The Armour Archive

My mind was wandering the other day ( no leash laws in my head )
and a question came to me....

Before I comment I'd like to hear from others so I do not bias
my own question.

What is it that makes a ransom 'worthy' of the giver?

Is the the value of the item?

The thought behind it?

The representative value?

The actual value?

The 'SCA' value? ( thinking along the lines of something really
useful to us but not valuable in the modern world, no specific
item in mind )

The fact that it is handmade?

What about sentimental value?

If it is appropriate to the persona of the one receiving it?
Or how about the persona of the one giving it?
Which is more important

Are there way too many possible variables...?


Rate these possible ransoms based on your impression of their
'worthiness' and explain why ( why is more important that
where you rank them to me for this discussion )

A length of handwoven tirm
A case of OK beer
A bottle of really good beer
A bottle of wine
A bottle of home made wine
( that does not taste as good as store bought...
important distinction for this question )
A small empty wooden chest
A bigger wooden chest FILLED with plastic gold coins
A small leather pouch with a small amount of reproduction coin
A single struck coin
A 'marker' that can be used to call in a favor from the one paying the ransom

Or tell me you can't rate them because almost anything will work,
it's the effort made in presenting the ransom that matter's most.

Or name an item not on the list and tell me what you think of it.

Share a story of a ransom you paid.

Share a story of a ransom you won.

When is a ransom boastful or too much?

When is a ransom not enough? ( from either side's point of view )

You're in for it now... you left out bacon

Like any gift- it's mostly about the value to the recipient. I value hand made items over commercial things, but a well considered book is a wonderful choice. Useful or inspirational items are great. I don't hold much value in nick nacks, or plastic stuff, but some handmade glass beads I received as a ransom in the first Deed at Gulf War are some of my most cherished possessions.
In my experience it's unusual for ransoms in the SCA to have a cash value above about $15.

I've never received a ransom, nor have I paid one, so feel free to salt to taste...

Out of the first group:
A length of handwoven trim - I personally love when people make things with their own hands, even if the results are not as "good" as those of a professional

A bottle of home made wine - Same reason, but behind the trim because I don't particularly like alcohol as payment/ransom.

A bottle of really good beer - Quality over Quantity

A case of OK beer - I like beer more than wine.

A bottle of wine - Because it's left.


Second group:
A 'marker' that can be used to call in a favor from the one paying the ransom - I like the continued personal interaction that this implies, especially if it's between two people who don't normally run together. Again, it's that personal touch.

A small leather pouch with a small amount of reproduction coin - I received some reproduction Edwardian Pennies last War from a member of my household in recognition of deeds on the field. I think it adds a lot of the charm the SCA is all about to things like this when they are period style payments or such.

A single struck coin - Same reason.

A small empty wooden chest - The last two could flip flop, depending on the exact size. The plastic coins in the bigger box don't really make any difference to me, I'd be more interested in the chest.

A bigger wooden chest FILLED with plastic gold coins

YMMV

Eamonn

RoaK wrote:You're in for it now... you left out bacon

I wrote:Or name an item not on the list and tell me what you think of it.

note to self... Roak has issues reading and following simple directions....
type slower next time so he can keep up.






Bacon is far too valuable to give away to just anyone


You have to be worthy to receive it....

Eamonn wrote:Out of the first group:

Second group:

YMMV

Eamonn

It was supposed to be one list. My fault for the space
But your answers are still very valid.

missed the first part, I have been given a ransom, and a thank you token from an opponent for actions on the field.

The thank you was an embroidered Fleur de Lis. He was thankful that I had dove on him and covered his head during a rush after he had been kicked in the head and was in obvious pain.

The ransom was from my own Crown after I was sent to the opposing side of an interkingdom war and ended up capturing the King. I was asked what I wanted as a ransom, I demurred and asked him to marshal a boffer fight. He ended up passing a roman coin to my knight.

Both were appreciated, and probably ranged in price from 50 cents to 5 bucks.

Why gives it value to me, is the trophy factor, for lack of a better word.

For example, some of the most memorable was a ring and a set of buttons. The ring my wife wears and every time someone asks about it or where she got it, she answers that her husband won it for her.

The buttons, she made a new dress with them, so every time I see her in it I know that I won those for her.

That's why like to give jewelry. I know there are guys out there who have given one of my necklaces to a woman, (be it wife, sister or daughter, that is their business) and when ever he sees her wear it, he thinks: yeah, I kicked some guys ass to get that for her.


A chest would work for that. Most things would. As i was pouring the bottle of wine, I would let the drinkers know where it came from. Homeade wine would add a little more cool points.



When is it too much? I'd say when someone is too embarrassed to accept. Where is that line... who knows.

Too Little? There is still one I am owed. That one was too little.

Other than that, never had one not be of value to me. The memory of the fight and the look on my wife's face when I hand it to her are what gives it value.

there was a really good post about this a couple years back, One of Sir Vitus's squires had the price of each level of man seems to me, someone should dig that up and sticky it

Baron Conal wrote:What is it that makes a ransom 'worthy' of the giver?

Share a story of a ransom you won.

Several years ago at a William Marshal tourney where ransoms were simply negitiated between the captor and capive, I captured a fellow fighter from my barony, asked him for a ransom to present a flower to my lady, he agreed, and he was released.
Later that evening as I stood in the back of court with her and we chatted with friends, the fighter in question approached and handed my lady a hand-made hairpin with some beadwork at the head, in the shape of a flower. He then gave a brief but very eloquent speech about her beauty inspiring my prowess on the field, bowed and retired.
This story has stuck with me so clearly because the individual was not noted for either his thoughtfulness nor his eloquence, and this ransom was very good examples of both.
In this case the ransom in paying exceeded the price at asking.

So I'd have to say that the primary thing that makes a ransom valuable is how thoughtful the payer is in making it valuable to the payee.

Many years ago after loosing Meridian Crown to Maximilian I presented myself in court and placed my hauberk, sword and 2 sticks of rattan at his feet as victor of the day.

His Grace was kind enough to return my arms and armor in return for a vow that I would fight for and with him in the Meridian army and defend those lands to the best of my ability. The two sticks of rattan remained as ransom paid.

It was a fine day.

Greenshield