As for the ransom, let's first agree on the particulars of the exchange. Here's what I'm thinking: we'll return the crew but keep the ship. We'll give them a location at sea to meet us—close enough to land that there are landmarks nearby, but far enough away that they can't sneak up on us. We'll be there in the Mare (or I guess whichever ship is faster). If they send a ship close to us, like within artillery range, we run and the deal's off. They have to send one man in a rowboat to bring us our ransom and pick up the captives, ferrying them back to the main empire ship a few at a time. So the questions for me are where is a good place to meet and what is a good price? Both answers require some setting knowledge.