Roland Riel
Roland Riel
Character Info
| Player | Aristenn |
| Race | Aasimar |
| Class | Paladin |
| Subclass | Oath of the Watchers |
| Status | Active |
Heritage
| Mother | Zariel (Redeemed) |
| Father | Edgard Bladewood (Paladin — frozen at Prismeer) |
| Lineage | Human / Celestial / Infernal |
Current State
| Exhaustion | 5 levels (as of C17 — reduced from 8 over long rests) |
| Location | Underdark Cavern |
Son of the redeemed devil Zariel and the paladin Edgard, Roland carries a triple heritage — human, celestial, and infernal — and the weight of a legacy he did not choose.
Background
Heritage
Roland is the son of Zariel, a redeemed devil, and Edgard Bladewood, a paladin. His triple heritage — human, celestial, and infernal — defines his internal conflict and his extraordinary potential. The tension between his celestial oath and his infernal blood is the engine of his arc.
The circumstances of his birth are unusual. During the Lifting Spirits events (~1497–1500 DR), Edgard Bladewood fought against Sybriex — Mother Night, the original hag, freed from Darkon during those events. Sybriex had targeted Edgard's bloodline intending to use it to breed more powerful hags. After the battle, as a favour, Zariel removed Edgard's ability to father children — and in doing so, drawing out and redirecting the full weight of his potential — she conceived Roland: the sum of everything Edgard's bloodline could have become, combined with her own divine and infernal nature. Roland was not planned. He is a consequence of love and power redirected at exactly the right moment.
Motivations
Originally sent by Vajra Safahr (Blackstaff of Waterdeep) as a Force Grey agent to escort a shipment to Phandalin — a task beneath Force Grey's usual mandate, suggesting Vajra had strategic reasons for placing Roland in Phandalin. He suspects she intended him to stay and improve conditions there.
He carries a prophecy: "The Path to your Birthright Lies with the Pale outsider from among the Stars" — seen confirmed in Jonah (a star-eyed elf) met on the first day.
After clearing Phandalin and Wave Echo Cave, he accepted new orders: escort Nezznar north, then investigate Chardalyn and the Icewind Dale situation. He has been north ever since.
Connection to Asmodeus — and Bel's Lie
The Hellfire Hammer recovered in Session 4 bears an inscription in Asmodeus's own handwriting: "To my blood, when you are ready to stop running from what you are." A second inscription from Bel reads: "She still loves you. That is why she fell." — referring to Zariel's fall from grace. The hammer appears to have been made specifically for Roland.
Character Arc
Arc Summary
Redemption, identity, and the question of whether heritage is destiny. Roland is being pulled between his oath and his blood, with the Hellfire Hammer making the infernal pull literal and personal.
Key Moments
| Session | Moment | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| A12 | Forced to kill a halfling barbarian in self-defence (Rage Beyond Death); her dying words curse him and warn "something worse is coming"; immediately begins hallucinating; Detect Magic shows new necrotic aura; Karlach arrives at the roc nest as he nears death — first meeting; she saves him, scolds him, and confirms she has always been nearby | The curse and Karlach's reveal |
| Session 1 | Advanced under fire protection at Toothmaw | Establishment of his role as frontline protector |
| Session 3 | Claimed War's Wager from Arabo's remains | First major weapon acquisition |
| Session 3 | Cured Selene's Sewer Eye Disease | Lay on Hands as anchor to his oath |
| C15 | Failed Titan's Tooth invocation; 8 exhaustion | Overreach; arc-defining vulnerability |
| C15 | Hellfire Hammer recovered and identified | Asmodeus inscription confronted |
Relationships
NPCs
| NPC | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zariel | Mother | Redeemed devil; appeared at The Scar (Session 2) without identifying herself; her "fall" referenced by Bel's hammer inscription — the timeline of that inscription is a lie |
| Edgard Bladewood | Father | Human paladin; fought with Zariel's redeemers; currently frozen in time at the Palace of Heart's Desire in Prismeer alongside Zybilna; does not know Roland exists |
| Karlach | Aunt | Redeemed radiant champion; first met at Conyberry roc nest (A12); saved Roland from death; arrived at The Scar (D06) alongside Zariel |
| Asmodeus | Unknown — possibly blood | Hammer inscription "To my blood" — authenticity unclear; Bel's second inscription is a deliberate lie |
| Bel | Enemy (hidden) | Inscribed the Hellfire Hammer with false information designed to destabilise Roland; hates Zariel; is using Roland as a tool |
Inventory
Key Items
| Item | How Obtained | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| War's Wager | Session 3 — Arabo's remains in Tarrasque | +2 greataxe; gambles fate on each strike (mechanic TODO — ask GM) |
| Hellfire Hammer | Session 4 — Tarrasque interior | Infernal; Asmodeus and Bel inscriptions; humans killed → River Styx |
| Olisuba Leaf | Session 4 — given by Haldak | Next long rest: removes 2 exhaustion instead of 1 |
Session Appearances
| Session | Highlight |
|---|---|
| A01 | Met Kavu and Jonah on Triboar Trail; goblin ambush; arrived Phandalin |
| A02 | Investigated Redbrands; met Jenevelle Hallowleaf; town council |
| A04 | Tresendar Manor cleared; Glasstaff/Iarno Albrek captured |
| A05 | Sylphrena lantern found — permanently attuned; Haldak joins party |
| A14–19 | Wave Echo Cave; Nezznar defeated; escorting orders received |
| B01–06 | Neverwinter; Crown of Neverwinter mission; Caladorn's soul gaze |
| B07–12 | Sea voyage; Luskan; Revel's End infiltration; Selene and Lireal join |
| C01–08 | Icewind Dale; Velkynvelve; The Long Chasm revelations |
| C09–14 | Inside Tarrasque (first time); Flamemeet time detour; pre-Toothmaw events |
| Session 1 | Advanced under fire protection; watched Kavu get taken |
| D06 | Witnessed The Scar created; helped defeat Ertu |
| Session 3 | Claimed War's Wager; cured Selene |
| C15 | Failed Titan's Tooth — 8 exhaustion; Hellfire Hammer identified |
| C17 | Killed Grick Lord with tarrasque-tooth blade; Selene covered his missed longbow shots; Lay on Hands stabilized berserk Othorion; 5 exhaustion levels remaining |