Some random responses to your random thoughts...
There's two ways to keep your Pretender from getting mangled fighting Indies. One is to take a Pretender with Immortality or Recuperation. Either ability means that they will eventually heal whatever afflictions they get. Regeneration reduces the chances of getting afflictions, I think, but doesn't prevent it entirely.
The other way is to keep your Pretender from getting hit very much. This is why most people who are building a Pretender for early game expansion give him/her air magic to cast mistform and mirror image. High protection or Earth magic to cast Ironskin is also important. Etherealness helps a lot too. Combine all of this stuff and you can get through battles with barely a scratch.
Wrathful skies is more effective if there's a storm. Try bringing a Staff of Storms along with you next time you want to use it.
Earth Attack is a just plain nasty spell.
