[PF] Perfect cohort for this group?

[CockroachTeaParty]

Some friends and I are playing through the Kingmaker adventure path, and we're having jolly old time. Excluding the GM, there are only three players, however. We're experienced enough players that our characters have done quite well, and we've just hit level 7.

I've asked the GM if my character could take the Leadership feat; he's the King, after all, and as a CHA-focused Sorcerer, he's quite the inspirational figure. A cohort would help give us some extra support, and increase the party size to 4, which ought to help us considerably. I'll be playing both my main character and his cohort, which won't be a problem, because I'm basically the best.

The only issue is, I don't know what kind of cohort to take. I'm working with the GM to smoothly incorporate the new character, but first I need to settle on the sort of cohort I want.

I want a cohort that will complement our current party, which consists of a bomb-focused alchemist, an archery-focused fighter, and the sorcerer who specializes in summoning and blasting.

Our party basically never enters melee, preferring to nuke everything at range. Thus, a melee cohort would be ill-advised; he'd just get in the way of our ranged bombardments, and the summons serve as disposable meat shields adequately.

So... what to take? An item-factory wizard? A divine caster for healing and support buffs?

If you could add a 5th level cohort to a group of three 7th level characters fitting the above description, what would you take?

[Slipperychicken]

The Advisor Bard.

Human race, Archivist archetype (If IC isn't so important to you), high Int, take every Knowledge skill that isn't already covered, and once you're out of those, start taking more utility skills like Sense Motive or Disable Device. Favored class bonus goes into extra spells.

Feats might include crafting feats like Scribe Scroll, or maybe Skill Focus (Spellcraft). Maybe Extend Spell or archery feats?

His (or her) spell selection will be mostly buffs (Magic Weapon, for bombs & the archer), utility (including Identify and Detect Magic), and heals. He'll handle your CLW wand and some other items. His equipment will include dozens of scrolls. He'll be really good at Knowledge skills and Spellcraft checks to identify items.

[CockroachTeaParty]

That's not a bad idea. I was considering a divination specialist of some kind, since my Sorcerer doesn't have any particular talent in that arena, and I'm not sure that's really the alchemist's schtick either.

[Kudaku]

Slipperychicken's idea is excellent and very thematic.

That having been said, if you're looking for something with a bit more spell flexibility and utility than a bard (you mentioned a sorcerer?), a Cloistered Cleric could do the trick. High intelligence and high wisdom with lowish physical scores and an average charisma would fit the wise but unassuming royal adviser very well. The wide selection of the cleric spell list means he can assist in a number of ways, including a wide variety of divination spells.

Make him middle-aged or older, grab the knowledge domain. Follow it up with crafting feats or feats that boost your skills.