Paladin dies, what happens to the mount?

[RigaMortus]

What happens to the Paladin mount when the Paladin dies? Does he go back to being just a regular animal? Does he have to make the Fort save (just as the Paladin has to make if the mount were to die)?

 

[isoChron]

Perhaps it starts wandering around waiting for a paladin of equal level as the deceased one (keeping all his boni).
Paladins may gain Special Mounts but they can't buy it in a petshop, at least in my campaign.
If they have to adventure for it, it may be a nice hook for the next Pal.

BYE

 

[Metallian]

What happens to the Paladin mount when the Paladin dies? Does he go back to being just a regular animal? Does he have to make the Fort save (just as the Paladin has to make if the mount were to die)?

This actually happened in my campaign.

I had the mount totally flip out (it was in a stable at the time, butthe paladin was paying alot for special treatment, since it's a big riding lizard) and go back to being a normal animal. A very distraught normal animal. They had to restrain it.

When the Paladin was Raised, the mount went back to being a (very happy) special mount.

I have no idea what the "official" ruling is, that's just how I handled it.

The Metallian

 

[Storminator]

IMC I just teleported an NPC paladin to the far side of the world, sans mount. The mount is involved with the rescue expedition.

I have nothing really to add. I was hoping for some good answers myself.

PS

 

[Hypersmurf]

I know how you feel. I know it hurts. I know there's this... big, empty place inside you, and every moment of every day you feel there's something missing, and you know he's gone.

And I know you don't want to hear this right now, but I'm going to tell you anyway... there is someone else out there for you.

I know everybody says that. And you know why? It's because it's true! Sure, right now you feel as though nobody could ever replace him. But you have to trust me... with time, that pain will dull a little bit. And one day, you'l meet another paladin... and his armour will be just as shiny, and his Grace will be just as Divine, and you'll realise that everyone gets a second chance.

Don't be afraid to grieve. It speeds up the healing process.

I know you'll never forget him, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't want you to be happy again some day...

-Hyp.

 

[Spatzimaus]

It's never really specified. Here's how we do it IMC (note that we changed a lot of other things about the Paladin, so not all of this will translate).

A Paladin's Mount is an ordinary animal or beast, enhanced through the both power of the Paladin's god and the power of the individual Paladin. This changes it into a Magical Beast (and later into a Native Outsider IMC).

While it has intelligence, it isn't true intelligence; it's basically transferred from the Paladin. That's why the mount doesn't gain XP in the normal way. Most of the abilities work the same way; it's not that the Mount is inherently magical in itself, it's that the deity is giving a small amount of power to the Mount each day to keep it "enhanced" for his champion, and the mount has been magically bonded to its owner to gain more powers.

So, if the Paladin dies (or changes alignment, or really pissed off his deity), the Mount becomes "unlinked", because the deity has stopped giving power to the Paladin (and by extension, his Mount). It drops to the abilities it had when first called at level 5, including a decrease back to INT of 6 or so. However, even though its INT is still above 3, it's not truly sentient, and so can't take character classes or gain XP.
If the Paladin is resurrected, redeems himself, etc., then the Mount regains its full power.
The drop in power isn't instantaneous, though; we do it more as a gradual thing, where the Mount loses one level every few days.
As a side note, a Mount can never get a new master IMC, since it's been touched by a specific deity and bonded to a specific Paladin. Mounts of deceased Paladins are usually cared for by their Order, and used for stud, although they're intelligent enough to want to roam freely most of the time.

Anyway, bottom line, make up a rule that works for you. There isn't really a standard way of doing things, AFAIK.

 

[Destil]

I'd give it a will save to avoid returning to a normal animal, myself.

 

[Gez]

I've seen a ruling (don't remember where, maybe Tome & Blood) about familiars and death of master. The thing is, the ex-familiar was considered to still be a familiar, but of a master 2 levels lower than his dead companion. He would get normal hit points for a creature such as itself.

I would rule just the same for a paladin's mount. If the paladin was level 5 or 6, the mount becomes a normal animal back, as paladins of level 4 can't have a mount.

 

[Anth]

In DotF there are rules for the paladins mount.
In TnB there are rules for arcane spellcasters familiar. (quite different from the mount-rules)

As Gez says there are rules for a dead spellcasters familiar in TnB.
It says: "a part of the spellcasters lifeforce lives on in the familiar"

So, the Q is: does a part of the dead paladin lives on in the mount?

 

[the_gnome]

Depending on how the Paladin dies may make a difference.

Old age - mount sits beside grave and dies

With the whole party - mount gets eaten afterwards

In combat but party survives - sold