[@shadowsaint007] I'm considering that, yes.  The way I have it planned out, in the beginning, is the party will be traveling to Gransylva by carriage.  That way, they will have time to get to know each other at least.  

Each has their reason for coming here, yet somehow, they all get wrapped up in the quest to kill Matthias.  In the case of Chance, maybe it could be a job to steal a prized artifact from the castle.  Or, as you said, he could be sent on this quest as part of his sentence for a crime he committed.  In that regard, he would probably have somebody accompany him just to make sure he doesn't run off.