Character build ideas

[Ettina]

I'd like suggestions for building a couple characters. Both of these guys will start out enslaved by hobgoblins, but will end up escaping with some help.

The first is a disgraced hobgoblin warrior, who was branded for cowardice and demoted from warrior to slave. He's a melee attacker who will be using a two-handed axe. Probably a fighter, but I'm open to other ideas as long as they fit the 'two-handed axe' theme (and don't use arcane magic, as hobgoblins hate arcane magic).

The second is something sneaky, with a good Use Magic Device. Haven't decided on race or class yet.

[Honest Tiefling]

For the former, how did he get branded? Maybe he is a ranger, just to mix things up a bit.

For the latter...Bard? Is this one intended to be freed by the party? If so, a bard is nearly always good in a pinch for support. The bard could be someone of high social status to be sacrificed to the gods or executed to show the prowess of the hobogoblin king. Or both.

[ExLibrisMortis]

What level are you looking for?

Warblade for the hobgoblin, gnome beguiler for the sneaky UMD user. Gnomes hate goblinoids, and since the hobgoblins dislike arcane magic, it's a natural enmity if I ever saw one.