So I was exploring around the outside of Chorrol when I noticed the Courier had managed to get stuck between rocks. Before I could help trolls appeared and killed the Couriers horse and then the Courier. Has this ever happened to anyone else and does anyone know if they respawn? Either way it amused me and I'd just thought I would post here. 5 years in, never seen that happen before!

I believe they respawn when killed. I often see the Chorrol one being chased by wolves. Usually they escape, but you do occasionally find a dead one.

They will respawn 7 days after they have been killed and yes something similar happened to me but with mountain lions near Anvil.

But they move so fast...

It's much more common to see their horses dead. I believe that their AI makes them stop and fight rather than just use their superior speed to escape, because otherwise they wouldn't stop to give you a copy. The attacker usually targets the horse first, so they may continue on foot if they survive. Being slower then, they're likely to fall victim to another road monster or bandit.

There are four Breton women who ride for the courier. As said, they do indeed respawn - I expect after three days like unsafe containers and dungeons do.

They're always in such a hurry. Hardly ever have time to stop for a chat.

I saved a Courier's and her horse's life once. I rode her horse to her. She jumped on and was still too busy to talk and just rode off. And I got dinged for stealing a horse.

Maybe they don′t have time for a chat, but Lothran has found them on many occasions just standing there beside their horse. They could be standing there forever I guess but as soon as they are spoken to they suddenly realize they′re in a hurry!

Hmmm. I've noticed something similar with the legion riders. I finally figured out that they're waiting to heal after a fight.

Another intresting thing was the Courier had several copies of the Black Horse Courier on their person. Thought that was a good little touch.

Yup. Here have a copy!

Be seeing you!

The office in the Market District can have copies of the BHC for events that haven't yet happened. I'm curious if the same was true for your courier.

They weren't just standing there. They were relieving themselves by the side of the road. It's one of the advanced features of Bethesda's Radiant AI. They are programmed to express intense ambarrassment when they are caught in the act. They pretend that they have something real important they have to do and they get back on their horses as if nothing unusual was happening.

If you follow them, you find that very soon they will get off their horse again when they think nobody is watching. They will stand for about a minute, whistling to themselves, and then they will get back onto their horse and continue with whatever it was they were doing before.