Rolan

Rolan is an aspiring wizard who can first be found at the Emerald Grove in Act One. He is bound for Baldur's Gate with his two siblings, where a prestigious apprenticeship awaits.

“

My Thunderwave will make quick work of any goblin - just you wait.

„

— Rolan

Involvement

Act One

Rolan can be first found in the Emerald Grove arguing with  Cal and  Lia on whether they should remain in the Grove to help the tiefling refugees or leave. Rolan believes that they have no allegiance nor responsibility toward the refugees and should leave for Baldur's Gate for their own safety. Lia fervently argues that they should help the refugees because it is the right thing to do. She accuses him of being selfish, only caring about his apprenticeship to  Lorroakan at Baldur's Gate. The party can convince them to stay in the Grove or leave.

Convince to stay

The following options convince the trio to stay:

• [PERSUASION] You should all stay. A single blade could make a difference. (DC 10)
• [DRAGONBORN] Clan is everything. You don't abandon those you swore to protect.
• [TIEFLING] Have you forgotten Elturel? We should stand by our people - no one else will.
• [BARBARIAN] Only cowards run from a fight.
• [RANGER] I'd choose the wilderness over the dangers of a city any day. Stay.
• [MONK] To leave is a heavy choice - it will weigh on whatever path you walk next.
• [PALADIN] 'Where the weak have need, the strong have a duty'. Stay.

Convince to leave

The following options convince the trio to leave.

• Get out while you can - the goblins will be back.
• [GITHYANKI] If they cannot fight, they will die. That is as it should be.
• [EVIL CLERIC] Why die for those who can't defend themselves?

All other options, or deciding not to interact with them causes them to leave on their own as well.

If convincing the trio to stay, the party can speak to Rolan again in the Hollow. He then explains that he has an apprenticeship under  Lorroakan. If  Gale is in the party, he asks Rolan to introduce them to Lorroakan.

If Rolan survives ⁠Defeat the Goblins, he attends the Campsite celebration and performs a magic show for Cal and Lia.

Act Two

If Rolan stays at the grove and survives Act One, he can be found drowning his sorrows in alcohol at the Last Light Inn. He angrily tells the party that his siblings were taken to the Moonrise Towers as prisoners while he was defending the children of the tiefling refugees during an attack of The Cult of the Absolute. He is angry with the party because of his perception that they are the reason his siblings were endangered and insists on going to find them himself. He then leaves to save his siblings after the party's first fast travel or long rest.

After departing, he can be found (and saved) on his rescue mission at the Ruined Battlefield, on the eastern shore of the river, south of the bridge that leads to the Reithwin Tollhouse at X: -54 Y: -111, about to be attacked by  Shadows. Saving Rolan grants the inspiration ⁠Saving the Prodigious to party members with the  Folk Hero background. If not saved before long resting, Rolan is afflicted by the  Shadow Curse and dies.

Saving Lia and Cal before finding Rolan at the Last Light Inn results in him already being gone on his futile rescue mission by the time the party members arrive at the Inn.

Speaking to Rolan at the Inn, then saving Lia and Cal before running into him at the battlefield, might cause Rolan to die and to be afflicted by the Shadow Curse.

If Rolan is not persuaded into staying at the Grove, he and his siblings do not appear in Act Two but a recorded message from Rolan to his siblings can be found at the Last Light Inn. His absence results in the deaths of many tiefling refugees during the Absolutist attack.

Act Three

If Rolan survives Act Two or leaves the Grove during Act One, he can be found at the front desk of Sorcerous Sundries in place of  Lorroakan's Projection, although his behavior is stiff and the narration notes that something seems wrong.

During the conclusion of ⁠Find the Nightsong, whether Rolan sides with or against his master upon hearing his plans for  Dame Aylin depends on several factors:

• If both his siblings survive Act Two, he sides automatically against Lorroakan.
• If only one of them survives Act Two, Rolan requires either a  DC 20 Intimidation check,  DC 18 Persuasion check, or  DC 15 Arcana check.
• If neither of them are saved, he sides with Lorroakan; though he may also side with Lorroakan if his siblings were saved before the party's first visit at the Last Light Inn. This outcome also automatically happens whenever Rolan is not persuaded into staying at the grove during Act One, implying they did not survive the journey.

If Rolan dies during the battle with Lorroakan,  Speak with Dead can be used to learn a little more of his background, including that he is not biologically related to Cal and Lia.

Master of Ramazith's Tower

After the battle, if Rolan sided against Lorroakan he resolves to master the tower's secrets on his own and pledges its resources to aid in the final battle, cursing Lorroakan as a bastard and confessing to suffering daily abuse from the man. Rolan then becomes an ally for ⁠Gather Your Allies, and levels up to Level 12.

In addition, his spells change:

•  Colour Spray →  Rolan's Colour Spray
•  Mage Armour →  Rolan's Mage Armour
•  Magic Missile →  Rolan's Magic Missile
•  Thunderwave →  Rolan's Thunderwave

and he gains:

 Rolan's Fireball ( + )

Damage: 7~42

7d6⁠Fire

Shoot a bright flame from your fingers that explodes upon contact, torching everything in the vicinity and  Heating metal weapons and armour caught in the flames.

