Yes on both of those questions, [@Bartimaeus]; you are free to have multiple characters and replace dead characters. I will stress that characters introduced after the start of the RP are going to have other starting conditions than the first batch, since obviously other characters (or the GM-controlled NPCs attached to them) aren't going to be staying at the starting locations forever.

And if you're conflicted concerning Hunter or beast, you could make a Hunter of the Harrow and be something in-between.