Lore Of Death, & Ridden Monsters

Spirit Leech
"Spirit Leech is a direct damage spell with a range of 12" that targets a single enemy model (even a character in a unit). [...]"

The Fate of Bjuna
"The Fate of Bjuna is a direct damage spell with a range of 12" and targets a single enemy model (even a character in a unit). [...]"

The Purple Sun of Xereus
"[...]. Any model touched by the template must pass an Initiative test of be slain outright with no saves of any kind allowed. [...]"

Ridden Monsters
"Whilst a cavalry model is treated as a single model for the purposes of hitting and wounding, a character and his ridden monster can be attacked separately. [...]"

Shooting at Ridden Monsters
"As a single model, the monster and its rider are considered to be a single target. It is not possible to shoot specifically at either the rider or the mount unless the shooting model has the Sniper special rule (see page 75)."

Questions / Clarifications
Since these spells are not distributed as shooting attacks it is not necessary to randomize hits.
Is it also safe to wager that (other then shooting) the rider and Mount are treated as separate models in the case of Close combat and spells (the ones listed above specifically)?

Attacks by the above spells would not be allocated against both the rider and mount (other then maybe purple sun) because of the qualifying word model, correct?

And in the case of Purple Sun, both the rider and mount would use their separate initiatives?

No. Template attacks and any other unusual attack hit both the rider and the monster.

In close combat, yes. You can always choose to attack one or the other.

Both of these are simply rules you didn't quote

When a unit has to make a characteristic test, you use the highest in the unit. This is in the first 11 pages or so.

Otherwise, Spirit Leech and Fate of Bjuna can just target either the rider or the mount, and don't have to randomize.

Thought this was obvious from the Ridden Monsters quote. My apologies ;

This is one of the ones I was missing. Could you direct me to its location?

-So these two Spells don't count as unusual attacks (so they don't hit both the rider and mount).
-Because they are not shooting attacks can target either the rider or the mount?

When I get home I can!

lol thanks

Pg 105 lil rule book very last paragraph.

"...if you use a weapon or spell that uses a template against a monster mount, both the riders and the mount are automatically hit..."

Stonethrowers (skullthrowers) will randomize the high strength hit. Randomize it as per a shooting attack.

Are you sure about this? Because cannon balls hit both rider and monster.

If I'm wrong could you quote it for me please, I'm forever losing my bret lord on hyppogryph

I'm sorry for the confusion the entire model is hit by a template weapon, including stonethrowers. Just with weapons with multiple strength profiles (like s. throwers) the big hit is randomized. Heres the rules quote from the same paragraph as above...

"...In the case of a stone thrower, which inflicts hits at two different Strengths, only one model will be hit at the higher strength (assuming that model's base is directly under the centre of the template)."

Since cannons only have one strength everything eats a full cannonball hit. Stonethrowers inflict one big hit and some little hits.

Silly me, went home then left right away...sorry for the lack of reply Aegis, but they found it right!

Remember that if you do target the mount of a Ridden Monster unit (Such as a King riding a Warsphinx) with Spirit Leech the mounts unmodified leadership is going to be the HIGHER rider and mount. (In the example above 10) So even though a Terrorgheist has Ld4, if he is ridden by a Vampire its going to be 9 or 10 when you roll dice and add Ld.