Beast Rider and Death Roll

[Archaeik]

First off, the relevant details

Beast Rider wrote:

In addition, a 7th-level or higher Medium beast rider can select any creature whose natural size is Large or Huge, provided that creature is normally available as a Medium-sized animal companion at 7th level (like a bear). To generate statistics for such a mount, apply the following modifications: Size Large; Ability Scores Str +2, Dex –2, Con +2. Increase the damage of each of the mount's natural attacks by one die size. A beast rider cannot choose a mount that is not capable of bearing his weight, that has fewer than four legs, or that has a fly speed (although the GM may allow mounts with a swim speed in certain environments).

Crocodile

Death Roll (Ex) wrote:

When grappling a foe of its size or smaller, a crocodile can perform a death roll upon making a successful grapple check. As it clings to its foe, it tucks in its legs and rolls rapidly, twisting and wrenching its victim. The crocodile inflicts its bite damage and knocks the creature prone. If successful, the crocodile maintains its grapple.

What does this do to the mounted Beast Rider?

If it's merely a ride check to "Stay in Saddle", that would be an auto-success at the level this becomes doable.(even with an arbitrary +5DC)

Stay in Saddle wrote:

You can react instantly to try to avoid falling when your mount rears or bolts unexpectedly or when you take damage. This usage does not take an action.

Further, per this language, there's arguably nothing "unexpected" about the Death Roll, so would it even apply?

Perhaps "Soft Fall" would apply here, but again it will be close to an auto-success, or quickly become one.

[blahpers]

RAW, there's nothing.

I'm going with the "use your head" principle to this one--barring flight or some other unusual factor, there's no practical way to remain in the saddle while a crocodile death rolls. I might allow a check to stay in the saddle by bear-hugging your mount, but it'd be way more than a +5 DC. More like +15, with some chance of taking a little damage from being crushed by half a ton of reptile during the roll. If the rider and crocodile are flying or swimming, it'd only be +5, as the rider isn't getting hit over the head with a planet during the action.

But there's no specific rule about this in the text--probably because it's the kind of unusual case that the rules pretty much can't address without driving up the page count to unreasonable levels. To any PFS GMs out there adjudicating these situations: Good luck. : )