If the creature is only wearing metal armour, it always receives Disadvantage.
If the creature is still touching the metal, you can use a bonus action on subsequent turns to deal another and force the creature to let go or receive Disadvantage.

 DEX Save

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Companion approval

Convincing Rolan to leave or stay:

• If Rolan is convinced to stay:  +1  +1

• If Rolan is told they should leave:  +1

If  Gale is in the party, asking Rolan to introduce them to Lorroakan:

• Good idea: powerful acquaintances never hurt.  +1  +1

Combat

Spells and abilities

 Fire Bolt ()

Damage: 1~10

1d10⁠Fire

Hurl a mote of fire.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Main Hand Attack ()   –   Quarterstaff

Damage: 1~6 + modifiers

1d6 + Strength modifier⁠Bludgeoning

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5 ft

 Colour Spray ( + )

 Blind creatures up to a combined 33 Hit Points.

 Range: Self

 Mage Armour ( + )

Surround an unarmoured creature in a protective magical force. Its  Armour Class increases to 13 + its Dexterity modifier.

This effect does not stack with Unarmoured Defence.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5 ft

 Magic Missile ( + )

Damage: 6~15

1d4 + 1⁠Force

+ 1d4 + 1⁠Force

+ 1d4 + 1⁠Force

Create three darts of magical force, each dealing 1d4 + 1Force damage to its target.

The darts always hit their target, and can each be targeted individually.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Thunderwave ( + )

Damage: 2~16

2d8⁠Thunder

Release a wave of thunderous force that pushes away all creatures and objects in an area, while also dealing Thunder damage.

 CON Save

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5 ft

 Topple ()   –   Quarterstaff

Damage: 1~4

1d4⁠Bludgeoning

Swipe at a creature to knock it Prone.

 DEX Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Recharge: Short rest

Loot

•  Letter from Lorroakan (Rolan)
•  Quarterstaff
•  Simple Robe
• Books loot table
• Scrolls loot Table

Related literature

•  Letter from Lorroakan (Rolan)
•  Rolan's Journal

Related quests

• ⁠Defeat the Goblins
• ⁠Find Rolan in the Shadows
• ⁠Find the Nightsong
• ⁠Gather Your Allies
• ⁠Raid the Grove
• ⁠Rescue the Tieflings
• ⁠Save the Refugees

Idle banter

Lia, Cal, and Rolan argue about whether to stay in the Grove during Act One:

• Rolan

  We don't even know these people!

• Lia

  That doesn't matter.

• Rolan

  Of course it does. You would choose strangers over us!

• Lia

  That's not what I said.

• Cal

  Can we stop shouting? No?

• Cal

  Calm down! Please.

• Lia

  I won't leave them behind!

• Rolan

  You're going to get us killed!

If Cal, Lia, and Rolan stay in the Grove:

• Cal

  Don't be grumpy, Rolan. We'll get to the city soon.

• Rolan

  I am not grumpy.

• Cal

  The scowl on your face would frighten a troll.

• Rolan

  Heh. You're an idiot.

• Cal

  How long until Rolan shows off his Thunderwave?

• Lia

  Depends. How many people are dumb enough to ask?

• Cal

  Hah! True.

If Cal, Lia, and Rolan do not stay in the Grove:

• Cal

  How long will it take to get to Baldur's Gate?

• Rolan

  Depends. How often are you going to ask that?

• Cal

  Hey, sis. How long will it take to get to Baldur's Gate?

• Lia

  *Sigh.*

• Rolan

  We should add the Elfsong Tavern to the list.

• Lia

  So long as you're paying.

• Cal

  Drinks on Rolan? Count me in.

• Rolan

  I swear, I've never met such a pair of cheapskates.

Speak with Dead

Rolan can be spoken to with  Speak with Dead.

• What's your name?

  • Rolan

    Rolan. Just... Rolan.

• Do you have any family?

  • Rolan

    No... family... no one.

    • No family? What about Lia and Cal?

      • Rolan

        They are... brother and sister. Cal says... I am family, but...

• Did you come here alone?

  • Rolan

    With Lia... and Cal. They are brother and sister. But I am... not blood.

• How did you die?

  • Rolan

    Too fast but... can't be. Must finish...

    • Finish what?

      • Rolan

        My... training... must get to... Lorroakan.

        • What is so important about Lorroakan?

          • Rolan

            Everything. He'll make me... greatest wizard... in Faerûn.

• Where are you from?

  • Rolan

    The city that... survived Hell.

• Where were you going?

  • Rolan

    To Baldur's Gate... to Lorroakan... my destiny.

    • What is so important about Lorroakan?

      • Rolan

        Everything. He'll make me... greatest wizard... in Faerûn.

Gallery

• 
  Rolan's model.

External links

• ⁠Rolan on the Forgotten Realms Wiki