The Boots of Stomping are fine, and also remember there's gonna be a healer at the begining, (The Padre). Between camping out, heal checks, and such you should be good for the begining. (again not stopping anyone, but I think its about as metal as chicken salad.)
As for the animal companion, you also get an automatic +4 to those checks (Link). Again Charisma is a fine dump stat , so is dex with the wildshaping, but dex is attached to ride so you may want to think of that. I would say the wildshapping>>>>animal companion. Animal companion in the best of times doesn't keep up to the high levels. Needless to say I won't be calling for many handle animal checks unless you know your crossing a rickety brdige over a vulcano you know when its appropiate.
The other characters are looking fine, You can all start posting, IC. It being the guild meeting, no skills/checks/feats/spells/etc are allowed. Its just talking, and it seems like most of you have a grasp of your character concept. so go sign up for the longboats.