There was a cool suggestion in the Paizo forums (that will never happen) that suggested removing the 4 free stat boosts and moving them to 2 at 2nd and 2 at 3rd level, as well as an ancestry feat at those levels. So 1st and 2nd level would be apprentice levels. Never happen but it would be a cool variant game.
Except that it is 3 days journey between cities. So you have to start out in Magnimar, as the intro says. Keleri doesn't have three days for the message to get to you and three days for you to return.
Sorry I'm in the city (Magnimar) - background-wise I started in Sandpoint as my connection to Keleri is through her cousin (the mayor of Sandpoint) vouching for me as a stand up guy. Even though he doesn't outwordly appear as one.
Frankly anything is a good fit. They have a fighter, a barbarian, a druid (and a honey badger) and a bard. So they're no niche that can't be filled. Do what you want. Remember this character will return in chapter 4 at 9th level so pick something you want to see at 1st and 9th level.
I'm here! I've just got to grab my equipment. I'll work on that now, and try to get my character in the game. Kept rethinking doing a "Bard", but I think I'm going to focus on more of an archeologist who delves into secret magics than a musician.