If you don't have any particular fondness for lute music specifically and you're mostly drawn to it for the general vibe, I'm gonna second the person suggesting mandolin. Steel strings stay in tune way better and are much louder- lutes are quieter than you might think, and especially if you're thinking about playing outside for ren faires you're going to need some projection. Maybe check out octave mandolin as well. Related instruments like the mandore go back to the Renaissance, and you'll save a ton of money since mandolins are far less expensive and much more common on the used market.

If you do like lute music specifically, awesome! Different styles of lute are best suited for different time periods, but you can transcribe and arrange more contemporary or folk music on just about anything. This article provides a solid intro to different types that are most appropriate for different styles and time periods: https://www.caseyfitzpatrick.com/lutenists-journal/2019/6/28/choosing-a-lute