Well.. how about this: considering the competition is so fierce, it would make sense for people to band together. I think it would be best if it's my mage and your archer/herbalist - two dudes, very disparate skills, it makes a lot of sense for them to collaborate. If my mage ran into your archer/herbalist he'd be pretty amicable to it. 

So how about I just cut straight to that point, or the point where the pair run into the third person to join? Then we can have the fourth arrive a post or two later?