After careful consideration, I believe I shall be taking The List as the personal quest for my character.

Character creation is underway, but I have two questions...

First off: What is the starting level?

And second: Since this is (potentially) a solo game, would you permit me to start with a sidekick (as laid out in the extra rules provided by Tasha's Cauldron of Everything) to help compensate for the fact that my character will be on his own rather than in a party?