Alright, so i've narrowed my concepts/characters down to this.
Sentinel: A girl from the army who became irritated/angered at the army/military's inefficiency/ability to respond to threats quickly. Deciding to not enlist another year, she instead decides to try and solve troubles her own way. Basically becoming an adventurer and wanting to do good.
Conscript: Ranch hand from either a frontier part of the empire, or somewhere where the army can't really deal with bandits. Was thrust from a simple life into becoming a militia to defend her town and then other nearby towns from raiders, quickly coming to the feeling that if she didn't do something, others would continue to suffer at the expense of others, and seeks to lend what aid she can.
Obviously, either character ends up hired by the noble with the rest of the party, though currently I imagine she doesn't know anyone in the group.