Rolan

Rolan is one of the Tieflings at the Emerald Grove in Act One.

“

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

„

— Rolan

Overview

Rolan is an aspiring Wizard who was invited to Baldur's Gate to apprentice under Lorroakan. He is accompanied by his two siblings, Cal and Lia.

Involvement

Act One

Rolan can be 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 argues that they should help the refugees because it is the right thing to do. She accuses him of being selfish and only caring about his apprenticeship to Lorroakan at Baldur's Gate. The party can convince them to stay in the Grove or leave.

If Rolan survives  Defeat the Goblins, he attends the Campsite celebration and performs a magic show for Cal and Lia. If Rolan, Cal, and Lia decide to leave the Grove, he will die alongside his siblings and other Tieflings near the bridge to the Blighted Village.

Act Two

If Rolan was persuaded into staying at the grove and has survived 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 will be angry with the party because of his perception that they are the reason his siblings were in danger and insist on going to find them himself; he must be saved during his attempt or he will fall to the shadow curse. One long rest after he leaves the safety of the inn is enough to condemn his fate. He can be found in the Ruined Battlefield, on the eastern shore of the river, south of the bridge that leads to the Reithwin TollhouseX: -54 Y: -111.

Saving Lia and Cal before finding Rolan at the Last Light Inn will result in him already being gone by the time the Party arrives at the Inn. If searched for at the Ruined Battlefield, he will be about to be attacked by Shadows. 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 was not persuaded into staying at the Grove, he and his siblings will not appear in Act Two. His absence results in the deaths of many Tiefling Refugees during the Absolutist attack.

Act Three

If Rolan survives Act Two or had left 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 will note 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 survived Act Two, he will side automatically against Lorroakan.
• If only one of them survived Act Two, Rolan will require either a DC 20 Intimidation check, DC 18 Persuasion check, or DC 15 Arcana check.
• If neither of them were saved, he will side with Lorroakan; though he can also side with Lorroakan if his siblings were saved before the party first visits Last Light Inn. This outcome also automatically happens whenever Rolan wasn't 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 pledge 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

Rolan and Lia can be found arguing in The Hollow while Cal attempts to mediate. Rolan believes they should leave the Grove for Baldur's Gate while Lia thinks they should stay and help the Tieflings. The party can convince them to leave or stay.

• You should all stay. A single blade could make a difference. (DC 10)
• [BARBARIAN] Only cowards run from a fight.
• [RANGER] I'd choose the wilderness over the dangers of a city any day. Stay.
• [PALADIN] Where the weak have need. The strong have a duty. Stay.

• A fellow Tiefling can call upon Rolan to stand up for his people, because no one else will.

• Monks can say that to leave is a heavy choice and will weigh on whatever path they walk next.
• Dragonborn can stress the importance of clan and being with his people.

Any of the above:  +1  +1

• Get out while you can - the goblins will be back.
• [GITHYANKI] If they cannot fight, they will die. That is as it should be.

Any of the above:  +1

If the party convince the trio to stay, they can speak to Rolan again in The Hollow, who explains that he has an apprenticeship under Lorroakan. If Gale is in the party, he will ask 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 ()

1d10 (1~10) Fire

Hurl a mote of fire.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Rolan's Colour Spray ()

Create an illustrious display of flashing lights to dazzle and  Confuse creatures up to a combined 44 Hit Points

 Range: 1.5 m / 5 ft

AoE: 5 m / 15 ft (Cone)

 Rolan's Mage Armour ()

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

 Range: 8 m /  ft

 Rolan's Magic Missile ()

5d4 + 5 (10~25) Force

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

This spell never misses.

 Range: 18 m /  ft

 Rolan's Thunderwave ()

2d6 (2~12) Thunder

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

CON Save

 Range: 1.5 m / 5 ft

AoE: 5 m / 17 ft (Cube)

Notable loot

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

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.

Related literature

• Rolan's Journal (siblings dead)
• Rolan's Journal (siblings saved)

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

Gallery

• 

  Rolan's model.

Notes

• Rolan grants 20 XP when killed in Act One.

External links

• Rolan on the Forgotten Realms Wiki