Suikofan

Definitely Echidna. Percival is good, though not great, on NM, while Echidna is great on both modes, so that counts for something. On HM, he definitely wins in stats/mobility, but he doesn't have many good support options(Klein and Lalum are decent, Cecilia and Dorothy give good bonuses, but they're both pretty bad). Echidna is around for an extra 4 chapters or so, which are certainly more difficult than when Percy joins(mainly because you'll usually have promoted people when he joins, but usually not when Echidna joins). She has also has many good supports, which are mutually beneficial for both characters involved(Lalum, Gonzales, Geese, and Lot all want her).

Jamka x Aideen Lex x Fury Dew x Ayra :P

What about Alec=Noish?

Well, Azel can run around killing stuff AFTER promotion. I guess I should have specified. ;)

Alec w/a Steel Sword may be better than Noish, but he's still not worth fielding. When you have Jamka, Levin, Brigid, Sigurd, Ayra, Holyn, and Azel running around killing everything, why bring Alec? Cuan and Lex at least are tanky, Aideen is healing, and Sylvia is dancing. Alec is, uh...poking stuff? He can't kill jack shit.

Oscar- Bows if you're using Boyd and Rofl. Otherwise, Axes. Kieran- Bows. Axes are the only close range weapon anyone needs in this game, so you might as well let him one-shot Pegs or something. Makalov/Astrid- Axes, definitely. Axes are indisputably the best weapon type.

Uh...Hero Axe weighs 12 lbs. Lex ain't doubling even with the Pursuit Ring.