Heh, if I had a copy of the Book of Nine Swords (can't afford books lately), I'd be begging to play a Swordsage for all the coolness, even as a secondary character (I wonder what a moogle swordsage with lots of Setting Sun, Diamond Mind, and Shadow Hand maneuvers would look like?).
Anyway, Jemal, here's my first character concept, one I'd rather prefer to play if I could. As I see it, there doesn't have to be just
one relative of the hero, does there?

Mikken could be the son of Kyo's uncle, or the son of a different uncle. Anyway, I'll post my other ideas sometime Monday (I know, technically it's Monday already, but it's 1 am for me!), but I wanted to at least put forth one favorite first. Including two or three alternate, slightly different ideas for Mikken (like one that's a tinker/gunman sort).
Mikken, male human bladecaster
Concept: Cousin to the hero; a brainy mage turned reluctant swordsman, wielding samurai swords (mostly two short swords/wakizashi and kodachi, occasionally a bastard sword/katana; focused on mobility, occult/battle magic, and mixed tactics)
Likely Advancement: Wizard - Fighter - Eldritch Knight - Duelist
Personality: Bookish, clever, somewhat self-doubting, worrisome, loyal, trusting, and a bit feisty
Mikken lives out in the country, in another town near Kyo's, and occasionally visits his cousin Kyo. Mikken has been worried about Kyo since the death of his cousin's family, and visits Kyo more often since that incident to support his coz. Mikken has also been struggling to keep the area around their towns clear of beasts and bandits, for the past year or two, since Kyo put down his sword.
Mikken hadn't been very martial before, but took up swordsmanship to fill in Kyo's shoes after his coz fell into depression at the loss of his family. He wouldn't have stood a chance if not for a few other folks from his town taking up arms and going along, since Mikken is far less talented in the martial arts than his favorite cousin. Mikken always looked up to Kyo as a great athlete and fighter, though he's only a year younger than Kyo, and he cheered on his coz at the great martial arts tournament some years ago.
Mikken had always been more bookish and meek, enjoying stories, sneaking over to study with the local witch (though his parents always scolded him not to), and watching Kyo kick butt. Eventually, Mikken toughened up when he saw Kyo's breakdown, knowing that he needed to support his coz and start putting his studies to good use. Leaving town for a year after trying to console Kyo, Mikken went to make an offering to the nearest dojo that would take him. Inspired by years of watching his cousin's prodigal skills, Mikken put his wits to the art of swordsmanship.
Training as a sword-dancer for as long as he dared, the young man apologised to his sensei and rushed back home, to check on his cousin and see if the hometowns were still safe. Mikken hopes Kyo will get back his enthusiasm for martial arts and life in general, so his coz will be his old self again, and so he can actually fight at Kyo's side for the first time. Mikken hopes to impress Kyo someday and show that, while he never had Kyo's incredible talent, he's followed in Kyo's footsteps and overcome his old meekness. Yet Mikken still doubts himself, knowing he's not even half the martial artist his cousin was three years ago. Mikken practices every day he can with the few, aging warriors of his town, and while his smarts and earlier observations of Kyo allowed Mikken to learn a lot initially, his martial progress is slowing.