Could someone please clarify how ransom works - (KAP, pg 160-161) in regards to PCs and their family members?

On page 161, the section on Ransoming vassals is unclear. Will a lord ransom his vassal? The text is clear about a lord ransoming his household knights, but what about other vassals?

Specifically, if one of the PCs (Knight Vassals) is captured, can they count on the Earl of Salisbury for their ransom?
Second question: if one of the PCs has a younger brother (who is also a knight), is it up to the PC (family) to ransom him, or the young knight's lord?

Thanks.

Could someone please clarify how ransom works - (KAP, pg 160-161) in regards to PCs and their family members?


We can try.



On page 161, the section on Ransoming vassals is unclear. Will a lord ransom his vassal? The text is clear about a lord ransoming his household knights, but what about other vassals?


No. He's given them land, weapons, service--now the knights are responsible for themselves.



Specifically, if one of the PCs (Knight Vassals) is captured, can they count on the Earl of Salisbury for their ransom?


No, not normally. He's given them land, weapons, service--now the knights are responsible for themselves.
He is not expected to. A vassal has his own commoners, and one of the Four Universal Aids is that of ransoming one's lord. The peasants pay it, because they are supposed to.
The lord is NOT supposed to. If he does, he can probably claim the land as his as a result. At least it is a very big favor.



Second question: if one of the PCs has a younger brother (who is also a knight), is it up to the PC (family) to ransom him, or the young knight's lord?


The family, unless he's the household knight of some lord.

--Greg