Essential characters CAN die!

[ErianDragonborn]

So, I found out that essential characters in fact can die.

In a mod, I have an NPC who on hit spawns an explosion. The NPC is essential, so should survive the hit and the explosion. Unfortunately, the explosion triggers another hit (I know how to solve that) and the NPC just starts tumbling through the world, being hit over and over. Yes, my NPC is a chicken, as can be seen in the video, but he works like an NPC. You can even perform killmoves!

 

One of two things can happen in this case:
1. the NPC shoots off like a comet, ending up outside the world map (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77wNmlXDF7o&feature=youtu.be)
2. the NPC dies and stops spawning explosions

I want too figure out exactly how the NPC dies, but I can think of only a few things.
- Fall damage (could be tested by FUS-RO-DAHing someone off High Hrothgar?)
- The explosions themselves
- Being shot outside the loaded area and somehow dying there

Any other suggestions?