Co-op pairing question

So I got a mate who Im trying to get into the game and he kinda likes Kemmler. Wondering what a good coop pairing with him might be or perhaps the better question is 'who doesnt suck to be paired with him'?

I dont really want to play VC and am worried about vampire corruption. How do the wood elves go? They sort of nearby. We tried one with me as Gelt and I managed to get back with quite the force, but get entangled betraying the Empire very quickly. Could do that again though?