Ok, so I'd like to get Ekaterina into Group 1. I have a few ideas how to do so...perhaps we can discuss them here?
RECRUITING CHANTER DAVOR
She's been put on a boat from Cumberland that's heading in the general direction of Ferelden. Depending upon when you guys want her to join the group (before or after Redcliffe) I can either have the boat drop her in Jader, which is west of Redcliffe, with the assumption she walks south towards Redcliffe and meets the group after they leave Redcliffe. That's one option.
The second one, which I prefer since it gets her with you guys sooner, (between 16-22 Molioris) is that the boat might have been on its way to Highever, and detours slightly to drop her in the vicinity of West Hill. This puts her further east of Redcliffe, and not far from the route the group is traveling. I imagine she would take the Bannorn towards Redcliffe as well.
If the group agrees that it makes sense, I'd like to have her stumble across a few Darkspawn, perhaps a small raiding group that have strayed into the area? Meeting and fighting the Darkspawn will provide strong motivation for her to want to aid the Grey Warden's cause, and if the group were to jump in the middle to assist her, she would absolutely believe that the Maker had intended them to meet.
Anyways, that's a rough idea of my concept for her meeting up with you. What is everyone else's thoughts on the idea?