I like the idea itself but think it could work well using the game's tavern system - rather than tying it to events - go up to the barkeep and add a dialogue option:
- "I'm looking to hire someone capable" and the tavern guy goes "Yeah... yeah I know someone you might like, let me give you their details"
- then it opens up the character creation screen + skill screen, letting you design your companion's looks + skills from scratch,
- every skill you add costs extra gold - and you cant make a companion a higher level than your own hero is
- (as skill XP sums together collectively to = character level, so this means it acts as a "floating cap" - in the early game you cant build god-tier characters, but later when you are level 20 or whatever, you can).
- Then you hit the hire button, the gold is subtracted and they join your party.
Thats pretty much how it works in most CRPGs (e.g. baldurs gate).
Alternatively, if you are a lord, you could be in your castle/town keep where there could be a "Steward" NPC that you could speak to.
At your command they'd put out the word that you're looking to hire adventurers and it would then open the character generator to make your own (see above).
Your newly generated character could then spawn at the main doors and come to greet you thanking you for hiring them.