Best tip ever:
When you arrive in Cyseal go to legion HQ, speak to legion commander, go to Inn and inspect room for star stone.
Then sneak / invis to the NE flaming side of the map to get the second stone and this unlocks Hall of Heroes in the homestead.
And then you can recruit Him.
Make him Shield user. Give him 3-4 skills into shields and you can toss him against anything, they won't even scratch him.