@ChoiceofManning, right now Breden’s the one possible love interest. Depending on the anarchy level you create as a bandit, at the end of Ch2 you’ll be joined by either a noble or a helot who has a crush on you. These are two more potential LIs, but their plots are just starting, and you can’t get them both on a single playthrough.
“How many followers can we end with in single play through and exactly how large is a phalangite force.” Good questions, which will be answered in Ch 4. More followers will join you in Ch 3, depending in part on how consistent you’ve been as a nationalist, heretic etc. And the number of Phalangites (and Theurges) who come after you in Ch 4 will depend on how much you’ve pissed off the Thaumatarch by e.g. targeting tax collection, inter-provincial trade, and other things of pressing interest.
If you want to try to beat the Phalangites in open battle, you’d better have a COM 2 and the grasp of tactics that comes with it. There’s only so much a charismatic leader or minor Theurge can do in a situation that tactically challenging.
I hear you on Breden, but I’m inclined to stick with the name – IMHO it’s gender-neutral enough.