I've decided that 'let's join Royal Guard' group is the group that I will follow through Intermission and I will concentrate narrative on it.
The rest of PC's will rejoin shortly into the next 'half' of the game (possibly within a chapter, maximum 2).
You sure you still want to do that, considering it looks like it's only going to be about three people?
To be honest though, I think more people are going for the other option since it sounds less boring. I mean... Royal Guard is "you spend six months learning patrol routes, taking orders, doing menial tasks, and guarding the palace" as opposed to "six months going on adventures in the Forsaken lands, killing undead, uncovering loot, and exploring ruins". 
Except, you know, none of that is likely to happen (except for the undead-fighting). Otherwise Haspen will either have to punish anyone who doesn't go by making them fall behind (and thus, be less useful post-timeskip), or arbitrarily give them bonuses to match whatever your group finds. The end result, assuming Haspen wants to maintain balance, is exactly the same.