@daemon - Do you mean like actually magically changed, or just wearing lots of magic gear? Because both are acceptable, if you PM me and Hallowed Mind about it first so we can make compromises and whatnot if necessary.
@Zero - If I had to quantify it with a level, out of a twenty level D&D system, i'd say five would be a good starting point for the average soldier with a few years under his belt, while vampire kings are sitting pretty at close to twenty. Weaker apprentice characters can play and gain strength though. If all goes to plan, ten chapters and ten years in game will go by before the big conclusion and epilogue, so even 1st levels have time to learn and grow. And like leveling in most RPG gaming, it's exponential, so weaker characters will grow faster than the higher level ones, and the kings start maxed. So weaker characters will be all caught up by the end, though they may have a rough start.
For a rough feel, I'd call Shadowgale around level 15, and he's top notch warrior. After that it gets into the master status, until level twenty has you at legend-tier.