Hostages
Texto
In the purest ideals of to which many Rokugani aspire, a samurai is expected to be willing to fight to the bitter end, but an idealized samurai is also expected to offer mercy to worthy adversaries who stand defiant to the end. As such, if a small group is surrounded by the enemy, or if the outcome of a mass battle is clear (such as if an army has been routed or suffered morale collapse) and the enemy leaders cannot escape, the GM should consider whether any NPCs in that group surrender. If some of the NPCs are not inclined to surrender due to their pride or convictions, the victorious side may attempt to get them to accept their hospitality. A representative of the winning side must make a TN 3 Courtesy (Air) check; if the character succeeds, the target agrees to the terms and becomes their “guest” (hostage). After all, once a battle is decided, further bloodshed is pointless. If the character fails, the target attempts to fight on, which can be resolved with narration by the GM, or perhaps a duel if the winners are gracious. Taking a character hostage against their will by subduing them is a minor violation of Courtesy (Rei), and requires forfeiting honor as normal.
Table 3–7: Ransom Amounts
STATUS | KOKU
100 N/A (decorum would always demand seeing such an individual safely back to their home)
90–99 | 10,000 koku
80–89 | 1,000 koku
70–79 | 500 koku
60–69 | 250 koku
50–59 | 100 koku
40–49 | 50 koku
30–39 | 10 koku
20–29 | 1 koku
10–19 | 5 bu
00–09 | 2 bu
After a battle or campaign, it is customary to return any hostages taken in battle to their families. Generally, a hostage is returned either in exchange for a hostage of equal status rank taken by the other side, or for a number of koku described in Table 3–7: Ransom Amounts (see page 117). If a character returns a hostage without any demands (or frees them), this is considered a sacrifice in the name of Righteousness (Gi), and the character should generally be awarded honor equal to the hostage’s status rank (and glory equal to the hostage’s status rank if they do so publicly). After a character frees someone of higher status rank this way, they also gain the Ally [Name of Character Freed] advantage (see page 101 of the core rulebook).
A samurai is expected to care for any “guests” in their custody as they would any esteemed guest. When a samurai takes a prisoner on the battlefield, they must stake honor and glory equal to that individual’s status rank. If their hostage comes to harm, they lose the staked honor (and glory, if their failure becomes known) in addition to any forfeits of honor and glory they must make if they themselves treat the hostage with anything less than the expected decorum. Refusing to return a hostage in exchange for an equivalent hostage, fair price, or suitable favor to be repaid later after hostilities have ceased is also considered a breach of Courtesy (Rei) of a scale of the GM’s discretion.
Of course, the GM should modify any of these amounts based on the importance of the individual to those who hold the purse-strings within their clan or faction, as well as applying appropriate modifications based on negotiations undertaken by the various parties.
Texto do livro
Fields of Victory · Chapter 3: Acts of War › Expanded Mass Battle Rules › Hostages · p. 109 p. 117 p. 118
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In the purest ideals of to which many Rokugani aspire, a samurai is expected to be willing to fight to the bitter end, but an idealized samurai is also expected to offer mercy to worthy adversaries who stand defiant to the end. As such, if a small group is surrounded by the enemy, or if the outcome of a mass battle is clear (such as if an army has been routed or suffered morale collapse) and the enemy leaders cannot escape, the GM should consider whether any NPCs in that group surrender. If some of the NPCs are not inclined to surrender due to their pride or convictions, the victorious side may attempt to get them to accept their hospitality. A representative of the winning side must make a TN 3 Courtesy (Air) check; if the character succeeds, the target agrees to the terms and becomes their “guest” (hostage). After all, once a battle is decided, further bloodshed is pointless. If the character fails, the target attempts to fight on, which can be resolved with narration by the GM, or perhaps a duel if the winners are gracious. Taking a character hostage against their will by subduing them is a minor violation of Courtesy (Rei), and requires forfeiting honor as normal.
Table 3–7: Ransom Amounts
STATUS | KOKU
100 N/A (decorum would always demand seeing such an individual safely back to their home)
90–99 | 10,000 koku
80–89 | 1,000 koku
70–79 | 500 koku
60–69 | 250 koku
50–59 | 100 koku
40–49 | 50 koku
30–39 | 10 koku
20–29 | 1 koku
10–19 | 5 bu
00–09 | 2 bu
After a battle or campaign, it is customary to return any hostages taken in battle to their families. Generally, a hostage is returned either in exchange for a hostage of equal status rank taken by the other side, or for a number of koku described in Table 3–7: Ransom Amounts (see page 117). If a character returns a hostage without any demands (or frees them), this is considered a sacrifice in the name of Righteousness (Gi), and the character should generally be awarded honor equal to the hostage’s status rank (and glory equal to the hostage’s status rank if they do so publicly). After a character frees someone of higher status rank this way, they also gain the Ally [Name of Character Freed] advantage (see page 101 of the core rulebook).
A samurai is expected to care for any “guests” in their custody as they would any esteemed guest. When a samurai takes a prisoner on the battlefield, they must stake honor and glory equal to that individual’s status rank. If their hostage comes to harm, they lose the staked honor (and glory, if their failure becomes known) in addition to any forfeits of honor and glory they must make if they themselves treat the hostage with anything less than the expected decorum. Refusing to return a hostage in exchange for an equivalent hostage, fair price, or suitable favor to be repaid later after hostilities have ceased is also considered a breach of Courtesy (Rei) of a scale of the GM’s discretion.
Of course, the GM should modify any of these amounts based on the importance of the individual to those who hold the purse-strings within their clan or faction, as well as applying appropriate modifications based on negotiations undertaken by the various parties.