... Or the 'slightly crazy path' perhaps. I has an idea you may like. ;D
Let's roll with your story for William as you have it, but add in a role model of sorts. Will's anger and hatred of mages sounds like a square match for one of my civil war characters, the illustrious (read:
psycho) Knight of the White Lily
Kasna Vel Telshear. If you're interested in getting his story off to a rolling start we could set up a thread shortly after his father's death where he and Kasna meet, with her likely having been sent to hunt and slay the renegade mages responsible. He may not be much of a warrior (yet), but he could hardly ask for a better role model than a White Lily Knight and, if so inclined, Kasna could certainly make use of him as her squire, making him a knight-in-training under her tutelage. (Not a Knight of the White Lily, of course -- all female order of Adharas and all -- but she could still teach him the ways of knighthood and combat).
Sound interesting?
Aaaaaaalso...I have a proposal, mateys! I'd like to set up a thread to get Cordell and her crew into the mix with the civil war, but I need a few people with mages and/or mage sympathizer characters to help me out. The scenario I propose is this: Connlaoth has rounded up a large number of mages and sympathizers and is preparing to transport them by boat to a holding camp where many will face either execution or experimentation by Mordecai operating under the auspices of the church. Marked mages may or may not be amongst their number, and everyone on board will be under Mordecai guard. If possible I'd like one or two people willing to have their characters as captives on board.
Of course, you can rest assured that a certain ghost ship with red sails will be intercepting the prison ship en route. ^_^
Anyone interested?