I’m still on my first honour mode run, and honestly, things are going well.

I had a pang of anxiety when I first spoke to Rolan to stay with the grove. Without the ability to save scum a dialogue choice and with no inspiration yet built up I had a 50/50 chance to doom the rest of the tieflings to a seemingly innocuous conversation with a boy who disliked me.

But I love Rolan as an NPC. I’ve always found his arc satisfying, and I wanted to see him through his journey this time, and we passed the check. He would defend the children and Alfira when the time came. I was happy about that.

We defended the grove, and while a random goblin throwing acid on Minthara killed her, I’m not opposed to another campaign after I get that gilded die, so we pushed on.

In act 2, I was a little worried. When you encounter Rolan outside the last light inn, there’s a chance for him to be killed by shades fairly quickly, and in the past I’ve encountered a bug where he runs away and ends up falling to the shadow curse. Neither happened, we saved him, and pushed on to Moonrise to save Cal and Lia.

The prison escape was going alright. We got the warden alone, killed her and the scrying eyes. But I realized I only had misty step on one character. We had to wait for the guards to chase after the prisoners to join them. After a clutch third level aid saved both Cal and Lia, and they left without us to finish off the guards, everybody made it home.

Rolan was changed once more, he had seen true leadership. From my Tav.

Then came act 3.

We stopped at sorcerous sundries, caught up with Rolan, and while my Tav, a circle of the moon Druid was not charismatic, she was insightful. She knew that something was not right. She would do something, I decided.

Aylin, the party, and Rolan confront Lorroakan.

Rolan decries his former teacher. He has seen true leadership, he turns to Tav to acknowledge her.

The first round initiative is rolled and good news we’re all going before the archmage. We manage to drop a myrmidon, and bring him to 9 hit points. At this point honour mode is tough, but our builds are stronger.

Lorroakan uses his tuen to cast lightning bolt. The arcane electricity outlines the entire party, and hits Rolan. For 54 damage on his failed save. He dies.

I stand there, for a while, dumbfounded.

I can’t roll it back. I can’t revive an npc. We’re so close to the end.

I finish the fight, and I leave, a friend lesser, and resolve stronger.

EDIT: corrected my best bois name except for the title which i cannot change.