We can discuss the order of battle in character if you like, but technically your character has been here all along and most of us have adopted certain roles. Historically, Verdis has been the rear guard letting the others take the lead. When others are scouting ahead he faces rear. It has been a pretty good strategy for him so far. I believe that to date he's only been in melee one time the whole game. Discounting of course an unfortunately encounter with a stirge when he decided to foolishly abandon his usual method.