust in his opponent's honour near the start of a the ''game of succession''. But if two kings can grow to trust and respect each other as equal opponents, then promises and favours can become quite a useful tool.

It is very important to make sure that players have a sufficient sense of detachment to be able to recognise that ''a player character breaking his word does not mean that the player is less trustworthy in real life.'' If an Adjudicator feels he has the sort of game group that is going to take an in character back-stab as a betrayal of trust in real life, then he should probably either ban promises and favours altogether, or find different players. If you have players who start saying that other players are not trustworthy ''"becase they broke a deal last game"'' it's normally time to step in.
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==The Treaty of Love and Sacrifice==

There is one additional rule that can be invoked with ''Ransoms''.

If a Queen has been taken prisoner, then the King who wishes her return can say the following:

''"I offer all I have in return for my Queen. By the Treaty of Love and Sacrifice, you will accept."''

If he says these words, then he is making a ''Ransom'' offer of all the Glamour he has, plus releasing all the ''Prisoners'' he currently holds. The captor King '''must''' accept these terms, and release the captive Queen as asked.

Note that if you have captured a Queen, its generally good strategy to hold out for this offer before you accept any other Ransom offers.
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