Hey DrZ,
More than happy to have you aboard. Really.
To be honest, I don't really have a preference. There are a number of NPC's heading off to find a lost girl. From memory, a forester, a priest, a knight and someone else. The forester will probably have the central role for the first adventure, but not overly so. Down the track ... um, haven't read that far. Any of these NPC's concepts could be taken putting your character staight into the game. None of them have been 'played' so far, so the field is wide open as to character generation.
halfrogman is playing Tarren, a teenager and friend of the missing girl. Like the other, he is planning to set out to find her. Odds are their paths will cross soon enough.
As for magic, there are two types available, Crafting (arcane magic analogue) and Divinity (er, divine magic analogue). I'm going to put a lock on Totem magic for the moment. I think.
Not having the rules is no problem. Character creation is fairly simple. Give me your concept, I'll give you some options.
thotd