Somehow the answer to this has thus far eluded me, which is sad, considering how commonly it shows up:

What exactly happens when a character is saved? Do they stay in play as if nothing happened? Do they go to the discard pile instead of the dead pile? Do they go to the top of your deck instead of the dead or discard piles? Do they kneel?

Also, where are the rules for saving detailed?

Help!

A save ... well it saves the card. It doesn't get killed, it doesn't get discarded, it doesn't end up at the top of your deck or anything else. Saves and cancels are detailed in the Core Set rulebook, page 23, a section labeled "Save/Cancel Responses."

"Save responses are special effects that interrupt and prevent the killing or discarding of a card in play. However, any costs of the killing/discarding action must still be paid."

There are certain Save effects that might change where the card is. Viserys in the Core Set is a prime example; his Response is "Save Viserys Targaryen from being killed or discarded from play, then return him to his owner's hand." But compare that to Maester Aemon's Response, which is usually used to save himself: "Kneel Maester Aemon to save a Night's Watch character from being killed." But unless the effect says the card goes back in your hand or back into your deck or whatever, a Save does just that, it saves the card from being killed or discarded.

alpha5099 said:

I did see that part of the rule book, but it still seemed unclear and with a lot of room for interpretation. Your explanation clarifies, though, so thank you!

Is there anything else I should know about saves?

Biggest one that got me at the start is that they are often not universal.

For example, Nymeria core set will save attached character from being killed, but discard and return to hand can still occur, make sure that the save effect is relevant to the type of save (always got me at the start).

Underworld40k said:

Excellent point, thanks!

Something else to keep in mind that seems to give people trouble, sometimes. When a character is saved, it has NEVER been killed, discarded, returned to hand, etc. by the effect in question. So the card does not leave play, it does not lose its attachments or power, etc. It does not leave play and come back, or anything like that.

Saves (and cancels) are the only effect in this game that actually interrupt other effects. Because of that exception, people get confused sometimes and think the kill is completed, then the save undoes it - rather than the save interrupts the kill so that it never actually resolves (successfully) in the first place.