Well I keep it short here folks. Every worlds has it share of heroes and villains. Each one has some unique person that add to a world's special quirks. The Wise and the Wicked is one such book. Here, we have a collection of some of the more famous (and in some case infamous) people in the realm of Ghelspad and perhaps all the Scarred Lands.
The cover art opens with a REALLY good picture of Dar'Tan, the Prince of Shadow. If you own either Mithril or Relics and Rituals, you should know something about this guy. In the back ground are some of the more infamous and wanted people in the Scarred Lands. They will also show up here. The interior artwork is up and down. The ones of Virduk, Geleeda and Travik were probably some of my favorite villians, but I have to say my favorite hero is actually a heroine. Arinivil the Swan Knight is a human female paladin of Madriel. Definately not your typical "knight in shining armor" but she is a defender of the innocent and sworn enemy of evil. The book also has some new spells and artifacts/magic items. But for now I'll let you enjoy the suspsene of finding those things out for yourself. The is only the preface and then the section on the NPCs here. The page usage isn't bad, and certainly there are some problems, since there's been some changes to thing like the Incarnate Pr-class. But even so, the characters remain vivid and useful. The Errata that's being collected will probably show up soon. But over all, this tome has a nice organic feel to it. I rate 4 out 5, but it could be higher IF there had been some better work done by the layout crew.
Here are the NPCs and a short description of each
Nerith Aila (Archmagess of the Phyaltric Vault)
Oberyn Amethyst (Forsaken Elf Ranger, hunter of Humans, especially Calastians)
Andelias (Incarnate and friend of both Meerlah and Katonis)
Anteas (Advisor to King Virduk and also a powerful mage in his own right. Headman of the Calastian Battlemages)
Ariniel (Paladin defender of women's honor and devoted foe of all evils)
Telos Asuras (Ancient merchant and schemer in the Scarred Lands. His trading house owns a LOT of things)
Credas (Physical identity and ruler of Glivid Autel. In actually Ahrmuzda Airat, the former founder of Hollowfaust and still evilist necromancer around.)
Lucian Daine (Former Hollowfauster, now a leader of Glivid Autel's reign in the Hornsaw.)
Dar'Tan (Dark Elf. Prince of Shadows. Master and ruler of the Penumbral Pentangal)
Allistra Denir (Druid in the service of Denev. Hater of titanspawn)
Paunles Finn (Follower of Garuak and schemer in Shelzer)
Galdor (The Deathless, Favored Priest and undead beserker/killer. Only being to ever have fought a god's Hearld and WON!)
Queen Geleeda (Ruler of the Calastian Hegemony, skilled Sorceress, and probably one of the most fearsome women living)
Gothrin (Captain of the Adventuress, hunter of pirates on the Blood Sea)
Grakis (Spider eyes goblin that thinks a lot of himself)
Hevestian (Head of his order, Ruler of Hedrad, devoted to Hedrada's ways)
The Hunter of Vesh (Fearsome ravager of Vesh, no one is sure of his identity, only that he's killed many Viligants)
Kaltaag, (high way thief and also part time revolutionary)
Kimer the Shatterer (Barbarian and holder of one of the most important artifacts in the Scarred lands, Ertmodl, the Earth Sword of Scarn)
Jerhard Landereaux (An Unhallowed, a False Lover, a very vain ghost. )
Leoris (A Pride fighter and idealist that wants to unite his warring prides into a great host)
Lianca (Member of the Cult of the Ancients, hired to kill King Thain.)
Luficint (A bat -devil theif on the lamb)
Lysear (A High Gorgon sorcerer/blood witch who wants to bring back Mormo cause he misses his "Mama" )
Mazat (Shadow of Shelzar, one of the defacto-rulers and crime boss in the city)
Menava (former cleric of Chardun, now one of the Unfailing and devotee to Nemorga.)
Meerlah (Famous Bardess and part time adventurer.)
Orzu (Halfing sorcerer/rogue, prophet for his people and also leader of the resistance movement against the Calastian Hegemony)
P'kouro'nk (Ratman with strange ideas...)
Queen Ran (Blood Kraken and ruler of the depths as well as parts of the Blood Sea)
Loren Rizzen (A Belsameth Spider head on the lamb)
Hassek Ruukbrood (Best bounty hunter in the Scarred Lands, especially of Viligants, Stalker Ratman)
Sangus (A student of blood alchemy and Titans blood)
Severin (Stalker ratman that works well in trapping and doing mercenary work)
Shanti (Harrier Rider and one of the elves on Uria)
Lord Skrikt (leader of a warband, assasin and highwayman)
Taliana Som (The Whisper of Belsameth. The power BEHIND the Belsmite Cult of the Ancient)
Thadorius (Hunter of Titanspawn. Implaceable foe for those of that race.)
King Thain (Dwarven Ruler of Burok Torn)
Duke Traviak (Ruler of Lageni, trust general of Virduk, Favored of Chardun)
Felby Undershovel (Theif and homebody to Amthela)
King Virduk (Undisputed Ruler of the Calastian Hegemony. Evil but always pratical)
Weedspawn (expert posioner)
Katonis Woodarbor (Viligant and hero to many)
Yugman the Sage (Archmage extrodinarie, Knowledgeable in all areas of history and arcane magics. Engimic but also funny)
Yvestil (Crypt Lady and great dame of much necromantic might)
Zarra (Barbarian sorcerer, already a growing legend among her people in the Albadian tribes.)
As it stands, I feel most of the spells in the book are very good, especially the ones designed by Nerith Aila and Yugman. I will say that some will probably need to get redone (and infact have), as I did notice that Anteas didn't have any levels in Calastian Battlemage (which was Corrected in the Calastia sourcebook) and his battle blade was off. Also there was a slight layout glitch with Weedspawn as some how her name switch onto another page. Another thing that will probably have to be considered is Andelias probably should be revised as well in terms of the changes made by Secrets and Societies (not very significant but the feat used in that book should be in there as well.) Other than that I don't seem many other problems.
