One is about an empire, modeled on Byzantium* (knowledge of Byzantine Greek is necessary for this**.) I've mostly focused what remaining creative prowess I have on the setting, so I don't have many characters. I only have ideas for the Hero and the Emperor:

The Hero is either a mercenary from the Divided Empire to the North (based on the Holy Roman Empire, in which case Medieval German and Slavic is needed as well)a kid from some peaceful province who finds out that he is the Chosen One, or a Half Elf.

The Emperor is a Combination of Basil II, Manuel Commenus, and Roy Greenhilt from Order of the Stick. He is your standard Reasonable Authority Figure, and is as Snarky as he is wise.

*I have not read Harry Turtledove's books in my life (availability reasons, oviously). I've heard of his Videsoss series, but I developed the idea without thinking of it.

**Wikipedia can give me knowledge of Byzantime Customs, Government, Dress, Army, etc, etc if nessesary.

PS: Sorry for any errors in grammar. I was in a hurry, since I'm about to be swamped. Please reply before this post vanishes!