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.

The following options convince Rolan to stay:

• [PERSUASION] You should all stay. A single blade could make a difference. (DC 10)
• [BARBARIAN] Only cowards run from a fight.
• [DRAGONBORN] Clan is everything. You don't abandon those you swore to protect.
• [PALADIN] 'Where the weak have need, the strong have a duty'. Stay.
• [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.
• [TIEFLING] Have you forgotten Elturel? We should stand by our people - no one else will.

These options convince Rolan they should leave:

• Get out while you can - the goblins will be back.
• [CLERIC] Why die for those who can't defend themselves?
• [GITHYANKI] If they cannot fight, they will die. That is as it should be.
• Say nothing.

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.

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.

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.

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

Most of Rolan's spells are slight variants of common Wizard spells.

 Fire Bolt ()

Damage: 1~10

1d10Fire

Hurl a mote of fire.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Quarterstaff

Damage: 2~7

1d6 + 1Bludgeoning

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5 ft

 Rolan's Colour Spray ( + )

Create an illustrious display of flashing lights to dazzle and  Confuse creatures up to a combined 44 hit points.

AoE: 5 m / 17 ft (Cone)

 Rolan's Mage Armour ( + )

Grant a creature a rudimentary defensive boost, increasing its  Armour Class by 2

 Range: 8 m / 27 ft

 Rolan's Magic Missile ( + )

Damage: 10~25

5d4 + 5Force

Hurl a concentrated dart of magical force that can  Daze the target.

This spell never misses.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Rolan's Thunderwave ( + )

Damage: 2~12

2d6Thunder

Release a focused blast of thunderous force that pushes targets back 12 m / 40 ft and knocks them  Prone.

CON Save

 Range: 1.5 m / 5 ft

AoE: 5 m / 17 ft (Cube)

 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

Speak with Dead

Rolan can be spoken to with  Speak with Dead.

Party member: What's your name?

• Rolan: Rolan. Just... Rolan.

Party member: Do you have any family?

• Rolan: No... family... no one.
  • Party member: No family? What about Lia and Cal?
    • Rolan: They are... brother and sister. Cal says... I am family, but...

Party member: Did you come here alone?

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

Party member: How did you die?

• Rolan: Too fast but... can't be. Must finish...
  • Party member: Finish what?
    • Rolan: My... training... must get to... Lorroakan.
      • Party member: What is so important about Lorroakan?
        • Rolan: Everything. He'll make me... greatest wizard... in Faerûn.

Party member: Where are you from?

• Rolan: The city that... survived Hell.

Party member: Where were you going?

• Rolan: To Baldur's Gate... to Lorroakan... my destiny.
  • Party member: 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